SMART Tutoring

As the new school year gets underway, many of you may find yourself preparing for ‘parent teacher interviews’ or something similar. Meetings like this early in the school year are tailored towards ‘getting to know’ each other with the goal being that teachers, students and parents/caregivers can all work collaboratively for the duration of the school year in order to make the learning experiences for each child a positive and successful journey.

Here are my top tips for what to ask/discuss during these interviews;
✨What are some strengths you have noticed in 👩‍🎓/🧑‍🎓 so far?
✨ Are there any areas of need you have identified as yet?
✨Allow me to share with you what I think 👩‍🎓/🧑‍🎓’s strengths are and what I think they need some more support with…
✨ Last year, 👩‍🎓/🧑‍🎓’s goals were… and this is what they were able to achieve…
✨ 👩‍🎓/🧑‍🎓 learns best when…
✨ How can we best support 👩‍🎓/🧑‍🎓 with their learning this year?
✨ Do you need anymore information from me that may help you as the teacher?

✏️ It’s important to remember that your child’s teacher is still becoming familiar with the learning needs of your child, so this meeting is not a time for a full academic report. Avoid questions such as “So, how are they doing?”.. this is very open ended and not always something that the teacher is able to answer so early on. Instead, you can ask; “How has 👩‍🎓/🧑‍🎓 settled in social and emotionally so far this year?”. For the first few weeks of school, the emphasis is always on social and emotional well-being. Academic achievement will come!

Comment below if you have any questions or comments about how your child’s school conducts these interviews. I’d love to hear how it’s done in different schools 🏫

Welcome to SMART Tutoring! An educational service with an edge!