Six questions you need to ask your child’s teacher at your next parent conference

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Dallas ISD has scheduled parent/teacher conferences throughout the district for Oct. 10, 11 and 13. Since this is such a critical time in the life of your child, here are a few tips and key questions you may want to ask to ensure that the meeting is informative and successful.

Begin by talking with your child to find out what he/she likes about school. If you don’t know already, find out what subjects she/he enjoys and how things are going. Also find out if there are questions your child needs you to ask the teacher.

Write down a list of questions ahead of time. Here are some you may want to ask:

Does my child seem to be working up to his/her ability?
How much time should my child spend on homework?
What skills should my child master this year?
How will my child be evaluated?
What are my child’s strengths and weaknesses in class?
How can I help my child work on weak areas at home?

Be prepared to listen without getting defensive, and if your child is having difficulties, ask the teacher to supply details and examples so that you have a complete understanding of the issue.

If the teacher gives you suggestions of things you can do to help your child, follow through and check back to see if things are improving.

Finally, please be respectful of the teacher’s schedule and be on time. If more time is needed, schedule a meeting with the teacher at a mutually convenient time.

Utilize this opportunity to let the teacher know you are committed to the education of your child and that you value any input he or she can provide. And, finally, offer to help out in the classroom or at school. There are many ways you can positively impact the important work being done there.

In other news around District 1:

Congratulations to the teachers who were selected to receive Grants for Innovative Teaching by the Junior League of Dallas. These awards help support classroom innovation and encourage teachers to think outside the box as they help students learn and grow. District 1 recipients are: Pamela Nelso, Dealey International Academy; Victor Mendoza, Nathan Adams Elementary; Aleksei Vashchenko, Preston Hollow Elementary; Andrea Bergener and Amanda Reaka, William Cabell Elementary; and Ryan Bauer, Edward H. Cary Middle School.
Kudos to Shelley Weiske, fourth- and fifth-grade teacher at Dealey Montessori, who was awarded the Service Above Self-Outstanding Teacher Award by the Dallas Rotary Club last month for going that extra mile for her students and parents.
Prep U workshops are planned at Thomas Jefferson, Sept 27, from 9-10 a.m., to provide parents with information about the path to citizenship. Parents will have an opportunity to ask questions and collect necessary forms to help them complete this process.