Oxford Learning Offers Tips To Help Parents Prepare For Parent-teacher Interviews

The parent-teacher interview. Those four words can raise anxiety levels among both students and parents. However this interview can be highly beneficial to a child’s school year success.

The education experts at Oxford Learning � Canada’s leaders in preparing children for lifelong success � offer useful tips to make the most out of every Parent-Teacher Interview. By following three fundamental key recommendations, parents can make the interview a more informative and rewarding experience.

“Parent-Teacher Interviews are a valuable tool to help you and your child’s teacher(s) work together to inspire your child to greater success,” says Kelley McGregor, Director of Training and Operation, Oxford Learning. “Knowing exactly how your child is doing in school and seeking out as much information as possible will help our children reach their full potential and advance their love of learning.” Three Key Steps to a Successful Parent-Teacher Interview 1. Parents’ Advance Work A. Review your child’s most recent report card, together with past report cards Report cards can actually tell you a lot more than a first glance may indicate. Take out a highlighter and mark the areas of concern. Look for any trends or common themes that are repeated from the previous report card. Look to see if the same challenges exist or new challenges have developed.

B. Review your child’s most recent school work By reviewing the report card first, you can now review your child’s school work with more background information. Is the work organized? Does the work generally look complete and accurate? How is the spelling and grammar? Think about the grades and comments on the report card and check if the school work reflects this view. If you have concerns, write them down and ask the teacher.

C. Discuss your upcoming parent-teacher interview with your child Interview your child before the parent-teacher interview! You will be amazed at what you learn! Sometimes our perceptions as a parent are not aligned with our kids. Ask your child: What is your teacher going to say about your work? What will the teacher say about you? What do you think you do really well? What do you need to focus on? Do you want me to ask the teacher any specific questions? D. Come with Prepared Questions While there is no time limit when it comes to a parent’s love for talking about their children, there is a definite time limit to every parent-teacher interview. The meeting is usually no more than 10 to 15 minutes. In order to maximize the time, make your questions specific and organize them in order of importance.

Good Questions for Parent-Teacher Interviews Do you have any concerns about my child’s skills level? Does my child have difficulty: listening to and/or following instructions? staying on task? organizing notes, work, stories, etc.? completing assignments? Does my child read with comprehension? How well does my child read and understand words? Does my child actively participate in your class? Does my child hand in assignments on time, complete and at an acceptable level? What work areas does my child like best? What areas are more difficult for my child? What are my child’s learning strengths? Are there things we can do at home to help my child? Do you have suggestions for me to discuss with my child? Does my child seem to enjoy coming to your class? Is there anything about my child’s behaviour or performance that you would like to share? 2. The Interview Itself A. Taking notes lets the teacher know you are interested and serious about your child’s education. You also have a better chance of remembering what you discussed and agreed upon.

B. Don’t be confrontational Nothing positive is accomplished if you are hostile or confrontational. This is a time to exchange information about your child and agree on a plan of action.

If you do not agree with the teacher’s opinion � stay calm. Ask the teacher to elaborate on their view point and assure the teacher that you are not there to criticize but rather to work closely and foster a team approach to your child’s education.

C. Ask for suggestions Encourage the teacher to provide you with suggestions on how you can improve your child’s skills. If you pose the question “Do you have concerns about my child’s reading skills level?” and the teacher responds with “He/she’s coming along, give him/her time.”, then counter with “What can I be doing at home to help him/her along? Can you recommend materials?” D. Don’t waste time with broad questions Due to the short amount of time you have with your child’s teacher, bring a list of prepared questions and avoid the broad “How’s my child doing?” question. You want to ensure you are maximizing this valuable time by seeking out as much information as possible that will help your child reach their full potential. 3. The Follow-up Action Plan A. Agree on an Action Plan Before you leave, summarize the key learnings and identify next steps. It is important that both you and the teacher agree on the same goals for your child and outline the next steps that need to be taken. Successful goal setting means that goals are achievable, measurable and believable.

Achievable: Goals need to be set at a level that is more advanced than the level the child is currently working at, but not so advanced that it is unachievable or beyond reach. Measurable: Goals need to be measurable so that parents, students and the teacher are able to track progress and success. Believable: Children must believe in the goal and believe in their ability to achieve it for success. B. Set a date for you to follow up Once a plan of action has been established, ensure this is monitored. Monthly reviews of how your child stands against these goals are a great way to keep the momentum moving forward. It’s also a great way to measure your child’s success and progress in achieving their goals because it gives them a timeline to work towards.

Most importantly, before leaving the Interview, set a firm date to follow up and meet with the Teacher again so you can review your child’s improvements and ensure they’re on track (e.g., if the Interview is in November, schedule a touch-base just before the Holidays) C. Ask about alternative help Ask about alternatives. Do not be afraid to ask if extra help, such as a supplemental educational program from Oxford Learning, would benefit your child. You can also talk to student services or the principal about meeting with an education expert for advice and guidance. “Nothing motivates a child more than a home where learning is valued,” says McGregor “If parents show a close interest in their children’s school progress, help with homework and home projects, and attend their children’s school performances and sports events, their children are more likely to have higher student achievement, higher aspirations, better attendance, and a more positive relationship with their teachers.” About Oxford Learning Established in 1984, Oxford Learning has grown to include more than 100 learning locations across Canada and the United States. Oxford Learning goes beyond tutoring to help students reach their learning potential, not just for one grade or one year but for a lifetime. The unique programs teach children to learn how to learn. Just one to two hours a week can make a world of difference in developing the right skills and habits to succeed, no matter what the subject or the grade level, and breaking the cycle of hiring tutors year-after-year. Dr. Nick Whitehead, co-founder and President, Oxford Learning and Ms. Kelley McGregor, Director of Training and Operation, Oxford Learning are available for interviews.

For More Infromation Please contact:
Penelope Savoie
Strategic Objectives Inc
Phone: (416) 366-7735
Email: [email protected]

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