Open House Teacher Tips for High School Parents
Maximize Parent Teacher Conferences and Interactions
Sep 12, 2008
Whether teachers are preparing for an open house, parent conference, or other interaction with students’ parents or guardians, it is important to remember that they will often look to you for advice and suggestions as well as feedback on their child’s current performance in your class. Therefore, a positive, proactive approach toward approaching challenges will be your best ally.
Be Generous With Your Time and Information
Although your time will be very limited during parent night open house, try to encourage parents to schedule a conference with you early in the school year. In fact, you may even want to pass around a calendar which specifies the days and times of your availability so parents can sign up then and there. Ask that they list their phone number and email address so that you can remind them of their appointment. Be prepared with some general suggestions for improving study skills so parents can go home and help put it into action immediately.
Communicate Effectively With Parents
Many parents become less involved when their children enter high school. However, this is the time when parents should be most involved as the stakes are higher than ever. Encourage parents to stay in communication with you if they have questions and concerns throughout the school year. Inform them of important dates, including when progress reports and report cards are distributed during first quarter. Be sure to give parents a copy of your syllabus and course objectives, which should specified the dates of tests and quizzes in your class. You should also provide them with a copy of your Classroom Policies and Procedures handout so they understand your class rules.
Offer Specific Suggestions to Parents
By offering specific suggestions about how a student can thrive in your course, you will help guide parents toward a greater understanding of what their child can expect. The suggestions below are directed toward parents of high school students.
Parents should encourage child to:
- Seek help immediately when feeling confused, overwhelmed, disorganized, or following an absence.
- Get help from the teacher. Visit the teacher before or after school, during lunch, or at a time the teacher designates.
- Prepare specific questions for the teacher if you need help with make-up work, comprehension, homework, writing and organizational skills.
- Maintain an organized, separate 1-inch binder for class and often refer to the teacher’s model binder to check for missing handouts and page numbers.
- Review your teacher’s syllabus or course objectives nightly. Students are encouraged to write their homework assignments down on their syllabus or in an assignment pad. This is essential!
- Participate in the class library or books share program. Students can borrow books from class or school library and earn extra credit when book is completed by participating in a 15 minute book interview with your teacher either during lunch or after school. Students are encouraged to donate books to the class (or trade!) so that other students can enjoy them and there can be a circulation of new and interesting book titles in the classroom.
By preparing for your interactions with parents and having several concrete suggestions to offer them that will help their child be successful in your course, you will establish tremendous rapport with parents. These will prove to be valuable connections as the year progresses. It’s vital to communicate to both parents that you are all on the same team, striving to reach similar objectives of supporting your students.
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