Raising Scholars helps parents of elementary school kids build confident, independent learners without nightly battles. Weekly, you’ll get simple routines, supportive language, and practical strategies you can use immediately.
What to Ask the Teacher to Find Out Where Your Child Really Stands
Your child’s teacher says they’re doing “fine.” You leave the conference feeling good. But do you really know what “fine” means for your child?
Teachers often notice more than a short conference has time to cover. In this episode, Jacquie shares the questions that help you learn what your child’s teacher sees. You’ll find out how to tell if your child truly understands their schoolwork or is just following steps. You’ll learn the difference between what your child has been taught and what they can do on their own. And you’ll know what to ask if you hear words like “unmotivated” or “not focused.”
Jacquie also shares one simple question that gives your child’s teacher room to tell you what you didn’t think to ask.
You know your child at home. Their teacher sees them in the classroom. These questions help you put both views together, so you leave with a clear picture of your child and a plan for what comes next.
Timestamps
00:05 Understanding the Parent-Teacher Conference
02:41 Digging Deeper: Questions to Ask
04:31 Is my child currently meeting grade-level expectations?
04:58 What are you seeing that tells you that?
08:25 What can my child do independently?
08:28 Where do they still need support?
09:17 What are my child’s academic strengths?
09:37 What would you prioritize right now?
10:10 What progress have you seen since the beginning of the year
10:35 How are you measuring that progress?
10:56 What can I do at home that would actually help?
13:25 What does that actually look like in the classroom?
15:44 Summary
17:58 Follow and Subscribe
Know a parent with a conference coming up? Send this their way.
📘 Download the FREE R.A.I.S.E.™ Starter Kit here: www.raisingscholarspodcast.com/free-guide (http://www.raisingscholarspodcast.com/free-guide)
📩 Ready to build your child's independence step by step? Join the waitlist for our Personal Independence Roadmap: www.raisingscholarspodcast.com/join-waitlist (http://www.raisingscholarspodcast.com/join-waitlist)
🎙️ Follow and subscribe to Raising Scholars for new full-length episodes every Tuesday and Sunday Reset episodes every Sunday: www.youtube.com/@raisingscholarspodcast (http://www.youtube.com/@raisingscholarspodcast)
📱 Connect with us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/raisingscholarspodcast (http://www.instagram.com/raisingscholarspodcast)
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6 Oct 2026
You Don't Have to Stop Helping. You Have to Stop Taking Over.
You make the call and send the email because it's faster. But what happens when your child turns 16 and no one is doing it for them.
Jacquie shares the story of Alexis, a longtime student whose mom stepped back during a summer internship, and what it revealed. She explains the difference between rescuing and coaching, why kids build confidence through experience, and one simple question that helps you hand responsibility back.
Timestamps:
00:04 Introduction
00:51 The Balance of Coaching vs. Rescuing
01:15 Helping vs. Doing It for Them
01:44 The Journey to Independence
02:22 When Parents Handle Every Detail
03:25 Holding Kids Accountable
04:07 Independence Through Repetition
04:26 Letting Go of Guilt
05:08 The Coaching Question
05:39 Building Competence Through Experience
06:43 Practical Coaching Strategies
07:15 Let Mistakes Teach
07:44 Support Without Taking Over
08:22 Creating Opportunities for Growth
08:47 Encouraging Independence in Children
09:11 Free Independence Assessment
09:29 Reflection
Know a parent who handles every call and every form? Share this with them.
📘 Download the FREE R.A.I.S.E.™ Starter Kit here: www.raisingscholarspodcast.com/free-guide (http://www.raisingscholarspodcast.com/free-guide)
📩 Ready to build your child's independence step by step? Join the waitlist for our Personal Independence Roadmap: www.raisingscholarspodcast.com/join-waitlist (http://www.raisingscholarspodcast.com/join-waitlist)
🎙️ Follow and subscribe to Raising Scholars for new full-length episodes every Tuesday and Sunday Reset episodes every Sunday: www.youtube.com/@raisingscholarspodcast (http://www.youtube.com/@raisingscholarspodcast)
📱 Connect with us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/raisingscholarspodcast (http://www.instagram.com/raisingscholarspodcast)
📱 Follow us on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@raisingscholarspodcast (http://www.tiktok.com/@raisingscholarspodcast)
29 Sept 2026
What to Do When Your Child Says School Is Hard
Your child says school is hard, or just stops trying. Either way, you're left guessing what's really going on.
In this episode, Jacquie sits with a student who never once said the work was hard, he just slid in and out without anyone noticing. What she found when she watched him changed how she sees every kid who avoids their work, including why "I can't" and "I don't want to" usually mean the same thing.
Timestamps:
00:04 Understanding Student Resistance
03:07 From Managing to Coaching
03:39 The Role of Confidence in Learning
06:04 Strategies for Supporting Struggling Learners
If your child has been avoiding homework lately, this one might explain why.
📘 Download the FREE R.A.I.S.E.™ Starter Kit here: www.raisingscholarspodcast.com/free-guide (http://www.raisingscholarspodcast.com/free-guide)
📩 Ready to build your child's independence step by step? Join the waitlist for our Personal Independence Roadmap: www.raisingscholarspodcast.com/join-waitlist (http://www.raisingscholarspodcast.com/join-waitlist)
🎙️ Follow and subscribe to Raising Scholars for new full-length episodes every Tuesday and Sunday Reset episodes every Sunday: www.youtube.com/@raisingscholarspodcast (http://www.youtube.com/@raisingscholarspodcast)
📱 Connect with us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/raisingscholarspodcast (http://www.instagram.com/raisingscholarspodcast)
📱 Follow us on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@raisingscholarspodcast (http://www.tiktok.com/@raisingscholarspodcast)
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
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