Being a parent is a round-the-clock responsibility, requiring unwavering dedication to your child’s well-being. Whether they’re at home, on the playground, or in school, staying informed about their activities is essential. However, juggling parental involvement in school matters can be challenging amidst busy schedules. Despite this, there are numerous avenues available to connect with your child’s teachers and stay abreast of their progress.
One such opportunity is the parents’ evening at school, designed for parents to gain insight into their child’s academic journey. Yet, navigating these meetings can be daunting for some parents who may feel uncertain about what to expect or inquire about. Nevertheless, these gatherings provide a valuable window into your child’s school experience and performance.
During these sessions, teachers may provide tailored information, but asking pertinent questions can enhance the value of the interaction. By posing insightful queries, you can glean valuable insights to support your child’s academic and personal development.
If you find yourself unsure of what to ask at a parents’ evening, fear not—we’re here to assist. Below, we’ve compiled a selection of effective questions to guide your discussion with your child’s teachers:
Contents
- 1 Questions to ask at a parents evening
- 1.1 1. Has my child settled well in class?
- 1.2 2. Does my child engage well with the teaching?
- 1.3 3. How do I inspire my child to read more?
- 1.4 4. What specifically would improve my child’s writing?
- 1.5 5. Is there anything I should be doing out of school with my child?
- 1.6 6. Can you recommend a learning app my child might enjoy?
- 1.7 7. What do you think of my child’s academic progression?
- 1.8 8. How is my child doing in extracurricular activities? Is there any sport or activity my child is good at?
- 1.9 9. Is there anyone in the class that my child doesn’t get along with?
- 1.10 10. Is my child well behaving?
- 1.11 11. According to you, what are the strengths and weaknesses of my child?
- 1.12 12. Ask your concerns about your child if you have any.
- 1.13 13. Is there anything I need to know about my child and their school life?
- 1.14 Conclusion:
Also check – questions to ask at conference / questions to ask at an SST
Questions to ask at a parents evening
1. Has my child settled well in class?
One of the most important questions to ask your kid’s teacher is if your child has settled in the class. There are many instances where kids may not get along with their fellow classmates or they may not have settled in the class for some reason. You should know if your child is comfortable in their class and if they get along with other kids and teachers.
2. Does my child engage well with the teaching?
Many kids in early age suffer from learning difficulties and it goes undiagnosed. A teacher should know if the students are having any kind of difficulty sitting in the class or if they have any issues with learning, reading, or remembering.
There are some signs of dyslexia and other learning disabilities such as not being able to learn spelling, short attention span, struggle to keep focus, and writing. The teacher may notice these signs, and if such is the case with your child you should take them seriously.
3. How do I inspire my child to read more?
One thing that each parent should encourage their child is reading. Reading is such a good learning exercise that may help the kids to learn more words, get fluent at speaking, and also reading inspires us in so many ways.
So you should certainly ask the teacher if there is anything you can do to make your child read more at home. Surely, a teacher should have some tips for you to encourage your child to read more.
4. What specifically would improve my child’s writing?
Just like reading, writing too is an important exercise that kids should practice often while they are in school and growing. You should ask the teacher if there is anything you can do at home to improve your child’s writing.
Writing helps your kid to improve handwriting and form sentences. It may encourage them to write their journals or to make lists of things to do.
5. Is there anything I should be doing out of school with my child?
Parents should always be aware of the activities that they should do with their child that can encourage them to learn and grow out of school. If you have no idea what activities you should do with your child then do not hesitate to ask this question on parents evening.
They should have some kind of suggestions and tips that can help to engage with your child more at home and encourage them for learning. There are plenty of skills and lessons that can help your child to grow and also spend some quality time with their parents.
6. Can you recommend a learning app my child might enjoy?
There are many learning apps out there, so much so that you can find a plethora of options on app stores as well as software that can help your kids to learn new skills and lessons that your kids should be learning.
Although, you can’t really tell if the app is right for your kid or if it’s going to waste your and your kid’s time. So you should ask the teacher if they have some suggestions for a learning app and if they think it’s a good idea to introduce your kid to a learning app.
7. What do you think of my child’s academic progression?
When it comes to discussing anything with your kids teacher you can’t really leave the topic of academic progression of your child. As a parent you should know how your child is doing academic wise. If there is any subject that your child finds difficult to learn or show lack of improvement at.
The teacher should anyway give a brief report on this topic, yet you should ask about the academic progress. If your child is doing good in academics, this question may reassure you.
8. How is my child doing in extracurricular activities? Is there any sport or activity my child is good at?
While academics are quite important for your child, so are extracurricular activities and sports. There are plenty of such activities and sports that are taught in school. You should know if your kid finds any activity or sport instructive enough to pursue a serious interest such as dancing, learning a musical instrument, being athletic, and so on. You should be aware of your child’s interests and things they enjoy.
9. Is there anyone in the class that my child doesn’t get along with?
Plenty of times there are many students that don’t go well with each other for many reasons. Both the parties can be equally responsible for such kinds of beef.
As a parent, you should know if there is anyone that might not go well with your child or vice versa. You may also want to know the reason too so that you can catch up with your kid later on.
10. Is my child well behaving?
Not a lot of parents ask this question but this can be a crucial question to ask your kid’s teacher. As a parent, you would want your kid to be well behaved and well mannered, however they may misbehave sometimes for many reasons. Is there anything concerning then you should certainly know about and take a look at that as well.
11. According to you, what are the strengths and weaknesses of my child?
No child is perfect and everyone has their pluses and minuses. It is however important that you know what are the strengths and weaknesses of your kid so that you can help them to do their best and also improve their weaknesses.
A teacher should know what their students are good at and what things they need to improve. Being a parent, you can help your child to overcome their weakness with time at home and also help them to find their true potential at their strengths as well.
12. Ask your concerns about your child if you have any.
Parents may have one or two things on their mind that they find a bit concerning. You can talk to your kid’s teacher if they agree with your concerns or if they can address those concerns as well. This is why it is a must ask question at a parents evening.
13. Is there anything I need to know about my child and their school life?
Lastly, if you are done with your questions then you can certainly ask these questions to conclude the parents evening session with the teacher. The teacher may give you a report on your child and give you some key points to think about or talk to your child about.
Conclusion:
Meeting your child’s teacher can bring up a lot of questions and concerns, and it’s natural to want to know everything you can. However, try to stay calm and not get overwhelmed by these meetings. They’re an excellent opportunity for you and your child to discuss school life together. By asking the right questions, you can gather the information you need to support your child’s growth and success in school.
That’s all for now, and we hope we’ve provided you with the guidance and assistance you were seeking. If you have any further questions or need additional support, don’t hesitate to reach out.