Home | Careers & Education | Preschool & Kindergarten | Understanding Parent-Teacher Conferences

How many times a year should I have a conference with my child's teacher?

Currently 0.0/5 Stars.
1
2
3
4
5

To properly view this site, javascript must be enabled and Flash version 9 or higher must be installed.
Get the latest Flash player

View All Videos In This Series

Transcripts

Host: How many times a year should I have a conference with my child's teacher?

Lee Dorman: Having conferences with your child's teacher really depends upon what you need as a parent. Parents have the right to conference with teachers, really anytime they feel that they have a need, but certainly in an elementary school situation, I would suggest that you have at least three conferences with the parent or the teacher and those three conferences would include the get-to-know-you conference, perhaps one in the middle of the year to check and see how your child is doing, whether or not they are getting along with other students, and things like that, and perhaps one at the end of the year, just before the child transitions into the next grade. Middle school probably want to get to know you and often times middle school parents will want to conference with teachers if there is a question that they have or perhaps their student is having difficulty or if their child is doing really, really well.

High school teachers and parents, unfortunately often don't conference unless there is a problem. They see the teacher during back-to-school night, but otherwise, kind of stay out of the school, but certainly high school teachers and parents should conference whenever they want.

Expert: Lee Dorman

President of the Arlington Education Association, Member of the Board of DIrectors of the National Education Association and the Virginia Education Association

P: 703-379-1650

Email: lee_dorman@apsva.us

I am a middle school science teacher in Arlington, Virginia with over 35 years of teaching experience. I have taught in elementary, middle and high school and have experience teaching and endorsements in special education and gifted and talented. Currently I am serving on both the National Education and Virginia Education Associations Boards of Directors as well as president of the Arlington More »