Using a blank piece of paper, divide into the following categories (you may add or subtract categories based on your child’s individual needs and situation):
Behaviors
- Paying Attention in Class
- Test Taking
- Homework
- Projects and Reports
- Absenteeism and Tardiness
- Acting Respectful
On another blank piece of paper, list the classes your child takes during school.
Using the list you previously completed, start dividing comments and suggestions into the categories above. This will help you see exactly where your child needs help and where they have the skills they need.
An example might look like:
Paying Attention in Class
- Can pay attention when subject matter is interesting, such as hands-on science experiments
- Has trouble paying attention to lectures lasting more than 10 minutes
- Pays attention better when sitting in front of the classroom
Test-Taking
- Often does not complete the test in the allotted time
- Knows work at home, but can freeze during tests
- Seems to do better on multiple-choice instead of fill in the blank
- Needs extra assistance with fractions
- Math homework takes a long time to complete
- Freezes on math tests
- Needs to build confidence in math
Continue to list your ideas under each category, as well as under each subject in school. This type of information will help you and the teacher work together to form a plan to help your child succeed.
Once this list has been completed, each meeting or each year, you will need to update it with age-specific or grade-specific information.
In addition to this information, I would bring the following with me to all meetings:
1) A list of what I was doing at home. This might include: tutoring, working on organizational skills or reading each night. This helps to show the teacher that you are involved in your child’s education and willing to work with them as a team to help foster success.
2) Questions for the teacher. Important information for you to know would be: What is the procedure for getting work when your child is absent? How long will they have to complete missed work? Is there a website or homework hotline for you to find out what homework is given each day? How often are reports or projects given and can you receive written communication on the project via email or a note sent home with your child?
