Parent-Teacher Meeting Guide: Tips To Ace It

Is your parent-teacher meeting around the corner? Are you concerned about how to deal with it? Anxious about what you will get to hear about your children? Or are you a cool and ‘I can manage’ kind of parent?
To be honest, a parent-teacher meeting can give cold feet to a few parents while others nail it. Regardless, we are here to provide parents with strategies to navigate PTMs.
A parent-teacher meeting (PTM) is an official meeting of parents and teachers to discuss the child’s behavior, learning capabilities, and issues at school. It allows parents to understand how their child is doing in school and it also allows teachers to know how children behave at home. This information exchange is necessary to provide combined efforts to support the child and inculcate essential moral values in children from an early age.

Why are Parent-Teacher Meetings Important?

1. Customised Support

Each child is different and behaves a certain way in different scenarios. A PTM acts like a confluence point that helps teachers and parents gain insights and customise approaches that best suit the child. 

2. Strengthening Bonds

This is a great way for the parents and teachers to interact and build strong bonds between them and also with children. The support fosters confidence and helps children to excel across fields. 

3. Open Communication

Frequent parent-teacher meetings keep parents and teachers informed and open ways for having honest conversations. It aids in creating a healthy environment aligning with the child’s mindset and goals.

4. Early Problem Identification

At times, children hesitate to open or are unaware of the issues that are bothering them. When parents and teachers interact, they can identify the underlying problems and tackle them at an early stage, averting them from causing bigger problems.

5. Feedback Loop

PTMs provide a platform for parents and teachers to provide consistent feedback on the child. This can be used to devise strategies keeping up with the changing needs of children that facilitate student academic and behavioural development.

Benefits of Parent-Teacher Meeting

• Meetings strengthen the parent-teacher relationship to provide an atmosphere for the overall development of the child.

• Parents and teachers spend time with the child at different spans. This helps in understanding children’s behaviour in school and home.

• The interaction helps track the progress of the child every now and then.

• Through regular supervision, teachers and parents become active contributors to the child’s success and growth. 

Points to Discuss in a Parent-Teacher Meeting for Teachers

In school, it is the duty of teachers to monitor each and every child. As a teacher, be prepared to discuss the right points. Here are 7 essential points to discuss in a PTM:

1. Cheering on Progress

Teachers should highlight the child’s achievements in academics and beyond. Every accomplishment, improvement and good behaviour must be complimented. It can be as small as the child being on time to the class every day or acing a class test. This boosts the confidence and encourages children to follow the practices.

2. Tackling Challenges Together

Note down the concerns that the child is struggling with. Discuss the weak areas and inform the parents where the child is lacking and arrive at a solution. This helps in bringing out creative solutions that can be implemented together for better results. 

3. Building Buddies and Skills

Apart from the academic performance, interpersonal and social skills also matter in the well-rounded development of a child. Teachers should discuss how the child behaves and communicates with other children. Mention whether the child is able to establish friendships or develop essential skills like teamwork. 

4. Cracking the Homework Code

Talk about whether the child is submitting the assignments on time or whether it is done the right way. If not, ask parents to provide support in making the child understand and complete the homework regularly. Try giving assignments that are engaging and are not overburdening.   

5. Dreaming Big and Planning Ahead

Based on the strengths and interests of the child, the teacher can suggest some potential goals and future plans. This gives parents an idea to build action plans, develop skills and keep track of the progress of the child. This forward-thinking attitude keeps the child focused and motivated.

6. Teamwork makes the Dreamwork

Teachers and parents are the crucial people in a child’s life. With the concerted efforts, they can outline a beautiful journey and support the child in every possible way. Discuss the strategies with the parents to work as a team in creating a nurturing environment at both school and home.

7. Keep the Conversation Flowing

Schedule PTMs at regular intervals to update and be updated about the child. Open the lines for communication post-meeting via call, mail or texts. Follow up with the parents on the improvements, enquire about the progress of implementing action plans and share updates. 

Conclusion

The parent-teacher duo has the power to create wonders in a child’s life. Parent-teacher meetings (PTMs) are a wonderful approach to gaining insights into what is happening with the child at home and school. Therefore, these have to be organised regularly and irrespective of the workload, parents should not skip them. Next time you have a PTM, remember to return to this site so that you can participate in the PTM prepared.

We at New Horizon International School take care of every child as our own and organise frequent PTMs, fostering comfort and supporting children to our best efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do I need to do Anything before the Meeting as a Parent?

You can note down certain queries, suggestions or observations. Ask your child if it has any issues in school, with friends or in subject matters. Report them to the teacher to tackle them. 

What Sort of Questions might I ask?

Is my child behaving properly in the classroom? Is he able to grasp the subject matter? Does she get along with friends? Is there any area of development or concern? How can I help you? How are it’s communication skills? Is my child participating in extracurricular activities? How can I contact you outside of school? 

Can I Talk to the teacher outside of a Parent-Teacher Meeting?

Yes. You can contact the teacher outside of school, provided it is strictly concerned with the student. Make sure the teacher is comfortable with this and ask the timings and ways to contact.

Should I Talk to My Child about What the Teacher Said?

Yes, talk to your child about what the teacher has said. Share the appreciation that the child has received to motivate it further. Convey the suggestions to improve the child’s performance and behaviour.