~119 “How to Crush High‑School Parent‑Teacher Conferences: A 5‑Minute Guide for Parents of Teens”

#backtoschool #parentteacherinterviews #parentingteens

Back‑to‑school season is in full swing and the dreaded parent‑teacher interview is right around the corner. In this uncut, un‑edited solo episode, Cheryl shares the exact steps you need to turn a 5‑minute “speed‑date” with teachers into a powerful partnership that empowers your teen and protects your sanity.

Whether you’re a mom, dad, step‑parent, or part of a two‑mom/ two‑dad crew, this episode gives you the Dream‑Team framework you need to:

1. Show up together – Why you must bring your teen to the meeting.
2. Ask the right questions – Communication, resources, extra help, learning style, IEPs, and more.
3. Avoid the pitfalls – What NOT to bring up when you only have five minutes.
4. Set up proactive communication – Create a schedule that works for you and the teacher.

Plus, Cheryl introduces a 40‑day “Cleansing Within” fall challenge (Kundalini yoga, Yoga Nidra, holistic wellness) for parents who need extra calm and community during the hectic school year. 

Back‑to‑school season is in full swing and the dreaded parent‑teacher interview is right around the corner. In this uncut, un‑edited solo episode, Cheryl shares the exact steps you need to turn a 5‑minute “speed‑date” with teachers into a powerful partnership that empowers your teen and protects your sanity.

Whether you’re a mom, dad, step‑parent, or part of a two‑mom/ two‑dad crew, this episode gives you the Dream‑Team framework you need to:

1. Show up together – Why you must bring your teen to the meeting.
2. Ask the right questions – Communication, resources, extra help, learning style, IEPs, and more.
3. Avoid the pitfalls – What NOT to bring up when you only have five minutes.
4. Set up proactive communication – Create a schedule that works for you and the teacher.

Plus, Cheryl introduces a 40‑day “Cleansing Within” fall challenge (Kundalini yoga, Yoga Nidra, holistic wellness) for parents who need extra calm and community during the hectic school year. https://www.practicewithpresence.com/waitlist/?sa=sa0019992619598254bda4daae3980777062778b19

wtf back to school.mp4
Transcript generated by Transcript LOL
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Speaker 1
00:02 - 00:16
Welcome to the WTF. Welcome to Friday, or what the happened this week. It's your choice, your label, no judgment. This is the spinoff from Wednesdays of Parenting Teens Advice Redefined.

Speaker 1
00:16 - 00:43
This is the solo series where We are uncut and unedited and I am your host Cheryl Pankhurst and today we're talking all about navigating those parent-teacher interviews. It is almost the beginning of school and I hate talking about back-to-school crap until it's actually time for back-to-school. So did I shop at the stores in July when they had all the school supplies? Not a freaking chance in hell.

Speaker 1
00:44 - 01:09
So here reality hits, it's now Labor Day weekend, and time to actually talk about back to school. And I really wanted to, as a retired high school teacher of almost 30 years, I've seen it all, and I wanna help you make the most out of getting your kids into high school, just starting, if they're in grade nine, 10, 11, 12, this information will still help you. You know, things move fast.

Speaker 1
01:10 - 01:51
And what I want you to really understand about all of this is, you are the kids, part of the kids dream team. Okay, mom, mom and dad, two moms, two dads, doesn't matter. you are the dream team and your kid is the star player and so this is super important to understand when we're talking about getting our kids into high school and as a spec ed specialist there's a whole different layer to making sure we are a dream team with our kids so that We are advocating for them, but we're also bringing them along for the ride.

Speaker 1
01:51 - 02:27
We want them to be able to advocate for themselves and by completely taking over their high school education, their high school experience, because you want to make sure everything goes right, we are denying them the skill of learning how to do it themselves. So Tip number one, first of all, and most importantly, you don't go alone to the parent-teacher interviews. It's completely useless. I know you're busy, but you cannot be an effective Dream Team member if a third of the team is missing.

Speaker 1
02:28 - 02:47
Your kid is the key collaborator here. Along with you and the teacher, this is a chance to show them that you're on their side. And it prevents that whole, he said, she said drama that happens when you go to the meetings yourself and then you come home and your kid's like, I didn't say that. I didn't do that.

Speaker 1
02:47 - 03:01
I didn't know there was a test. And then you have to go back and forth on this flip flop. Let's get rid of that drama right away. Your team will know you have their back, but they'll also know that you're not talking behind their back.

Speaker 1
03:02 - 03:39
And it also shows your kid that you are committed to their education and that you believe they are capable of taking responsibility for it. So what do if you're coming out of grade eight and you've never been to grade nine to 12 high school parent teacher meetings, it's very much like speed dating. Remember the high school parent teacher meetings are not like this long leisurely chat about your new shoes and your mother's a pain in the neck and there's hemorrhoids happening. That's not what these parent-teacher meetings are for.

Speaker 1
03:40 - 03:53
Think of them like a speed dating. You likely have five minutes with each teacher, so you need to be prepared. So before you go, do some homework with your kid. Have them line up a few questions.

Speaker 1
03:54 - 04:12
What's the first six weeks of school been like? What's difficult? What's something they enjoy? Let them take the lead And this might cause some resistance for the first meeting, but if you continue to bring them along and they see the benefit of having a voice, they will start to want to participate.

Speaker 1
04:13 - 04:24
This isn't about you just talking to the teacher. This is about your kid being an active participant in their education. They are the team player. You are the dream team.

Speaker 1
04:25 - 04:34
They're the captain. Let them play. Another tip, ask smart questions. You've got five minutes.

Speaker 1
04:35 - 04:43
What should you ask? Here are my top suggestions. Communication. What is the best way to get a hold of you?

Speaker 1
04:44 - 04:56
Email, phone call. How often do you communicate with parents? Do you do a check-in regularly or only when there's an issue? Where can we find resources for the class?

Speaker 1
04:56 - 05:22
Is there a Google Classroom or a calendar with assignments and due dates? Can you share passwords so everybody is on the same page? This is super helpful to help keep your kid on track and it's also very proactive. If you are hearing from a teacher halfway through a semester that they haven't handed in the last 10 assignments and now you've got to do all this catch up, that's not helpful.

Speaker 1
05:24 - 05:49
So take the initiative. Yes, teachers connect with parents, but if you take the initiative and say, is it okay if I email you on a Friday afternoon just to say everything good, anything I need to know, or on a Monday or a Tuesday, is it easier for a quick call? You know, being proactive this way sets the standard. So the teacher now has it in their schedule.

Speaker 1
05:49 - 06:18
Okay, every Friday I'm calling Johnny's mom or Every Tuesday, I get to send her a check in email or every other week, whatever's reasonable for both of you. Don't forget to keep their needs in mind too, because they will feel like a collaborator and they will feel as respected as you should feel respected in collaborating on a communication style and timeline. Extra help. Do you offer specific times or dates for extra help?

Speaker 1
06:18 - 06:44
When a student struggles with a test or a quiz, When a student struggles, no editing, with a test or a quiz, it's great to have that plan already in place. What do you see so far in these first few weeks? What is my kid doing well and what are they struggling with? And this is where your kid can pop in if they want to, if they feel comfortable.

Speaker 1
06:44 - 06:58
And again, this might have some resistance the first few times, but please don't give up on this. Learning style. This is one we hope your teen can answer. What helps me learn best?

Speaker 1
06:59 - 07:33
What helps me when I feel overwhelmed? It could be something so simple like a quick walk, or just a drink of water, or just a short break without being called out, or please don't call me out to read out loud. These things, if they know they need to read out loud, And this is something that causes great distress. You can bet they're sitting in that classroom from the beginning of the class until it's their turn to read, not learning anything, but just being in full blown panic.

Speaker 1
07:33 - 07:59
I was the same way. I know exactly how that feels. So if there's an issue there and it really brings up some anxiety, can you talk to the teacher about, listen, Can they just read one-on-one to you at lunch for five minutes so that you know that they can do it? Are they demonstrating an expectation for you or they don't have to do it in front of 30 people and it just blocks any part of learning for them?

Speaker 1
08:01 - 08:12
And here's a very crucial one. If your teen has a diagnosis and an IEP, please make sure the teacher has it. Bring it with you. Ask them ahead of time.

Speaker 1
08:12 - 08:32
You can even connect with them prior to the first day of school. If they don't, ask them how you can help them get it. This is a conversation you should approach with curiosity, not blame. Remember, most teachers are doing their best and want what's best for your kid, just like you do.

Speaker 1
08:32 - 08:57
Let's make that assumption and build a very strong partnership. And in my school system, Grade nine teachers did not receive the IEPs from grade eight until the middle of October. So if your kid has an IEP, don't sit back in your kitchen table, tapping your fingers, waiting for them to talk to you about the IEP. Be proactive.

Speaker 1
08:58 - 09:12
There's an IEP in place. I know you're gonna get it. I'm sure you're gonna read it, but let me just forward it to you now so you have it and it's already flagged for your kid. So let's talk about what not to talk about.

Speaker 1
09:13 - 09:46
While you're there, we need to talk about what not to bring up in these meetings. Again, five minutes. Unless your kid is in their final year of high school, we're not gonna focus on university and college. The goal is to prepare them for the next year or even the next semester or when you're 25 and you're in the workforce, you're not preparing for retirement every day, you're preparing for the next promotion.

Speaker 1
09:47 - 10:13
Let's apply that same logic to high school. The purpose of these meetings is to set your kid up for success right now, not five years down the road. I hear so many parents saying, oh, in grade nine, first semester of English, well, they need to write a five-pay essay perfectly because they need to get into university. No, that's eventually, but that's not today.

Speaker 1
10:14 - 10:38
We're gonna prepare them for next year. All right, I hope these tips have helped you. I want you to feel really confident going into parent-teacher interviews. If you have any questions or something I haven't covered, you can totally DM me or email me, CherylPankhurst.com, sorry, CherylPankhurst.gmail.com, and I'll do the best to answer your questions in the next episode.

Speaker 1
10:39 - 11:15
And with fall, I don't know about you, but to me, January 1st, the whole new year, new life, new blah, blah, blah, doesn't resonate with me like fall does. Fall just feels like this amazing, I don't know, refresh, cleansing. I don't know, there's something about the fall that just makes me feel like there's potential for something really great to happen as opposed to a new year's resolution that I usually bail on by January 3rd. So I have a big collaboration with someone who I have the most respect and admiration for in the arena of healing.

Speaker 1
11:15 - 11:40
And if you're sitting there thinking, oh my God, please don't let next year feel like this year. Please don't, I don't want to live the groundhog day. And you know, we started off even in September thinking we have these great intentions, but we so quickly get overwhelmed because we take on too much way too fast. So I would like to offer you to kick off your fall.

Speaker 1
11:41 - 11:59
I have joined with this extraordinary project as a collaborator. It's called The Cleansing Within. So this practice I'm challenging you to, we will get ready for in September. It is a 40 day guided practice to release and renew and awaken and just come back to yourself.

Speaker 1
11:59 - 12:23
It is not just another wellness challenge. It is not just another try harder. Listen, this world is already filled with chaos and the imbalance and the cleansing within just brings you back to a slice of peace, some ease. It's a space where we can step away from the collective noise and into a practice that will guide us through.

Speaker 1
12:24 - 12:43
And the best part about it is that you are in a community. There's nothing more isolating than feeling like you have these great practices and wanting to talk to somebody about it. Maybe you've kind of fallen off the ledge a little bit or you need a little support and you need somebody to say, yeah, well, me too. And this is what I did.

Speaker 1
12:44 - 13:00
And when nobody's around, it's harder to get through these things. So community is key. And I know many of you have sat down with me and said, oh my God, I meditate every day. I meditate at least 30 minutes every day.

Speaker 1
13:01 - 13:13
And when I tell people this, I didn't start meditating every day for 30 minutes, no way. I started for like 30 seconds and then I started doing a grocery list in my head. It is a practice. It is called a practice for a reason.

Speaker 1
13:14 - 13:21
And so many people said, oh my God, meditation. I can't sit down. I don't have time to walk. I don't have time to do this.

Speaker 1
13:21 - 13:45
But you want to build this into your life. And you know it's important for you. But being surrounded by the people who are doing the same thing is so empowering. and you get to share your practices, they get to share theirs, you get to hear tips that you didn't even know about, or you could just spread some love in a community that is spreading love to you and you're all like-minded, which is so valuable.

Speaker 1
13:47 - 14:12
This cleansing within brings together very transformative power of kundalini yoga, yoga nidra, holistic wellness, and some very introspective prompts. And it's designed to help you rise above and just connect with yourself. The part of you that knows that you need to find some peace and joy, and you know, it's there. We just need to figure out how to get there.

Speaker 1
14:14 - 14:24
You know, and it's not coming from the outside. Nothing about this is external. It's helping you find it internally. So you always have the power and the control.

Speaker 1
14:24 - 15:04
You don't have to wait to take another course. You don't have to wait to read the book. You will have the skills already set. You know, it's not like I, this no editing told you my work as a collaborator in this my work particularly with neurodivergence has taught me how to meet people where they're at so with methods that invite you to be able to do mindfulness in ways that are very

Speaker 1
15:04 - 15:27
flexible or sensory friendly and grounded in real life practical methods. There are approaches you may not have tried before and ways to integrate mindfulness without the pressure to get it right. When it comes to your own self-care, you can't get it wrong. And we feel like it's something we get to do, not something we have to do.

Speaker 1
15:28 - 15:47
You know, a big part of this collaboration is with the originator, Connie Walsh. And I have to say, this makes the experience even more powerful. She is the most incredible osteopath who has transformed my own health. And Connie brings this depth of spirituality and holistic understanding, and I trust it completely.

Speaker 1
15:47 - 16:12
And working alongside her really feels like a natural extension of healing and transformation that I've already experienced personally. So, If you are feeling like the pace of life is unrelenting, you don't want Groundhog Day from last year. If you've been feeling like you need just a little more clarity, like there has to be something else, something more. You need a sense of yourself.

Speaker 1
16:13 - 16:32
You need to connect with yourself. If you want to align with your own rhythms and nature's wisdom in fall, release, release, cleanse, this is a space for you. This is not adding another task to your list. It is about creating moments that refill your energy, restore your balance, and reconnect you to yourself.

Speaker 1
16:33 - 16:52
The transformation is subtle and profound at the same time. It will ripple outward in every relationship and every part of your life. This is a promise. It is a 40-day invitation to live more fully more present and more aligned.

Speaker 1
16:53 - 17:19
You will be guided day by day by themes that move you gently but powerfully forward. You will be supported by a community walking the same path and you'll be led by even more amazing practitioners who live this work, including myself and Connie. You don't have to push or force your way into change. You just have to say, yes, show up as you are and where you are.

Speaker 1
17:19 - 17:28
I am just really proud to be excited. I'm proud and excited to be a part of this. I just wanted to share this with you. I'm going to put the link in the show notes.

Speaker 1
17:28 - 17:45
I'll put my link in the bio. Practice with presence, and I would love to have you with us as we move through the season of fall together. Thank you again for listening to WTF and I will see you next Friday. Have a beautiful week.