What to Expect at Parent-Teacher Conferences

During the month of November, teachers at all DCS buildings set aside time to meet with families in parent-teacher conferences. While the district designates Wednesday evening (Nov. 6) and Thursday afternoon and evening (Nov. 7) for conferences, many teachers offer times outside these two windows in order to accommodate a variety of family schedules. Dexter has an impressive parent-teacher conference attendance rate, with an approximately 98% turnout at the elementary buildings.

Parent-teacher conferences are an opportunity to meet your child’s teacher if you haven’t already, and to build that relationship. Building principals and support staff are also available during conference times and can be found circulating in the hallways and/or main lobbies to answer any parent questions. The conference format varies from building to building, so knowing what to expect before walking into your child’s classroom benefits parents and teachers. 

At the elementary buildings (DEEC and Wylie), teachers schedule 15-20 minute sessions with each student’s parents/guardians to discuss student progress. Special areas staff (music, art, PE, etc.) at the DEEC and Wylie are also available for meetings if parents wish to schedule them. 

Teachers share and celebrate the student’s successes. They also identify challenges or areas for improvement. Parents and guardians should come prepared with any questions or concerns, but remember that conference lengths are limited. Prioritize your questions/concerns so the most important and timely ones are discussed first. Teachers are always willing to set up additional meeting time with parents if there are questions or concerns that cannot be addressed during the conference time frame. 

Creekside families meet with their student’s homeroom teacher, who shares progress information from all of the student’s teachers. Depending on the teacher, some conferences are student led, and others are facilitated by the teacher. It is important for parents and guardians to read all information that is sent home prior to the conference, so they can be prepared for the conversation.

At Mill Creek, students take the lead in parent-teacher conferences, guiding their parents/guardians through selected classwork examples. They self-identify their successes and areas for improvement, and teachers add additional comments. Because students are grouped into teams, team teachers rotate through the conference so parents/guardians can meet and talk with all of them. To prepare for the meeting, families are encouraged to review their student’s Canvas classes, as well as their current grades in PowerSchool before the scheduled conference.

All teachers at Dexter High School are available for parent-teacher conferences, and parents and guardians can sign up for five-minute sessions. The conference time is kept short so families have time to meet with all of their high schooler’s teachers if they choose. National Honor Society students assist families in finding classrooms and help to keep conferences on schedule.

With such a short conference window, be sure to have questions or concerns ready and, if needed, be prepared to continue the conversation in a subsequent meeting. As with the middle school, DHS parents and guardians are advised to check out their student’s progress in both Canvas and PowerSchool before attending the conference.

We asked some DCS teachers to share their favorite things about parent-teacher conferences, as well as some helpful tips:

Krickett Chamberlain (DHS)
“My favorite thing about Parent-Teacher Conferences is being able to talk to parents in person about their student's successes, and checking in to establish an open line of communication if/when their student is struggling in my class(es). Going in blind on a phone call or email home can be intimidating even for experienced teachers so meeting a parent/guardian [in person] can make that process much easier and take out any uncertainties.

One tip I'd give parents/guardians coming into conferences is to talk to their kids and look at their grades. Knowing your student's grade in the class and how they feel about that grade or class can really help to move the conversation with their teacher along in a productive and meaningful way. Teachers are obviously prepared with all grades and know what needs to be discussed, but a parent/guardian already knowing, too, shows that they care about their student’s education.” 

Hannah Stewart (DEEC)
“My favorite thing about parent-teacher conferences is that it's a time to connect, in person, with families to discuss strengths and any challenges within the school setting. Strengthening the home-to-school connection is vital, as we all have the children's best interests in mind.

One tip I would share with parents coming into these conferences is to come prepared with any questions or concerns they may have. This helps ensure that our time together is productive and focused on what matters most for their child's success.”

IMPORTANT PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE REMINDERS

• Be sure to read any information sent home by teachers in preparation for your conference.
• Check your student’s Canvas and/or PowerSchool accounts for the latest information.
• Arrive on time (read: five minutes early, if you can) and keep an open mind.
• Come prepared with a prioritized list of questions and/or concerns.
• Know that you may need to set up additional time to talk with your child’s teacher.