Tips for Maximizing Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences provide you with the opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher and discuss areas for growth, as well as strengths and weaknesses. It can be an exciting and nerve-racking experience as you wait in anticipation to hear how your child is progressing.
But this year, the traditional in-person conference format has flipped, as many school districts choose to host virtual conferences. This was to be expected since millions of children across the country are attending school online. However, what does this mean for parents who are attending virtual parent-teacher conferences during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Keep reading to learn four ways parent-teacher conferences will be different in 2020 and how you can maximize the experience.
How do virtual parent-teacher conferences differ from traditional parent-teacher conferences?
Say goodbye to friendly handshakes and hello to virtual waves. This parent-teacher conference season, you can expect your meeting to look different from those in years past. Here are four changes you should anticipate:
Technology is necessary
Teachers will likely conduct their virtual meetings on a video-conferencing platform like Zoom. This means you’ll need a microphone and a camera to converse with your student’s teacher. Most smartphones and computers have these features built in, but you should check to make sure they both work correctly.
If the video-conferencing platform is new to you, give yourself time to become familiar with it before your parent-teacher conference begins. Remember to check your email for messages about choosing a time slot too.
Perspectives have shifted
Traditionally, the teacher would see your child every day and have many opportunities to witness your child’s progression. Now that most students are learning virtually from home, parents may be noticing just as much as teachers. Be sure to weigh in on your student’s strengths and weaknesses as your insight allows.
Technical issues may arise
Technical complications may arise and increase communication barriers during virtual parent-teacher conferences. You are restricted by your internet’s ability to process and stream the meeting, which means the sound may cut out or malfunction.
Try and remain patient if this occurs, and attempt to fix whatever issues arise. Remember that another option is to use the chat feature if the sound is acting up.
Responses may be data-driven
Teachers are trying their best to navigate these changing times. Remote instruction comes with many challenges, such as establishing a connection between the student and the teacher. As a result, the feedback you receive may be largely driven by the teacher’s data. For instance, they may reflect on grades, but may have less information regarding how your child interacts with other students.
Remember that it’s okay to remind your child’s teacher if they have any specific needs or preferences when it comes to projects, learning and attention. Although remote learning can make class different, teachers are still aiming to meet the unique learning needs of every child in their classroom.
How can you maximize the new parent-teacher conference format?
While this new format may sound intimidating, it comes with a number of benefits. Here are four ways you can maximize your virtual parent-teacher conference:
Prepare questions
There’s no such thing as a silly question during parent-teacher conferences. Prepare a list of matters you’d like to discuss so that you can stay on track during the meeting. This is the perfect opportunity to ask for additional resources, for instance. One benefit of technology is that teachers can quickly email you after the conference with helpful links and guides based on your conversation.
Arrive alone and on-time
Punctuality is respected regardless of meeting format, so ensure you have enough time to access the platform and prepare yourself before the meeting begins. Teachers might have another conference scheduled directly after your session, so you should maximize the time you have with them. If your child would typically sit in the hall or stay home during a parent-teacher conference, then they should stay outside of the room for your virtual meeting.
Take notes
Take notes throughout your parent-teacher conference so you can create a plan to improve your child’s educational experience. Writing out your thoughts can also help you summarize the main points of the conference. You might also ask your student’s teacher to send you any details they record during the conversation so you can consider them too.
Encourage open communication
Before your parent-teacher conference ends, make plans to continue communicating throughout the school year. Thanks to modern technology, teachers can easily reach out when they have questions or concerns, rather than waiting until the next virtual meeting.
Alyssa Abel is a college and career writer who writes about student lifestyle, distance learning and more. Read more of her work on her blog, Syllabusy.