5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Parent-Teacher Conferences

Report cards are landing in inboxes, and parent-teacher conferences are right around the corner. If you're anything like most parents, you're equal parts curious and nervous about what you're going to hear.

Here's the thing: these conversations are actually one of your best opportunities to help your child succeed. Whether you're sitting down with a teacher or digesting a report card that just arrived, the goal is the same: to figure out what's working, what's not, and what to do about it.

At Halifax Learning, our team has spent years on both sides of the desk, as classroom teachers and as reading specialists. We've seen what makes these conversations productive (and what makes them a waste of everyone's time). Here's what we've learned.

1. Don't Wait for the Official Meeting

Teachers are swamped! But the best parent-teacher relationships don't start and end with scheduled conferences; they're built on regular check-ins throughout the year.

You don't need to be a pest, but reaching out occasionally shows you're invested and makes the bigger conversations way easier. Try asking:

• • "What can I do at home to support what you're working on in class?"
  • "Are there any apps or activities you'd recommend for practice?"
  • "Should I be looking into any extra support or resources?"

When conference time rolls around, you'll already have a foundation to build on instead of starting from scratch.

2. Tell Them You Want the Truth

Nobody wants to hear that their kid is struggling. But here's what's worse: finding out two years later that there was a problem nobody mentioned.

Teachers want to focus on the positive, but openness and honesty are the best policies. At Halifax Learning, we hear it all the time: "Why didn't anyone tell us sooner?"

Give your child's teacher permission to be honest. Tell them you want the full picture, not just the highlights. That's how real solutions happen.

3. Share What You Know

Teachers are pros at teaching, but they don't live with your kid. You have insights they'll never get from a classroom setting.

Come ready to share:

• • What's worked (or hasn't) for your child in the past
  • What gets them excited vs. what stresses them out
  • Any programs or tutoring they've tried
  • What you're realistically able to help with at home 

This stuff matters; the more the teacher knows, the better they can adjust their approach.

4. Talk to Your Kid Too

Your child isn't just the topic of conversation. Their perspective matters.

Throughout the year, have real conversations with your kid about school. Not just "How was your day?" but specific questions:

• • "What was the best part of your day?"
  • "What felt hard today?"
  • "Who did you sit with at lunch?"

You might even notice patterns in things that seem to help them thrive or things that consistently frustrate them. Bring those observations to conferences to problem-solve together.

5. Ask the Right Questions

Advocating for your child doesn't mean being "that parent" who steamrolls the teacher. It means asking smart questions and expecting real answers.

If reading is a concern (and let's face it, that's often the big one), try these:

• • "Have you recently read with my child one-on-one?"
  • "How's their reading level compared to where they should be?"
  • "What do you notice about how they read? Are they actually sounding out words or mostly guessing from pictures?"
  • "How are you teaching phonics in the classroom?"

If Reading Is a Struggle, Keep This in Mind:

• • Learning to read takes time. It's not a light-switch moment.
  • About 95% of kids need direct, systematic phonics instruction to really get it.
  • Kids need lots and lots of practice!
  • Great reading programs teach all five core skills: phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

This is what we do at Halifax Learning. We use structured literacy approaches that are proven to work, delivered by people who've been doing this for decades.

Not Sure Where Your Child Stands?

If that report card raised some red flags, or if you're heading into conferences with questions, we can help. Book a free assessment and let's figure out exactly what your child needs.