1. The point of a conference is not to display the student's current averaged grade, point out missing assignments or contrive ways to achieve/maintain a particular grade. There are better ways to keep track of grades--which should largely be the student's responsibility by middle school, anyway. If the only reason we hold conferences is to talk about grades, then we are complicit in elevating grades over learning.  You can look at the grades on SchoolView. Ask questions that help you understand your child as a learner in a particular classroom. It may differ from class to class.

2. Conferences are an opportunity for two-way communication.    Conferences are   a place for parents to tell teachers things about their child : How he likes to learn. What she says about the class at home. How he enjoys spending free time. What she says about other students in the class. After a good conference, both the parent and teacher know more about how things could be better. Ask the teacher how he or she sees your student contributing in class, persisting to learn, asking questions, etc. Ask your student to help you develop some questions for the conference.

• Seeing that your child is well rested during the testing period.
• Making sure your child has a good breakfast every day, especially on testing days.
• Not scheduling appointments that would take your child out of school on testing days!
• Helping your child to be confident.  Let him/her know that you know that he/she will do his/her best and that no one is expected to get every answer correct.
• Being sure he/she has the appropriate equipment; i.e., several No.2 pencils that are not too sharp, a good separate eraser and comfortable clothing.
• Keeping your child out of school if he/she is truly ill during the testing period.

Mock Trial Information