Parent-Teacher Conferences: Questions to Ask to Identify the Root Cause of Your Child’s Struggles
Do you ever go into parent-teacher conferences and struggle to even know what questions to ask? Of course there are some obvious ones, but especially if your child is in the “average” group, it can be hard to get enough info from their teacher to really help you keep a pulse on how their learning is going. Here are some helpful questions you can ask…
Does my child usually finish tests or assignments first, last, or in the middle?
Processing speed is a big part of test-taking. Finishing tests or assignments more slowly than peers can be a big sign that this skill is weak, but there are other skills that might be at play as well. Some of these could be attention (getting easily distracted from the task), executive function (struggles getting started or knowing what to do next), or getting held up by reading or comprehension issues.
If your child’s teacher can give you an idea where your child falls, it can help you know if this is an area of concern for learning.
Does he or she ever volunteer to read out loud?
Reading out loud can be nerve wracking for lots of kids. Whether it’s shyness, a lack of confidence, or true struggles with the mechanics of reading, knowing how your child reacts to reading in front of others can help you pinpoint where they may be struggling.
Has my child struggled to keep their materials organized and know where things are in the classroom?
This may not be something the teacher thinks to tell you, but as a parent, it can be helpful to know how well (or not) your child is able to keep their materials organized and follow the classroom systems. Organization and executive function go hand-in-hand, so it’s a helpful insight to ask for!
Do you have to tell him/her something multiple times before they’ll do it?
As parents, you probably know the answer to this question. But asking your child’s teacher can help you know if it’s parent-selective deafness or true lack of attention and follow-through.
Does my child move towards or away from challenging tasks?
Knowing how your child approaches things that are hard can help you take a pulse on their cognitive abilities. If they do everything they can to avoid a challenge, it’s a sign that their resilience may be lower and that they don’t feel like they have the cognitive capacity to do hard things. Expanding their ability to try (and fail) and do things that may seem hard at first is critical to helping them become confident lifelong learners.
Learn more about expanding your child’s resilience here >>
Parent-Teacher Conferences Don’t Have to Be So Frustrating
It can be hard to hear that your child is struggling. And, if we’re being honest, the supports the school may put in place to help your child (like moving them to the front of the classroom and giving extra time) are less than ideal.
You want your child to learn successfully, and accommodating these weaknesses will not allow them to truly grow.
The good news is that there is another option!
If you hear some red flags during parent-teacher conferences about your child’s learning, you can take the initiative to build their thinking and learning skills to expand their resilience and cognitive capacity. This is what we’re all about at LearningRx!
