If you have prepared properly for the meeting, then it should go smoothly.

You will repeat many things that you have written on your handout page. As a matter of fact, you will probably be very annoyed with that page by the end of the evening, since you'll have to repeat it to each parent. That's OK - your annoyance will pass! Stress the information that you have taught during the course of the year, and then talk about the particular child.

However, (and this may come as a surprise to many readers), this is not the time to criticize the parents for the child's problems or inadequacies. That will make some parents defensive and accusing. Speak about how much the child has progressed and how much was accomplished since the beginning of the year.

Then, in a delicate and tactful way, you may raise the fact that "if there would be any way in which your child could improve, it might be ...." At that point, you can present a specific minor issue in which the parent can help by speaking to the child at home.

Don't tell the parents about their disruptive child who cannot sit for the entire class. It would not help at this time. No parent can help the child deal with such generalities without assistance. However, a parent might be able to help the child to deal with a minor specific problem, such as being sure to bring a notebook or textbook to each class.

In this way, you have preserved calm during your meeting with the parent, and you will have another happy parent.

That's your goal. You will want to have happy parents who come home and speak highly of you to their child. Despite what you may have previously felt, your goal at the PTA meeting is not to correct the child's ills or to make the child turn into a little darling. Teachers who use the meetings for this purpose are likely to fail.

The meeting should not last for more than 5-7 minutes. At the end of that time, end with an upbeat "Oh, I see that our time is up. It's been a pleasure meeting with you. I hope that we will be able to remain in touch. Thank you for coming to the PTA meeting. I hope that you'll have a happy evening." If you have been successful, the parent will walk away with positive feelings about you.

Of course, some problems may arise, despite this preparation.