Reverse Inquiry - The Parent Interview

The teacher switches roles from "informant" to "interviewer." Instead of telling parents what the child is (not) doing at school, the teacher interviews them to gain expert knowledge about the child at home.

✍️ Brigitta Rupp, PBÖ

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⏱️ Duration Up to 30 minutes

🔄 Frequency One-time

👥 Target Group Teachers, Parents

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Purpose

It targets the need for Fun (Learning).
For teachers, the conversation becomes engaging rather than exhausting as they discover new insights.
Parents feel validated in their competence (Power), which significantly increases cooperation.

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Use and Learning Outcomes

1. Gaining "insider knowledge" about the student's motivation.
2. Reducing defensive attitudes in parents.
3. Teachers transform from "problem managers" to "learning detectives."
4. Strengthening the educational partnership at eye level.
5. Time efficiency through targeted information gathering.

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Wellbeing References

Basic Needs

🏆 Power 😊 Fun

Quality Dimensions

Social interactions Parent involvement

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Details & Preparation

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Room Requirements

A quiet space for the meeting; ideally, a "corner-to-corner" seating arrangement (rather than directly opposite) to support the interview atmosphere.

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Time for preparation

10 minutes

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Preparation

* Create a brief interview guide (see materials).
* Create the invitation for the parents:
"I’m looking forward to our conversation. To make the most of our time together, I’d love to learn from your experience. Perhaps you could take a moment beforehand to think about what your child enjoys most at home?"
* Quickly review the student's existing file to identify "blind spots" (What do I not know about this student yet?).
* Consciously step out of the "evaluator role": Enter the conversation as a learner.

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Materials

* The Interview Sheet: A pre-printed page featuring the 3-4 core questions with plenty of space for notes.
* The Resource Card: A small sticky note or card to record the two most important "levers" for classroom use (to be placed in the student’s file later).
* A high-quality pen (signals appreciation while taking notes).

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Sequence of Steps

Adopting the "Researcher" Mindset

⏱ 5 minutes

Before the parents arrive, prepare a sheet of paper with three "resource questions."
Internalize the attitude: "I know a lot about the student, but the parents know things I can never see in the classroom."
This removes the pressure to lead the conversation at all times.

Flipping the Frame

⏱ 3 minutes

Do not start with grades.
Instead, say: "I would like to use the first fifteen minutes today to learn from your expertise. You know your child best. May I ask you a few questions so that I can support [Student's Name] even better in class?"
This immediately signals appreciation.

The Interview Phase

⏱ 10 - 15 minutes

Ask targeted, resource-oriented questions.
Let the parents finish speaking and take notes (this shows their answers are important to you).
Example questions:
1. "What is one thing [Name] is totally passionate about at home, where they completely lose track of time?"
2. "What strategy do you use at home when things get difficult? What works well for you?"
3. "What is your child’s greatest strength that I might not have discovered in school yet?"

Mirroring what was learned

⏱ 2 minutes

Briefly summarize what you have learned:
"That is very interesting. If I understand you correctly, [Name] needs clear structure but also creative freedom with tasks. I will specifically try that out in class."

Documentation