How to Prepare for Your First Parent-Teacher Meeting (and Feel Confident Doing It)

Feeling nervous about your first parent-teacher meeting? You’re not alone. The good news is, with the right questions, you can turn those nerves into confidence and set the stage for a brilliant year.

For me, the first parent-teacher meeting of the year always used to come with a mix of anxiety and nerves:

• Do I even know their child well enough yet?
• What am I going to say?
• What are they going to ask?
• Who’s going to be that curveball parent that throws me off?

Over the years, I’ve discovered one simple key to making these evenings a success: make them about the parents.

Parents want to share their hopes and fears for their child. They don’t care as much as we might think about whether their child is on track, above track, or below track—at least not in this very first meeting. What matters is showing them you care about their child as a person, not just a pupil.

So instead of filling the time with data and targets, ask great questions that show you value their perspective. Here are my Top 5 Questions for the first parent-teacher consultation of the year:

1. What’s the most important thing for you, as your child’s parent, this year?

2. When we sit down at the end of the year, what would you love to have changed or moved forward?

3. What’s your biggest concern about your child at school—and how can we help with that?

4. Is there anything I wouldn’t know about your child that could help me get the best out of them?

5. What strengths or gifts do you see in your child that might not be obvious at school?

By asking these, you invite parents to think deeply about their child and what they actually want for their school experience.

And here’s the magic: when you know what’s important to them, you’ll be better equipped to support their child and build trust with the family.

Not sure? Well what is the number one frustration parents often have with schools? When you dig down it usually boils down to them not feeling their child is understood, cared for, or treated as an individual. Small tweaks in how you listen and understand can change that completely—without adding extra work for you.

If you dig deep in this first consultation, you set the tone for a fantastic year. Parents will appreciate you. Children will thrive. And you’ll have those golden relationships that make teaching so rewarding.

Think about it: the teacher who made the biggest difference in your life was probably the one who really got you. The one who championed your interests, spotted your strengths, and saw you as a person—not just another student to teach.

I hope these questions help you have some rich, meaningful conversations with your parents this year. Wishing you a brilliant consultation evening—and a fantastic year ahead!

David Wright | Mr Wright Teaching