Distance learning has been difficult for many students, as well as parents and teachers. Many parents are now tasked with helping educate their children from home, while all we can do as teachers is sit on the other side of the screen and do the best we can. While we have been doing distance learning in the classroom, I have noticed that having regular parent-teacher conferences doesn’t have the same effect.
You need to know how to ask your parents the right questions during these difficult times to help make sure that your students are not only getting the information they need but also communicating effectively with your parents.
How to Ask the Right Questions to Parents During Distance Learning
Don’t Contact Parents Only When You’re Hunting Down Missing Work
We are all experiencing a few growing pains with distance learning these days, and it’s important to stay in constant contact with your student’s parents. Many families share a computer for their schoolwork, jobs, and other distancing interactions, so getting work in on time or just attending class each day might be stressful. If you are staying in contact with the parents, you can have a better idea of what their home situation might be like so you can work with them.
Questions to Ask Parents During Parent-Teacher Conferences
When you are having a parent-teacher conference with your student’s parents, remember that you need to focus on more than what kind of work they are completing in the classroom. Here are some helpful questions to ask parents:
- What concerns do you have? Does your parent have any concerns about the way classes are being taught or about the deadlines for assignments? This will allow you to talk to the parents specifically about any concerns they may have about their child’s schoolwork.
- What is and isn’t working? This is a chance for you to get valuable feedback from the parents about what they feel is and isn’t working for their child. You may not be able to change everything, but you can help them give you the feedback you need to make changes to your lesson plans.
- Does your child need one-on-one help? Instead of being able to walk around the classroom or go up to you with a question, your students are now stuck at home miles away from their teachers. Talk with their parents and see if they need a one-on-one zoom call or extra help with a particular subject.
Give Your Student’s Parents Grace and Guidance
You are a teacher, and you were put on this earth to teach your students. Your child’s parents, on the other hand, are likely not teachers! This means that you need to help give them guidance about what they should be doing at home to enhance the lessons and help them to make sure they are getting the lessons through to the kids. Remember to also give them grace during these difficult times as they are thrown into this new situation just like you are.
Teaching from home is not an easy process, and who knows when we’ll be allowed to be back in the classroom again. Hopefully, this post has made it easier for you to communicate with your student’s parents and help make your class a better experience, even if it is online.
