As schools draw their first quarter to a close, many parents will soon be attending Parent-Teacher Conferences (PTCs). These conferences provide a great opportunity to learn more about your child and their education. It’s also a chance to gain insight into the culture and operations of the school.

随着第一学期的课程即将结束，许多家长即将参加家长会。您可以通过这些会议，了解孩子的学习情况，同时也是深入了解学校文化和运作的最佳时机。

Having conducted my fair share of PTCs over the years, and as a parent myself, I’ve thought a lot about how to make the most of this opportunity. Here are my top 5 tips for getting the most out of Parent-Teacher Conferences:

作为老师，也作为一位家长，我对如何充分利用此机会有一些思考。以下是我对于此次家长会的五条建议：

TALK ABOUT THE CHILD

Talk about the child, not just the grades.

关注孩子，而不仅仅是成绩。

Your school will likely provide a report card in the days leading up to the PTC or even on the day itself. There’s often a temptation to zero in on the grades and start with questions like, "Why a B? Why not an A? What do they need to do to get a better grade?"

学校通常会在家长会之前几天或当天提供成绩单。家长们往往会立即关注成绩，开始提出诸如“为什么是B？为什么不是A？他们需要做什么才能提高成绩？”这样的问题。

I understand the temptation, especially in high school where GPA can be a factor in college applications. However, the conference should focus on improving your child’s overall educational experience, not just their grades.

我很理解这种想法，尤其是在高中时，GPA（平均成绩点数）可能会影响大学申请。然而，家长会的重点应该是改善孩子的整体教育体验，而不仅仅是关注他们的成绩。

Instead, focus on their learning habits, how well they’ve settled into school, and their mindset toward learning. For example, are they able to focus independently on tasks? Do they ask questions when stuck, or are they hesitant to seek help?

相反，可以更多地关注孩子的学习习惯，他们是否适应学校生活，是否有正确的学习心态。例如，他们是否能够独立专注于任务？当遇到问题时，他们是否会主动提问，还是犹豫不决？

Grades are imperfect measurements that tell only part of the story. Your child’s teacher can provide valuable insights into their development—insights that might be missed if the conversation is too focused on grades.

成绩只是学习的一部分，不是完美的衡量标准。老师可以提供有关学生发展情况的重要见解，如果会议过于专注于成绩，这些见解可能会被忽视。

PLAN AND PREPARE

Plan and Prepare.

计划和准备。

You won’t have much time for each conference, so it’s important to know what you want to cover before you begin. I suggest focusing on two things:

每次家长会的时间都有限，因此提前明确要讨论的内容非常重要。我建议关注以下两个方面：

A. What’s going on at home that might be affecting your child at school? Schools are there to support families, and they greatly appreciate any insights that help them provide better support.

A. 家里是否有发生一些事情，可能会影响孩子的在校表现？学校是为了支持家庭的，他们非常愿意了解任何可以帮助到孩子的信息。

B. What questions do you want to ask, and which ones are the most important? Be strategic about the limited time, and think about the questions that will give you the clearest picture of your child’s experience.

B. 您想问哪些问题？哪些问题最重要？要战略性地利用有限的时间，思考哪些问题能让您最清楚地了解孩子的学习体验。

SHARE WHAT WORKS

Share What Works.

分享有效的方法。

While teachers are experienced in managing student behavior and fostering learning, they also know that every child is different. Strategies that work for one student may not work for another.

虽然教师在管理学生行为和促进学习方面经验丰富，但他们也知道每个孩子都是不同的。一些对这个学生有效的策略，可能对另一个学生无效。

As a parent, you know your child best, so if you’ve found strategies at home that help motivate or engage them, share that information with the teacher.

作为家长，您最了解自己的孩子，所以如果您在家中发现了一些能激励或让孩子参与的方法，可以与老师分享这些信息。

Similarly, if you’re struggling with certain behaviors or challenges at home, don’t hesitate to ask the teacher what strategies they’ve found effective in the classroom.

同样，如果您在家里发现孩子的一些不当行为或困扰，可以毫不犹豫地询问老师们是否有些有效策略。

For example, if you’re having trouble getting your child to focus on homework, ask how they manage focus in class. It’s a two-way street. By working together, you and the school can help your child thrive.

例如，如果您发现孩子在做作业时难以集中注意力，可以询问老师他们在课堂上是如何管理孩子的专注力的。这是一个双向交流的过程。通过合作，您和学校可以共同帮助孩子取得成功。

LONG-TERM GOALS

Talk about long-term goals.

讨论长期目标。

As mentioned earlier, focusing too much on grades can distract from more meaningful conversations. One of those topics is long-term goals.

如前所述，过分关注成绩可能会分散对更有意义话题的讨论，比如长期目标。

Ask your child’s teacher about setting goals for the future. These can be academic, behavioral, or personal development goals.

您可以询问老师关于设定孩子未来目标的事情。这些目标可以是学术上的，行为上的，或是个人发展上的目标。

For example, if your child struggles with organization, you might set a goal to help them develop better time-management skills.

例如，如果您的孩子在组织能力方面有困难，您可以设定一个目标，帮助他们培养更好的时间管理能力。

If they’re excelling in math, you could discuss ways to challenge them further, such as joining a math club or participating in competitions.

如果他们在数学上表现优秀，您可以讨论进一步挑战他们的方法，比如加入数学俱乐部或参加比赛。

If your child is shy, a long-term goal might be to encourage them to take on leadership roles in group projects.

如果您的孩子比较害羞，长期目标可能是鼓励他们在小组项目中担任领导角色。

Talking about these long-term objectives will help the school support your child in becoming the person they want to be.

讨论这些长期目标将有助于学校支持您的孩子成为他们想要成为的人。

FOLLOW UP

Follow up.

信息同步。

This may be the most important tip: make sure to follow up with your child after the PTC.

这可能是最重要的建议：在家长会之后，确保与孩子同步信息。

Ask how they felt about the conference and whether they think everything that was discussed is fair.

询问他们对会议的感受以及他们是否认为讨论的内容公平。

Talk to them about their goals and the ways you plan to support them in achieving those goals.

与他们讨论目标以及您计划如何支持他们实现这些目标。

Additionally, consider following up with the teacher in a few weeks to check on progress.

此外，考虑在几周后与老师跟进信息，了解进展情况。

A simple email or brief conversation can help ensure that the goals discussed during the conference are being worked on.

简单的一封电子邮件或简短的对话，可以确保在会议中讨论的目标正在得到落实。

Possible Questions to Ask at a Parent-Teacher Conference:

家长会中可以询问的问题：

How does my child participate in class? Are they engaged in discussions and group work?

我的孩子在课堂上是如何参与的？他们是否积极参与讨论和小组工作？

What are my child’s strengths and areas where they can improve? Can you give examples?

我的孩子的优点是什么？在哪些方面可以提高？能否给出一些例子？

How does my child interact with their peers? Are there any social or emotional concerns?

我的孩子如何与同伴互动？是否存在社交或情感方面的担忧？

What are some ways we can support our child’s learning and development at home?

我们在家中可以通过哪些方式支持孩子的学习和发展？

By coming to the conference prepared and focusing on your child’s overall experience, you’ll make the most of this opportunity to support their education and well-being.

通过充分准备并关注孩子的整体学习体验，您将最大限度地利用这个机会支持他们的教育和成长。