5 Thoughtful Questions to Ask Your Child’s Teacher at Back-to-School Night

Back to school night provides you as a parent an important look into your child’s upcoming school year. It also can help set up a strong relationship with your child’s teacher. Here are some important questions to ask that will help you build a strong partnership and better understand your child’s classroom experience. 

What does a typical day or week look like for students?

We all know kids rarely come home and give a play by play of their day. This gives you a window into classroom routines, subjects, and transitions, which can help you support your child at home.

How do you support different learning styles and needs in your classroom?

This is a respectful way to open up a conversation about differentiation, especially if your child has specific strengths or challenges. 

How will you communicate student progress throughout the year?

This is an important one. Teachers send graded work home with different frequency. Some teachers will reach out if your child is struggling, but others will wait until report cards. Knowing your child’s communication style will prevent any confusion down the road.

How do you handle social dynamics or conflicts that come up between students?

This is a gentle way to ask how classroom culture is managed. This is especially helpful for elementary and middle school students who often needs help navigating friendships. 

What kind of assessments do you use, and how do you use that information?

This gives insight into whether grading is based on test, projects, participation, or growth. Often, it is a combination of all of these factors, but it can be helpful to hear your child’s teacher speak to this so you understand their own unique interpretation.