The Importance of Parent Teacher Conferences

Fall unofficially began for me a few weeks ago with the return of the Pumpkin Spice Latte and is officially ushered in this year on September 22. While it’s not my favorite season (I could tolerate it a bit more if it weren’t followed by winter) there are certainly many things I enjoy about the season. For many years one of my favorite fall events was parent teacher conferences. I know, I know, that’s not a typical favorite fall event but I so enjoyed getting undivided time with my girls’ teachers to hear about how they were progressing academically while also learning about how they were behaving at school, their friendships and interactions with others and so much more. 

One thing that sets Oakhill apart from other schools is the fact that fall conferences aren’t your first conference with your child’s teacher. You’ve already met with the classroom or homeroom teacher for an intake conference to begin the year. These conferences are so important in helping start the school year on the right foot. We want to be your partner in your child’s education and so we go to the experts, you, to learn about your child, your family and your goals for the year. This is integral as we work to meet our mission, to know value, challenge and inspire your children to be their best selves. Boy how I would have loved being an Oakhill parent and having even one more conference to chat with teachers about my girls!

Just as intake conferences are so important, the fall conference time is just as important to continue the conversation that began with the intake conference. By this time your child has a full quarter of the year under their belt and this is the perfect time to check in to see how things are progressing. You’ll have received the first quarter progress report and can use that as a jumping off point for the conference. Is math going well? How about spelling? Is your child reading at grade level? Are they understanding science concepts? Do they turn their work in on time? How do they handle a challenge? Do they listen to and follow directions? Come armed with any questions and be ready to have a discussion.

A third conference time is scheduled for February. By this point, your child is more than halfway through this school year and this conference time is perfect for checking in on those goals you discussed at the beginning of the year. It’s a great time to take stock of your child’s progress thus far. At this conference it’s also a time to look ahead to summer. Would your child benefit from summer tutoring? Or a specialized summer camp that allows them to dig deeper into an area of interest? Topics like these, along with a discussion on how to finish strong can be covered during this conference.

When you think of conferences, see them as a year-long conversation between you and your child’s teacher. The back-to-school intake conference allows your child’s teacher to get to know your family, along with your goals for the year. The fall conference is time to check in on those goals and look over the progress of your child. Winter conferences are another check point, while looking ahead. All are important in fostering the home-school relationship and are an integral part of an Oakhill education! We value you and your child and appreciate that you choose to send your child to Oakhill and can’t wait to see you at fall conferences!