Before the meeting
A plan keeps the meeting calm and focused. Fill in this sheet a few days before you go.
Meeting details
Date and time:
Location or video link:
Who will attend:
My child's name and grade:
Teacher's name:
My top 3 goals
Write what you want to leave with.
1.
2.
3.
Examples:
- Learn how my child reads compared to grade expectations
- Find out what reading help is already in place
- Agree on a date to check progress
What to bring
- Your Parent Observation Log
- 2 or 3 writing or spelling samples
- Recent report cards
- Any reading screening results the school shared
- Any outside reports, such as tutoring notes
- Notes from past meetings
- This worksheet and a pen
Questions to ask
Pick the ones that fit. Do not try to ask all of them.
About reading now
- How does my child read compared to grade expectations?
- What did the early reading screening show?
- Which reading skills are strong? Which are weak?
About support
- What reading help does my child get now?
- How many minutes a week is that help?
- Who gives the help, and in what size group?
- Is the help based on systematic phonics instruction?
About progress
- How will you measure progress?
- When will we look at results together?
- What happens if progress is slow?
About next steps
- Would an Individual Education Plan help? (Some provinces use another name, such as IPP.)
- Can my child use audiobooks or text-to-speech now?
- Should we ask about a psychoeducational assessment?
- What can I do at home to help?
During the meeting
- Share your goals at the start
- Show your log and samples
- Take notes on answers
- Ask what each term means if unclear
- Agree on actions, owners and dates
- Ask who to contact with questions
Action notes
| Action | Who | By when |
|---|---|---|
A note on assessment
Schools screen to find children who need help early. Screening is not a diagnosis. A licensed professional, usually a psychologist, diagnoses dyslexia. In Quebec, a speech-language pathologist also assesses reading and language. Ask the school how to request an assessment.
After the meeting
- Send a short email within 2 days.
- List what you agreed to, who does it and by when.
- Ask the school to correct anything you got wrong.
- Save the email with your log.
- Put the check-in date in your calendar.
Follow-up email starter
Hello [Teacher name],
Thank you for meeting with me on [date].
Here is what I understood we agreed:
1. [Action], by [name], by [date]
2. [Action], by [name], by [date]
We will check progress on [date].
Please let me know if I missed anything.
Thank you,
[Your name]
If things stall
- Wait until the agreed check-in date
- Ask for a meeting with the principal
- Ask to speak with the special education teacher
- Keep every request in writing
Sources
Free to use and share with credit. Skills Council of Canada and Fraser Academy. Version 1.1, last reviewed October 13, 2026. Status: Quality audited.