Parent teacher conference time can come with a mix of emotions! Sometimes it can be nerve wracking. Sometimes they are exciting. And, for some families, they may feel like an inefficient use of time. If you are the parent of a student identified as Gifted and Talented, you may have had a few conferences that have gone like this, “Well, your student is meeting grade level expectations. They are doing really well! Thanks for coming!” And although it’s nice to hear such good things about your child, it also doesn’t provide any information you can use to help your child grow or improve in any aspects.
Here are a few questions you can ask at your next parent teacher conference:
- What area(s) have you noticed my child has a little more difficulty with? Or, what subjects or topics seem to take my child a little longer to pick up on than others?
- How is my child being challenged once they’ve mastered the grade level content?
- How is my child doing with their peers? Do you notice if they have strong relationships? Are they able to communicate with and relate to their classmates?
- How is my child doing emotionally? Are they able to handle conflicts and challenges?
- What can I do at home to support what you are doing in the classroom?
- Does my child have time to explore ________ interest or passion during the school day?
As a parent of a Gifted student, it’s helpful to develop a positive partnership with your child’s teacher so that you can effectively advocate for your child’s needs (if/when needed), and so you can develop a strong understanding of your child’s strengths AND areas for improvement.
Gifted students aren’t automatically good at everything. They have special needs and challenges that are unique to them, just like every other child. As a parent, it can be great to get an outside perspective on your child so you can learn how to best support them at home.
