Parents can make the most of their 15 minutes during a parent-teacher conference by focusing on these 5 things

"After 10 years in the classroom, I've experienced conferences that changed a child's entire school year, and others that burned 15 minutes on test scores rather than on how a student learns. The most productive conferences focus on the journey, not just the results. Families and educators are two sides of the same team. We are both working toward the same goal: the best year possible for your child."

"I always try toopen up the conversation by acknowledging what's working. Every parent wants to hear something positive about their child, and they should. Focusing on a child's strengths first frames the rest of the conversation as problem-solving, not blame. During this part of the conversation, I appreciate it when parents ask questions like, " What does my child do well academically or socially that we can build upon?""

"To parents, grades are simply a snapshot. As a teacher, I canunderstand the nuance behind the scores your student has earned and share that even though a student might have struggled on an exam, they may still grasp the concepts I'm teaching. When the conference turns to talking about grades, I love it when parents get granular. You can ask questions like,"

Ten years of classroom experience shows that parent-teacher conferences can either reshape a student's year or waste time on test scores instead of learning. Productive conferences focus on the learning journey and treat families and educators as teammates working toward the child's best year. Begin meetings by acknowledging strengths to frame conversations as problem-solving. Treat grades as snapshots and probe specific skills to distinguish concept mastery from test performance. Ask where the child is most engaged and why. Establish actionable routines, ongoing communication, and social-emotional supports to sustain progress throughout the year.

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