What Should Parents Ask at Parent-Teacher Conferences?
Make the most of parent-teacher conferences with questions about homework, test preparation, skill practice, tutoring, and your child’s progress.
PARENT RESOURCES
Cindy Williams
9/23/20261 min read
What Should Parents Ask at Parent-Teacher Conferences?
Parent-teacher conferences can go by quickly. You may hear how your child is doing, look at a few assignments, and suddenly realize your time is up. Bringing a few questions can help you leave with a clear idea of how to support your child at home.
You don’t need to ask every question on this list. Choose the ones that fit your child right now:
What is my child doing well? Knowing their strengths gives you something to celebrate and build on.
How does my child seem to feel about learning and participating in class? Ask whether your child speaks up, asks for help when needed, and seems confident with the work.
What is one skill my child should focus on next? Ask for a specific example so you know what practice would look like.
How can I help with homework? Find out when to offer guidance, when to let your child work independently, and what to do if an assignment regularly takes too long.
How should my child study for tests? Ask whether practice questions, flashcards, reviewing mistakes, or explaining ideas aloud would help with the material being taught.
What can my child do on days without homework? A little reading, writing, or math practice can help. Ask the teacher which activity would be most useful for your child.
Would tutoring or another type of extra support help my child? If the teacher thinks it would, ask which specific skills need attention and what kind of support would be a good fit.
How will we know if the plan is working? Ask what progress you should look for and when it would make sense to check in again.
Before you leave, try to agree on one manageable step to take at home. It might be reading together for ten minutes, practicing a particular math skill, or helping your child make a study plan.
If your child’s teacher recommends extra practice and you’re unsure where to start, Cindy’s Tutoring Services can help you turn those recommendations into a plan that fits your child.
