Parent teacher conference

Parent teacher conference

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  Is a face-to-facemeeting between one teacher and one or both parents (or guardians) of a student. It is an opportunity to discuss a student’s academic progress and social behavior
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  share academic progressand growth based on classroom observations, testing data, assessments, portfolios, and assignments learn from parents or guardians so you can be better informed about students’ strengths, needs, behaviors, and learning styles discuss enrichment or intervention strategies to support students’ learning discuss issues that may be interfering with students’ learning A parent-teacher conference is a great opportunity to:
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  The following pointsprovide helpful reminders when preparing and conducting parent-teacher conferences: 1. Make plans for the conference. Set the goals and objectives of the conference ahead of time. 2. Begin the conference in a positive manner. Starting the conference by making a positive statement about the student sets the tone for the meeting. 3. Present the student’s strong points before describing the areas needing improvement. It is helpful to present examples of the student’s work when discussing the student’s performance.
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  4. Encourage parentsto participate and share information. Although as a teacher you are in charge of the conference, you must be willing to listen to parents and share information rather than “talk at” them. 5. Plan a course of action cooperatively. The discussion should lead to what steps can be taken by the teacher and parent to help the student. 6. End the conference with a positive comment. At the end of the conference, thank the parents for coming and say something positive about the student. 7. Use good human relation skills during the conference.
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  Before the conference Getinformed. Make sure you’re familiar with your school’s or school district’s protocols on progress reports or report cards, grading policies, and any other assessment tools. Prepare your materials. Preparing materials well before the conference will make you feel more at ease when families show up at your classroom door. Send informative invitations. A week or so before the conferences, send home information of where and when the conference will be held, as well as the meeting agenda. On the invitation, remind parents that they’ll be able to ask questions, because an effective parent-teacher conference is a two-way conversation about students.
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  During the conference Createa welcoming environment. Make your classroom inviting by displaying students’ work, and making space fro the conference with an adult-sized table and chairs. Open with positives. When you start the conversation, remind parents that the goal of this meeting is to share information about students’ academic progress and growth and how their child interacts in the school environment. Discuss progress and growth. Inform parents about their child’s ability levels in different content areas, using demonstrative work examples or testing results.
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  Avoid teacher-talk. K-12education is loaded with jargon and acronyms, but a parent-teacher conference is not the place to use them. Be sure to explain any terms, curriculum titles, or even words on progress reports that aren’t commonly used outside the school setting. Ask questions and listen. Ask parents or guardians for their input about students’ strengths, needs, and learning styles, a well as their hopes and dreams for their children. Make a plan. Provide suggestions for activities and strategies to support learning at home. Be honest and have a thick skin. Its your responsibility to give parents or guardians an accurate assessment of students’ academic progress. Sometimes this means delivering bad news. Sugar-coating the fact defeats the purpose of the conference.
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  After the conference Followup. A little thank-you can go a long way. Many parents have to take time off work or hire babysitters to attend conferences, so consider taking the time to thank parents in a letter or e-mail. Communicate regularly. Let parents know what’s going on wit their child in an ongoing fashion. Keep families informed about class projects, homework and other assignments, students’ accomplishments, and any problems or concerns that may arise. Enhance your instruction. Now that you know a little more about your students, use that information to make instructional decisions that will help your students achieve and grow in the classroom.
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  Pestijo, Rosalie Antonio, Mae DeMesa, Donnah