Often receiving a scary or negative connotation, parent-teacher conferences are an excellent opportunity to foster parent engagement. They are the ultimate collaborative effort in two primary forces in a child's life.
Per our elementary family handbook, teachers are required to reach out and host a parent-teacher conference at mid-term progress reports and at report cards when any student has a D or an F in any given subject. Additionally, a teacher has the authority to ask for a parent-teacher conference at any time.
Kindergarten has mandatory conferences in the fall and spring. 1st grade has mandatory conferences in the fall only. All others are on a case-by-case basis. In 4th grade, we have parent-teacher conferences less often. When one of my children was in 3rd grade, her teacher asked for conferences in an effort to get to know her students from their parents' point of view.
For me personally, I will hold a parent-teacher conference at any time that the parents reach out and ask for one. I have met with parents concerned about their child's attitude toward school in general, with parents concerned about their student's roller coaster reading grades, and with parents whose students have the aforementioned D or F in any particular subject.
My individual goal of clarity and communication over any confusion leads me to be naturally amenable to parent-teacher conferences. Additionally, working at a private Christian school, I have the opportunity to open any conference in prayer, inviting the Lord to be LORD over our conversation, collaboration, and problem-solving.
How does your school, current or past, handle parent-teacher conferences? Are they required in any capacity? Do you hold them on your own as part of your personal family engagement?
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