Q: During the first week of school, my second-grade daughter's teacher suggested a conference. This soon? Does it mean there's something wrong?

A: Successful teachers often make efforts to connect with parents early in the school year, rather than wait until the end of the first grading period to establish communication.

It makes sense, says Stephen Edwards, a California teacher, who tries to schedule informal get-togethers with parents during the first week of school. He doesn't call them conferences, so as not to raise worries.

"The goal is listening to parents' questions, concerns and hopes. It gives parents a chance to describe their child's special interests, unique challenges, family structure and prior school experience," says Edwards.

Early-year meetings give teachers a jump on planning successful learning experiences. "One little comment is often key to understanding what motivates the child, what her special interests are or the easiest way to modify unwanted behavior," notes Edwards.

Marilee Rosen, a New York kindergarten teacher, recalls one mother asking for five minutes of her time at the end of opening day: "Out of earshot of her daughter, she said, 'Selena loves to read. She's proud of her library card. She just finished "Little House on the Prairie." Please challenge her with new books.'"

Rosen says, "With 20 kindergarteners, it would have taken days to learn just how advanced she was. I walked her to the school media center the next day, where she met the librarian and checked out an armful of books. I was grateful for this mom's initiative."

Rosen tries to have a conversation with each parent during the first few days. "I ask about the child's summer, get feedback on the prior school year and ask about goals for their child this year. Sometimes parents volunteer important information.

"Last year, one dad asked to meet the first day of school. He said Ben's uncle had been killed on a motorcycle a few weeks earlier and that Ben was having a hard time. That information shouldn't wait until October's conference week. Right away, Ben got counseling that helped him succeed in kindergarten."

These days, parents and teachers email each other to facilitate communication. "Digital dialogue is wonderful, but more effective if we've met early on," says Rosen.

Parents should take the initiative, advises Edwards, if there are things you'd like the teacher to know: "Call or email for an appointment. And it never hurts to ask them how they take their coffee!"

What topics should an informal conference cover? Focus on your child's interests, strengths and areas for improvement. Describe your goals. If you'd like, share information about home routines such as after-school activities, homework, sleep and exercise habits. Tell the teacher how you support your child's learning and describe any TV- and media-usage rules you might have. Ask how best to support your child at home, especially in core subjects.

(Do you have a question about your child's education? Email it to Leanna@aplusadvice.com. Leanna Landsmann is an education writer who began her career as a classroom teacher. She has served on education commissions, visited classrooms in 49 states to observe best practices, and founded Principal for a Day in New York City.)

Q: My two teens text constantly. Is there research showing that all those "LOLs" and grammar shortcuts hurt students' writing skills? I'd love a reason to make them put down their phones.

A: If you're looking for a reason to reduce teens' texting, research on writing skills won't provide one.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that texting in class distracts students (Duh!), leading to low grades and discipline problems. But that puts "texting" in the category of yesteryear's note passing and pigtail pulling -- mere diversions from the important business of focused learning.

Many folks worry that texting reduces actual conversations, resulting in poor oral language skills. Employers who hire today's teens say they now put more effort into training employees on how to speak to customers, use complete sentences, make eye contact and engage in responsible conversations.

But don't blame texting for poor writing scores, says Ardith Davis Cole, a literacy specialist with 30 years of experience in the nation's public schools.

"Actually, texting has increased students' interest in writing," she says. "Not so long ago, students never wrote at all, unless writing was assigned. Many saw writing as only a school activity. It was common for kids to dislike it; some actually feared writing."

Texting came along, and "today's kids write all the time," notes Cole. "Some may only write text messages to friends and family, but others use the Internet for a variety of writing. They blog, post on Facebook, express their opinions on forums and tweet.

"Texting? I say, write on!"

Does texting make it harder to learn the rules of good writing, such as grammar, punctuation and spelling? Cole says no: "Research over decades shows no link between grammar instruction and writing proficiency. What does promote good writing? Reading! Encourage your teens to read lots of different styles and genres."

Cole says that some educators think creativity suffers when students spend time texting rather than journaling or composing.

"They shouldn't worry," she suggests. "A quick Google search demonstrates how few of the world's creatives were inspired through their own creative writing experiences. However, collaboration does inspire creativity!"

While creative writing is a wonderful skill, "it's not what most adults use in their lives," says Cole. "When a boss emails her salesperson to ask, 'Why are sales down?' that employee doesn't create a poem or a story, because most bosses expect a clear, factual, brief but comprehensive emailed response that sheds light on the problem."

Let's not throw the technology out because it's misused or overused, says Cole: "This isn't a writing issue. It's a social issue. Many parents are catching on. They tell their kids, 'Put away your phone for a while because it's family time.'"

If you're looking for evidence to dissuade teens from texting, consider data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing how much texting distracts drivers. And who has the highest proportion of "distraction-related fatal crashes"? Teens. So go to YouTube with your two and watch Werner Herzog's new documentary, "From One Second to the Next," a haunting examination of victims of driving-while-texting accidents.

Q: My daughter is a fifth-grader. On her teacher's website, it says the class will have "Maker Days" once a month. Students should bring "raw materials for tinkering." My daughter professes ignorance. What's this about?

A: You have one lucky daughter! Her teacher has joined the "maker movement," a growing initiative among educators to provide students with more hands-on activities to stimulate their imaginations.

A couple of events accelerated the movement. A Los Angeles boy, Caine Monroy, made an entire game arcade of used cardboard and tape. A neighbor's video of it went viral. (Visit cainesarcade.com.)

Joey Hudy, a 12-year-old from Arizona, demonstrated a marshmallow cannon he constructed at the 2012 White House Science Fair. When President Barack Obama used the cannon to launch a marshmallow across the State Dining Room, the maker movement made national news. (See Make Magazine to recapture the moment: makezine.com.)

The maker movement is fueled by a sense that schools are focusing too much on testing and not enough on creativity, draining students of opportunities to explore, imagine, problem-solve, design and invent real things in the arts and STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math).

The movement is also fueled by parents who want kids to learn to create with technology, rather than simply consume it. A fast-growing array of technology tools -- like robotics programs, coding websites and 3-D printers -- makes it easier than ever for young people to dream up cool projects.

A new book, "Invent To Learn: Making, Tinkering, and Engineering in the Classroom," by Sylvia Libow Martinez and Gary S. Stager (Constructing Modern Knowledge Press, 2013), gives educators and parents guidance on how to support young makers in learner-centered activities.

The authors say, "Projects are what students remember long after the bell rings."

They add that the "maker movement overlaps with the natural inclinations of curious children and the power of learning by doing." They say that middle school, "where students can shift seamlessly between childhood play and preparation for serious academics," is the perfect time to engage in the real work of mathematicians, scientists, composers, filmmakers, authors, computer scientists, engineers and so on.

Edsurge.com contributing editor Marie Bjerede runs a local makers club with her daughter. In an Edsurge blog post, she writes about ways parents can inspire and nurture kids like hers: "What does it take to inspire, raise and nurture young makers? Do they need lots of 'stuff' lying around the house to create with? Do they need Internet access to connect with and learn from other makers? Do they need parents who respect and protect their need to make?

"Let (young makers) go their own way, support the accumulation of maker treasure, and help (only) when asked (and provide the minimum amount of help needed to make it possible for them to take that next step)."

Heather Russell, a Seattle mom says, "Our boys learn so much by tinkering. Neighbors save junk for them to cobble together into spaceships, submarines, robots, whatever. But it does accumulate, so our rule is to triage every few weeks.

"That, too, is a learning opportunity. What to save? Toss? Trade with friends? It's worth it though. Each project becomes a memory maker."

(Do you have a question about your child's education? Email it to Leanna@aplusadvice.com. Leanna Landsmann is an education writer who began her career as a classroom teacher. She has served on education commissions, visited classrooms in 49 states to observe best practices, and founded Principal for a Day in New York City.)