Should I send a questionnaire home before parent-teacher conferences?
Yes, if it is short and optional. A page sent home a few days before lets families think about what they want to ask, and tells you before you meet what is on their mind. Keep it to a handful of questions, and say plainly that they can answer any they like.
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Families often think of their real question on the way home. Asking ahead gives them time, and lets you bring the work or the information that answers it.
Ask about the child, not about the family's private life. Good questions are about what the child enjoys, what is going well, any worries, what they most want to talk about and the best way to reach them.
The "Before we meet" page
The conference form has a second sheet for families, called "Before we meet". It thanks them for their time, asks six short questions in that spirit, and leaves writing lines under each. You choose which questions to include and how many lines go under each, then print.
Tools that help
- Parent-teacher conference form: Switch to "Before we meet (for families)" and choose the questions.