Parents should keep in mind a number of things when preparing for teacher-student conferences. First, parent-teacher conferences are important to the child's success at school. Parent-teacher conferences give parents the opportunity to deal with any misunderstandings and discuss things that relate to their child's progress in school. It is an opportunity for two-way communication. Second, parents should write down specific questions. If parents feel that their child is receiving too much homework, they should ask, what about all this extra homework? Third, parents should visit their child's classroom as part of the conference. A short tour will make parents aware of what their child is experiencing every day. They might also consider taking some time to leave their child a positive note on his or her desk. Fourth, remember that your child's success is linked to effective parent teacher communication. The child needs to know that his or her parents are working together with the teacher. Fifth, parents should avoid interrogating the teacher. They should try to avoid a rapid-fire series of questions; occasional comment from the parents does much to change the tone of the interview. Sixth, parents should try to remain calm. They should try to avoid getting angry and never make a personal attack on the teacher. (TB)