The research is clear that parent involvement is important for student achievement. Parent-teacher conferences demonstrate involvement and do play a role in student classroom performance. However, when I’ve spoken with parents about parent-teacher conferences, there’s often some mixed feelings about their value.
Many parents fear that these conferences can actually hurt, rather than help. Even when I recently went to my son’s school to meet with his teacher about a grade dispute, I was nervous about whether the teacher would be vengeful later. It was important enough of an issue that I felt the need to get involved and advocate for my son, anyway. Different from a typical parent-teacher meeting, my son also joined the discussion.
One of the more encouraging trends in parent-teacher conferences is student-led conferences. My middle-school sons have led their regular, twice-a-year conferences since 6th grade. I enjoy this style much better because it gives students a chance to hear what’s being said about them and encourages them to actively participate in their learning process. Communication with the teacher is part of that learning process. Likewise, the parents can model for students how to interact with their teacher.
For parents who are getting ready for upcoming conferences, Harvard Family Research has published a useful document for reference, in English and Spanish. It also includes preparation tips for principals and teachers, which shows that the conference should be two-way communication. Reviewing the roles of principals and teachers may help ease any parent uneasiness. The parent-teacher conference is still one of the most helpful ways for parents to be engaged in their student’s academic achievement.
