If your child's teacher skips the positive feedback and dwells exclusively on problems, or her tone seems overly harsh and critical, try not to respond with anger right off the bat. But I'm hoping that you can find something positive to say about his progress.
Most teachers know that it's best to open a parent conference on a positive note.
That sets an optimistic tone for the rest of the meeting, even if there are serious concerns to discuss. Also, you're much more likely to be open to criticism if it's preceded by praise. If the teacher continues to dwell on the negative, then try to find out why. If your child's behavior is at issue, find out if something happened in the classroom that she hadn't told you about earlier. Ask her to relate specific anecdotes that illustrate your child's problem.