ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, October 31, 1996 TAG: 9610310032
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
WHETHER YOUR CHILD is a straight-A student or not, opening a dialogue with schools is important.
You don't have to wait until your child is in trouble at school or making poor grades to meet with the teacher.
Parents often believe that parent-teacher conferences are intended mainly for children who are having problems in school.
Not so, say Roanoke Valley school officials. The conferences are just as important for children who are doing well.
"We encourage them, regardless of how the child is doing," said Gary Kelly, director of guidance for Roanoke County schools. "It is a way for parents to get to know teachers, and teachers can learn more about their students."
Roanoke and Roanoke County schools have scheduled parent-teacher conferences for Tuesday, giving parents an opportunity to get a firsthand report on how their children are faring this year.
Students will have the day off in the city and county. Teachers will be free to meet with parents throughout the day.
Salem schools held parent-teacher conferences last week.
The conferences usually are scheduled around the end of the year's first grading period to give parents the opportunity to review their child's report card before meeting with teachers.
"We think conferences help encourage two-way communication between parents and teachers," said Lou Talbutt, guidance supervisor for Roanoke schools. "They can begin a dialogue that can continue after the conference and during the school year."
Dayl Graves, principal of Huff Lane MicroVillage School in Roanoke, said the conferences can help parents feel free to visit the school or call at any time during the school year.
"Parents can get acquainted with teachers and develop a closer relationship with them," she said.
Graves said parents can get a better understanding of what is going on in the classroom if they meet with teachers.
Different schools have different procedures for setting the time for the conferences. Some request parents to make an appointment in advance.
Others send reservation forms home with children. Others call parents and ask them to sign up for a time.
Teachers at most schools will meet with parents even if they have not made an appointment, but those who have not made prior arrangements might have to wait.
"We never turn away a parent. If they come, we'll see them, but they may have to wait until the teacher finishes the scheduled conferences," said Virginia Stuart, principal of Morningside Elementary in Roanoke.
School officials said the conferences usually last 15 to 20 minutes unless there is a major problem that requires special attention.
"If a parent has a concern about a particular issue that will require a lot of time, teachers will usually schedule another conference with the parent when they have more time to deal with it," Kelly said.
Talbutt said parents can learn much about the school and how their child is faring if they come prepared with questions. She suggests that parents ask about class organization, test scores, evaluation methods, curriculum and other issues.
"These are the types of questions that will get the conversation started and can lead to a discussion of how the child is doing," Talbutt said.
In the county, there are no restrictions on the questions as long as parents are seeking information on their own children, Kelly said. But teachers won't discuss other children in the class.
Parents can find out how their child is adjusting to a new grade and teacher, Kelly said.
The conferences can also help parents get a better understanding of the school curriculum, particularly in the elementary grades.
School officials said teachers can benefit from conferences just as much as parents: They can learn about conditions at home that may be affecting a child's performance.
Marty Robison, assistant superintendent for Roanoke County, said parents of elementary children generally have a higher participation rate in the conferences than those for middle and high school students.
"As students get older, fewer parents tend to come to the conferences, but we encourage them for all levels,'' Robison said.
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