How to plan a productive parent teacher conference?
Tips for a Successful Parent-Teacher Conference
- Think About the Room Setup. Teachers should position themselves close to parents for comfort and engagement during conferences. …
- Begin and End on a Positive Note. Teachers should begin and end every conference with a compliment or (true) anecdote about a student’s strength.
- Be Attentive. …
- Avoid Eduspeak. …
What are the benefits of Parent Teacher Conferences?
These tips can help you make the most of those important meetings:
- In the weeks ahead of a conference, check in with kids about how they’re doing on homework and in each subject. …
- Ask if there are questions or issues your child wants you to discuss with the teacher.
- Plan to bring something to take notes with (paper and pen or a laptop or other device).
What do you expect from parent/teacher conferences?
A parent-teacher conference is a great opportunity to:
- share academic progress and 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
How to make your parent teacher conference more effective?
Teachers should have examples of student work available for reference at every parent-teacher conference. Rubrics and teacher guides that outline grade-level expectations can also be helpful. Even for students performing at or above academic expectations, samples of work are a great way to show parents how their children are doing.
The Basics
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Parent-teacher conferences are usually once or twice a year at progress reporting periods. They are brief meetings, lasting about 10-30 minutes. Conferences are typically scheduled 1 to 2 months in advance. Some middle and high schools only request parent conferences to discuss problems. Most schools set aside specific dates and times for conferenc…
Before The Conference
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Get informed.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 student assessment tools. As you move through the conference, the report card or progress report can be a springboard for discussion and help guide you through the meeting. Also, have any local or state standardized te…
During The Conference
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Create a welcoming environment.Make your classroom inviting by displaying students’ work, and making space for the conference with an adult-sized table and chairs. If parents need to bring their child or other siblings, have an area set aside with puzzles, games, worksheets, or computers to limit distractions. Also consider offering healthy snacks or beverages to families. Remember t…
After The Conference
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Follow up.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 email. You can also have students write thank-you notes to their parents or guardians for attending and supporting their learning. In the notes, remind parents to contact you if they have any further que…