Parent teacher conferences start at 2, and end at 7. Parents usually are working and can’t come to school until about 5 or 6. When they arrive they see that the hallways are crowded with other parents waiting to see the teachers on your team. They don’t make an appointment, or schedule a time to see them. They have to wait outside the teacher’s classroom until it’s their turn. Finally it is their turn to see the teacher but when they go in they feel rushed. By the time they are done it is almost 7 and the lines outside the other classroom doors are too long. They won’t have enough time to see the next teacher, so they go home.

Did your parents go to parent teacher conferences this year? 16 out of 55 surveyed students said that their parents did not go to conferences this year.If the answer is no, was it because of the crowded hallways, the lack of time with the teachers, or was it because going to parent teacher conferences don’t change how you are doing in school? Parent teacher conferences should be more organized so that it is easier for teachers and parents. We could schedule appointments instead of having to wait for the teacher.

There are about 400 kids in the 7th grade and 4 teams. This means that there are about 100 kids on each team. With 100 kids on your every team, there are also can be over 100 parents going to the conferences. Can you imagine how long the lines are?
With a scheduled time for each conference, it is less crowded in the hallways, and parents do not have to wait outside the classrooms to see each teacher. When parents go to conferences they shouldn’t see just one teacher at a time. They should have a conference with all the teachers at them same time. This saves time and they can see all teachers instead of just a few.

But making an appointment can also be a problem because of all of the students on each team. A solution to this problem would be to have more teams and more teachers. This way it is less crowded, and parents would have more time to see each teacher. This solution also benefits the teachers. With fewer students, they have less work, and don’t have to see as many parents.

But why do parents go to parent teacher conferences in the first place? How does the help you in school? A good relationship between parent and teachers benefits the child, according to New Mexico State University.23 out of 55 surveyed students agree that their grades are better if their parent and teacher have a strong relationship. How many times do your parents and teachers contact each other? The center for effective parenting says that an additional major communication problem often reported by parents and teachers is the failure to communicate frequently and regularly. Regular and ongoing feedback from the teacher will allow you to better provide the specific help your child needs.

Esther Devall, assistant professor in home economics at New Mexico State University said, “It is crucial for parents to share information about their children and the home situation before a problems develop. One helpful hint for parents is to ask teachers to contact them at the first signs of a problem.”

Parent teacher conferences are important for the student, the parent, and the teacher. We can make it easier for the parent, the student and the teacher by making parent teacher conferences more organized.