Parent-teacher interviews, the good, the bad and the ugly.

It is the time of the term for parent-teacher-student interviews.  I go to these, never quite knowing what to expect.
 
The good
One of my most lovely memories of a parent teacher student interview was when one of my children’s  teachers asked to see us so he could tell me how wonderful my child was.  He glowed when he spoke of my child and acknowledged their ability and passion.  .  Unfortunately, a year or so later that teacher died suddenly and his replacement proceeded to do nothing but tell me all the failings of my child in this subject.
 
The bad
I have found myself face to face with a teacher who has told me how badly my child has gone, yet they did not request an interview. 
 
I have had one teacher stand out as being the only negative voice about both my children, over a couple of years and in different subjects.  We stopped booking in with them.
 
The ugly
In a very memorable moment, for all the wrong reasons,  a teacher threw my child’s latest assessment at them and told them they expected more from them.  As the interview continued my child left and the teacher kept on talking to me as if nothing had happened.

So why go...

1. Frequently, my child and I have benefited from the insight of teachers who acknowledge my child’s positive qualities and suggest areas for improvement.  This is helpful in developing a home and school relationship.
2. I can tell which teachers my child has a good relationship with by their body language and interest in communicating with them. 
3. Afterwards it is good to place names with faces when my child talks about their classes, or their relationships with teachers.
4. I sometimes find out good things about my children that I never would have known! 

My Top Tips for Making the Most of Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews

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1. Plan to attend and speak to as many teachers as you can.  This will help establish the relationship between home and school.
2. Ask your child if there is anything going to come up that you should know about.
3. If a teacher is being negative, ask them what they see as your child’s best qualities.
4. Ask for clarification if you do not understand what the teacher is saying.
5. Encourage your child to respond to what their teacher has said about them and their performance.
6. Debrief with your child later.  Ask them what they think about what their teacher's comments.
7. If something unexpected comes up, make a time to follow up with either the teacher, co-ordinator or other appropriate person.

Your child will spend about 13 years in the education system (not including pre school). ​Positive Young Minds combines research and the experience of working with 1000s of children, adolescents and parents for over 17 years to help your child experience school success, including guidance on setting up a school success schedule. You can book a private consultation to talk about your concerns, and I can help you work through a plan to address the tricky bits of your child's educational journey.

Together creating calm, connection, and confidence.

​Kim Ross
Child Psychologist, Fierce Self-Care Advocate and Founder of Positive Young Minds​