School Conferences

[marius97]

Has anyone ever heard of having school conferences less than a month after school starts (20 school days)? Our first child has made the switch from elementary to middle school this year. They started school September 3 and conferences are today. I just don't get it...and I am a HUGE proponent of conferences. We have never missed a conference for any of our three kids. I just see very little value in having them right now. The only other conferences are the end of February. The elementary school does end of October/April. I guess for some kids this could serve as an early warning to parents that their kid needs some extra help, but in some classes, they're just now getting to their first tests. I guess I just don't get it.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I actually always thought our November ones were a little too late. I figure the first one is more about getting to know the student's needs - for both the parents and the teacher, and the second one is about rescue strategies if grades are not holding up.

 

[mjkacmom]

We don't have them in JH/HS. The kids have 7 different teachers. You can always schedule one if needed (only did this once). In elementary, there is one in October. I think of it as more of a meet and greet with the teacher.

 

[mickeyboat]

I think it is a good idea to have them early in the year when kids switch to middle school. So much about middle school academics is organizational. Kids who are having trouble being organized at the beginning will have trouble all year long. So teachers who can nip it in the bud right away can help kids who have potential, but who might not be performing well because of organizational issues.

Our middle school has switched to student-led conferenes. I don't get much out of them becaue I keep in touch with my kid and already know how and what they are doing, but I think it is a good experience for the kids.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Our conferences are the middle of November, usually the week before Thanksgiving. That's what this area has done for as long as I remember, even when I was in school.

 

[Pigeon]

We don't have them past elementary school. Ours were usually a month into the school year.

Honestly, I thought they were pretty much a waste of time, although I always went.

 

[soccerdad72]

Ours are in a week or two. Our school likes to do them somewhat early, so that if there's anything that the kids need to work on, they have time before the end of the first quarter. I've found that most teachers are pretty good at figuring out their students within a few weeks.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Ours are usually at the end of the first quarter, which is coming up fast.

 

[diznygirl]

Ours are offered in every quarter. We usually take advantage of the first to get a one-on-one chance to meet the teacher and see what they are like.

 

[Arielle22]

In middle school and high school, my DDs schools had a night to meet the teachers. You actually had to follow the child's schedule room to room and the teachers gave you an overview of the course and their expectations.

I found that very helpful, to put faces to the names DDs would talk about.

Conferences wouldn't be until after report cards were given. Both DDs did well so the last few years we skipped the conferences but went to the meet the teachers night.