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I t’s an autumn ritual that has some parents defensive, tensed up and preparing for the worst. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Educators say there are steps you can take to make parent-teacher conferences productive — and pleasant — for you and your child’s teacher.Here are 5 things you can do to get more out of your parent-teacher conference:1. Prepare questions in advance. Write down what you want to ask and be prepared to take notes. You’ll want to focus not solely on the general (“How is my son/daughter doing?” “What can I do at home to help?”) but on specifics. Know particular topics your child has trouble with and ask for some tips that might help get past those hurdles. If your child exhibits strong academic performance, ask what you can do to sustain this at home and how to nurture her love of learning. And don’t forget that social skills are an important aspect of the school experience: Ask how your child interacts with other students in the class. The way your child acts at home is likely different from the persona your child is in a classroom setting.2. Arrive on time and leave on time. Seems pretty basic, right? But chances are, the day you had planned to leave work a little early is the day all hell breaks loose in the office. It’s Murphy’s Law. Do your best to make this event a priority, arranging for advance coverage at work if necessary. This also sends a message to your child that education is a priority in your house. Remember that there are other parents in line to talk about their kids, too. And whether you arrive on time or 10 minutes late, when your time is up, it’s over. Don’t turn your “few minutes extra” into a later schedule for everyone else.3. Make it a point to ask the teacher if there are any patterns in your child’s work or conduct that you should be aware of. Does he squint to see the board? Is she easily distracted? Does he turn in English work but neglect math? Ask about sleepiness in class. A high school teacher I know tells me that tiredness is a big problem among middle and high school students. “Many kids are up late on their smartphones, and Mom and Dad have no idea,” she says. This fatigue can not only affect academic performance, but for older students, can impair their driving as well. That’s a scary thought.4. If necessary, ask for future conferences or correspondence. While some teachers may teach more than a hundred students , most are happy to take the time to meet with or communicate with parents who truly want to be engaged in their children’s education. But teachers of older students advise parents to learn to work “behind the scenes” more: Put the onus on the student to complete assignments and make him stay engaged in his own education. As a parent, you can request that the teacher correspond via email with your student — and, if you deem it necessary, ask to be blind-copied on those emails as you transfer accountability to your son or daughter.5. Remember that you’re on the same team. Parents and teachers have shared goals: Both want their students to maximize their potential and develop a lifelong love of learning. Keep an open mind and realize that while your child may not be a genius, he or she has unique gifts and talents to share with the world. The teacher is your ally, not adversary, on this educational journey. Approach the conference in the spirit of cooperation and your child will have an unbeatable team on her side.      

Angela Maiers has been a leading educator and voice for students for over 26 years. Her breakout TEDx Talk launched her second act and provided the platform to build Choose2Matter, challenging and inspiring students all around the world. Her new book, “An Interactive Guide to Liberating Genius in the Classroom,” gives teachers a “how to” approach to genius hour. Maiers took time to discuss the importance of Connected Educator Month and shared her perspective on public-private-partnerships in US education.Angela Maiers has been creating and leading change in education and enterprise for 26 years, teaching every level of school from kindergarten to graduate school and consulting with companies around the world. Angela is the founder of Choose2Matter, a global movement that challenges and inspires students to work collaboratively to develop innovative solutions to social problems. She is an alumna of The University of Iowa, where she earned her Bachelor’s in Education and her Master’s in Educational Supervision and Reading. 

I recently had a chance to talk with renowned “rapping” math teacher Mark Rogers from Round Rock, Texas. Rogers shared the story of how he got his start in teaching and discussed the role humanity plays in his day-to-day activities with students. After watching the interview, check out the YouTube video displaying Mark’s creative side in education.

In this article, David Greene discusses how teacher recruitment and the economic achievement gap have changed in New York City since the late 1960s.

Professional development often addresses different approaches to pedagogy. High school teachers have unique needs in this area as they prepare their students for the academic and life challenges that lie ahead. An approach to consider is one that offers individualized experiential learning. Students can use what they’ve learned in the classroom as they enhance life skills to prepare to transition into the “real world.”

In this interview, David Greene discusses the current state of the teaching profession in America with edCircuit, including its trends and issues.

A s I watched this year’s crop of college freshmen descend on campus, buried in smartphones, earbuds in, heads down, I started thinking about how different their life experience has been from those of generations past. A lot has changed over the years. Let’s take a look at the world in which these 18-year-olds have grown up.For students in the Class of 2019:The Internet has always been here.They’ve never known a world without mobile phones.They weren’t even born when Kurt Cobain and Dave Grohl last played in the same band.Wi-fi is expected, everywhere. (I’m waiting for a student to tell me it’s guaranteed in the Constitution.)The Internet has always had its own awards show, the Webbys.They’ve always been able to go online to get CNN.They’ve never known a world without Harry Potter.Hybrids have always been an option for car buyers.In spite of their obsession with coffee, “Java” has always referred to a computer programming language.Netflix has always been around. So has Amazon.They were only preschoolers when the attacks of 9/11 happened.They have no idea what you’re talking about when you refer to the white Ford Bronco or the Unabomber.Do you think any of my smartphone-obsessed students would believe that on my college dorm hall, there was one payphone available for 50 students? Or that the only way to take a picture was with a camera?Are you feeling old yet?The opinions expressed here are solely those of Donna Krache.  

In this interview, Guy Kawasaki, chief evangelist of Canva and an executive fellow at the Haas School of Business at U.C. Berkeley, shares what excites him.

Ed Tech guru Richard Byrne offers general advice and three common scenarios on what to buy when classroom and teachers budgets are tight.