Parent-teacher conferences are a fantastic opportunity to connect with your child’s educational team and gain valuable insight into their school day. As pediatric therapy providers, we know these meetings can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when discussing academic progress, social-emotional skills, or special education services.
We’ve put together a friendly yet professional guide to help you prepare for and make the most of your time during these important school meetings.
Preparing for the Conference
A little preparation can go a long way toward a productive meeting.
- Talk to Your Child First: If your child is attending the conference with you, take the time to prepare them. Explain that the conference is a chance for the family and school team to sit down, learn about what they’re studying, and discuss any concerns. You can ask your child directly if they have any worries about their schoolwork, friends, or classmates.
- List Your Child’s Strengths: Before the meeting, write down a list of your child’s strengths as you see them. This helps start the conversation on a positive note and gives the team a full picture of your child.
- Prioritize Your Discussion Points: Create a list of all the things you want to discuss with the school staff. Sort them in order of importance—you might only have time to cover the top one or two. If you don’t get through all your items, you can schedule another time to meet to discuss the rest before you leave the conference.
During the Meeting: Key Questions to Ask
Here are some suggested questions, broken down by topic, to help guide your discussion:
General Questions
These questions help you get a sense of your child’s overall experience.
- Is my child meeting expectations in classwork?
- What are some of my child’s strengths that you see in the classroom?
- What is their behavior like in the classroom?
- How are their social skills with peers and other adults?
Questions Related to Special Education Services
If your child receives services (like OT, PT, or Speech), you’ll want to touch on how their support is functioning.
- If your child has accommodations in place, how are they using them in the classroom?
- If you’ve heard about or are interested in seeing certain spaces, ask to see any relevant areas in the school such as a sensory room.
- Ask specific, functional questions, such as: “How does my child show you or their support staff that they need a movement break?”
- If you know of certain tools or environmental conditions that help your child regulate (e.g., quiet work space, specific seating), share them with your child’s teacher.
- Crucial Tip: If the teacher offers to try a new approach or strategy in the classroom, ask: “What will that look like?” and “What should we look for in the coming weeks to see if it’s working?“
Questions Related to Standardized Testing
Standardized test scores (STARR, Forward, etc.) can be a confusing part of the report. Don’t hesitate to ask for clarity!
- Can you explain my child’s standardized test scores?
- Ask for context: How are they doing in relation to previous testing? How do their scores compare to classmates?
- If the teacher indicates that your child’s scores are very low, ask: “What interventions can take place?”
- If your child’s scores are high, ask if there is an opportunity for advanced work to occur.
Thinking Ahead: Planning for the Rest of the School Year and Beyond
Whether it’s in fall or spring, a parent-teacher conference is a great opportunity to identify and collaborate in planning for anything that will help your child be as successful as possible this school year and those to follow.
- If it’s a spring conference, ask your child’s teacher about things your child can work on over the summer to be ready for the next grade level.
- Bring these ideas to your child’s CI therapy session, so we can incorporate them into their goals.
- If your child is not currently receiving therapy but the discussion has highlighted areas for improvement, consider scheduling an evaluation for additional support.
- Consider adding summer services or increasing the frequency of therapy sessions over the summer. This can be a great way to tackle some of these improvement areas without the academic pressure and demand of the school year!
Celebrate the WINS!
- Reflect on all the positives that were shared during the meeting.
- Celebrate the progress and growth that your child has made. Build on those for the rest of the school year!
Your child’s education is a true team effort! Remember that you are your student’s best advocate—we hope these tips help you feel empowered and confident partnering with the school to ensure a successful and thriving year.
This article is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical, psychological, or professional advice nor does it establish a therapist-patient relationship. The content provided should not be interpreted as a substitute for professional diagnosis, treatment, or care.