Parent-teacher conferences sometimes become a cause for concern for everyone involved. This Digest outlines ways to improve communication during parent-teacher conferences. Suggestions are offered to help parents participate more effectively in conferences, including identifying what is being done to help a child overcome a problem, examining the teacher's expectations, creating a plan, and scheduling a follow-up conference. The Digest points out that even if a child is not experiencing difficulties, parents can contribute to the effectiveness of the conference by asking questions such as "What does my child do that surprises you?" or "What can I do at home to support what is being done at school?" (LPP)