Teens and High School: It's OK to Initiate a Parent Teacher Conference

Getting a teenager through high school requires not only an educational roadmap but also allies. That beginning of the year angst is setting in. My teen needs help; I need advice. At this point, even a listening ear would be welcomed. An Email is quick but isn’t always clear on the intended message. A phone call can often cut through misinterpreted words and misunderstood tone.

Poor academic performance, teacher-teen communication, make-up assignments, bullying, fear of not graduating, and the presence of meeting scholarship and college application deadlines might be swirling around in your head. So yes, the desire to make contact with your teenager’s school might be on your mind. And it’s possibly high on your priority list.

If an issue is bothering you regarding your teen and his/her high school experience, don’t push it to the back burner thinking it will solve itself or go away. The issue will only simmer to a rolling boil and explode. To avoid such an unnecessary outcome, address the issue immediately and appropriately with school faculty, and staff.

As a parent, never feel reluctant to initiate a phone call or a face-to-face with your teen’s teacher, counselor, or a school administrator. When you keep the lines of communication open, everyone wins.