Published: August 27, 2008

Teaching Secrets: The Parent Meet and Greet

Back-to-school night sends chills up the spine of many teachers. Somehow standing in front of parents and explaining yourself can reduce even the most seasoned veteran to rubble.

The big key to a successful parent meet-and-greet experience is preparation. Think about the questions that most parents are going to want answered and make a list. If you’re a rookie, you can ask other teachers for ideas about what typically comes up. Armed with your list, you’ll be able to think about your responses. And if you’re not sure how to respond to parent questions, ask a colleague to help you prepare.

You can bet that parents will ask you questions that would be better handled in a one-on-one phone call or meeting. Know these questions are coming and prepare a diplomatic way of suggesting a more appropriate time to discuss them. When the timing is...