Before the conference

• If the conference day and time don’t work for your family, reach out and ask for an alternative. Teachers will sometimes arrange an online video chat if scheduling becomes too difficult.
• Make a list of your questions and concerns, and prioritize them—you’ll want to leave plenty of time to hear the teacher’s thoughts.
• Think of examples to share with the teacher of how your child plays and learns at home.

During the conference

Share information about your family

• Let the teacher know about your family’s special characteristics and circumstances—this helps the teacher support your child’s learning.
• Talk about changes or challenges that might impact your child at school (like a new living arrangement or a morning schedule that means your child needs to wake up extra early).

Build a partnership

• If you’re wondering how specific school activities connect to your child’s learning, or if you don’t understand what the teacher is describing, ask!
• Ask about activities and ideas you can try at home to support your child’s learning.

Communicate openly

• If you have concerns, ask how you can problem-solve together. Staying calm and collaborating are the best ways to support your child.
• Ask about the best ways to continue communicating with the teacher and how to stay up-to-date with class news throughout the year.

After the conference

• A conference is not the only time to ask questions or express concerns—be sure to follow up if there’s something you’re worried about.
• Stay in touch! Whether you have a new question or want to share what happened when you tried a different learning activity at home, your child’s teacher wants to hear from you.