Tips for Productive Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences are right around the corner! Here are some tips to facilitate a productive conference this fall!
1. Remember that accuracy alone does not equal mastery! When looking at grades or results of standardized testing, these results alone may not show a true picture of your learner’s performance. Researchers have discovered that high rates of correct responding over time predict that a skill is neurologically permanent (i.e., remembered or retained), usable for learning more complex things, and resistant to distraction and fatigue (Nix-Berens, 2021).
2. If looking at a skill where a learner is struggling, ask about the learner’s performance on the foundational skills for that skill. For example, if the learner struggles with math word problems, is the learner struggling with reading and/or reading comprehension? Perhaps the learner struggles with basic math facts, making multi-digit and multi-step problems more difficult! Opportunities to boost fluency in these foundational skills can have significant implications on the more complex skills!
3. Share your learner’s motivators with your child’s teacher! Motivation can play a huge role in learning! If your child struggles with motivation throughout the school day, work with your child’s educator to set goals and establish incentives!
