Sit at a table with parents so that you are meeting as equals. Maintain the three Ps. Be polite, positive and professional to set the meeting’s tone.
How do you write a parent-teacher conference invitation?
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. You might also want to remind parents to be respectful of other parents’ time, and be clear that time slots won’t be extended if parents arrive late.
Should parents have Parent-Teacher Conferences with their child’s teacher?
If parents find themselves feeling uncomfortable about parent-teacher conferences, Santana suggests they find other ways to communicate with their child’s teacher. For example: Schedule a phone call, use an intermediary at the school if they are more comfortable doing so and use technology to communicate virtually or by electronic exchanges.
What should I do if a parent won’t attend a conference?
Be sure to communicate the importance of attending conferences at back-to-school night and other parent forums, and let parents know that they are a critical part of their child’s instructional team. When you send home information about conference dates and times, give parents several meeting times to choose from.
How do you conduct a parent/teacher meeting?
Sit at a table with parents so that you are meeting as equals. Maintain the three Ps . Be polite, positive and professional to set the meeting’s tone. Identify what is expected. Work together to set common goals for the student. Listen to the parents. Focus on responses and be ready to follow up. Plan regular updates.
How do you motivate your parents to go to a conference?
Boost AttendanceDeliver a warm invitation to all of your students’ parents and/or guardians by email and paper to set a welcoming tone.Schedule a “hook” activity prior to the conference that will encourage parents to attend, be engaged, and even look forward to the event.More items…
What are two things that contribute to a successful parent teacher conference?
15 Tips for Leading Productive Parent-Teacher ConferencesOffer a flexible conference schedule. … Prepare, prepare, prepare. … Arrange for a translator if needed, and find a way to connect. … Be aware of your body language. … Sit side-by-side. … Share real stories and student work. … Include the positive. … Create clear goals.More items…
How do you have an effective parent teacher conference?
Mastering the Parent-Teacher Meeting: Eight Powerful TipsBe Proactive. … Be Welcoming. … Explain Objectives and Expectations. … Be Prepared. … Create an Action Plan. … Use the Good-Bad-Good Sandwich. … Don’t Tolerate Abuse. … Keep Lines of Communication Open.
How do you encourage participation in parents?
[Teacher Tips] 7 Ways to Encourage Parent InvolvementSet Expectations.Create a Class Website.Make Constant Contact by Sharing Progress.Ask Parents to Get Involved and Host Events.Offer Parent Office Hours.Provide Resources for Frequently Asked Questions.Commit to Your Goals.
What do you say to parents during parent teacher conference?
When planning what to say at parent teacher conferences, prepare a way to end on a positive note. You could tell why you love having the child in your class, highlight an overall strength, or a special connection you have with the child.
What should you not do at a parent teacher conference?
Don’t:Sit behind your desk. … Tell parents what they should or shouldn’t do. … Do all of the talking. … Speak using educational jargon. … Provide too many suggestions for student improvement. … Forget to invite all parents/guardians to the conference. … Forget the data! … Make assumptions.
What do you talk about at a parent-teacher conference?
Make a list of topics that you want to discuss with the teacher and that you think the teacher should know, such as your concerns about the school, the child’s home life, any major changes in your family, habits, hobbies, part-time jobs, religious holidays, or anything that is worrying your child.
How do you speak in a parent Meeting?
To make the best use of this meeting, and to keep the communication flowing, these parent meetings in school tips will help along the way.Schedule an Early Appointment. … Speak to Your Child About School. … Assess Your Child’s Report Cards. … Review Assignments and Tests. … Note Down the Questions to Discuss.
How do you engage your parents virtually?
Identify virtual equivalents of in-person parent volunteer roles pre-COVID-19Task existing parent advisory committees to focus on ways to improve virtual teaching and learning. … Recruit parent volunteers to lead virtual classroom-based enrichment activities. … Crowdsource parent volunteers to serve as tutors.More items…•
What are some parent engagement strategies?
BlogMove to Online Forms.Use a Platform Like FinalForms.Institute a Parent Engagement Program.Host Parent-Teacher Conferences.Schedule Events and Assemblies for Parents.Encourage Parents to Participate in Activities.Offer Parent-Focused Classes.Ask Parents to Give Feedback and Share Ideas.More items…•
How will you encourage positive and constructive parental involvement?
For teachers, here are some tips to increase parent involvement:Connect parents and schools. … Create an organizational structure. … Consider parents’ time. … Encourage fathers to participate. … Identify and support leaning environments. … Learning centers. … Develop or Enhance Class and School Web Pages.
What qualities make an effective family staff conference?
What does an effective family conference look like?Treat the family as an equal partner: Be mindful of proximity and seating. … Have a two-way conversation: Ask open-ended questions, share the air, and be an active listener.More items…•
What is the importance of parent-teacher conferences?
Historically, parent-teacher conferences have been the main forum for communication between teachers and parents. These conferences are crucial for strong relationships between the two parties who are chiefly concerned with a child’s academic and personal development.
What is the importance of parent-teacher meeting?
Parent-teacher Meeting is one of the important activity of any school. PTM is a great opportunity for both the teacher and parents to work for the betterment of the child. PTM is held for valuation of an academic and non- academic performance of the student. It helps to know and work for the child’s performance.
What should be discussed in a parent-teacher meeting?
Make a list of topics that you want to discuss with the teacher and that you think the teacher should know, such as your concerns about the school, the child’s home life, any major changes in your family, habits, hobbies, part-time jobs, religious holidays, or anything that is worrying your child.
1. Make sure that parents come to see you
At my school, my art room is nowhere near the regular ed classrooms. The location makes it easy for parents to miss me on conference nights. If you’re in the same situation, think about creating an eye-catching sign and ask teachers to put it up in their rooms on conference night.
2. Let parents see the actual work their students are doing
When parents come to see you at conferences, one of the best ways you can make a connection is by showing them their student’s artwork. While this can be a huge hassle in terms of planning, I believe it’s worth it.
3. Educate parents about the importance of arts education
Have you ever had a parent say to you at conferences, “ This must be such a fun job! ” If so, it’s the perfect opportunity to agree with them, and then direct the conversation to what the arts have to offer. If you’d like to send your parents with a concrete reminder, download the “ 3 Main Reasons All Students Need Arts Education ” right here.
4. Have a survey station set up
Anytime you involve people in decision-making, it creates better buy-in. So, ask parents: What do they think of the art coming home? What do they like about the art room? Are they visiting your art room blog? What changes would they like to see? While you won’t be able to please everyone, some of the suggestions might surprise you.
5. Send them with a parting gift
Last month, I talked about two easy ways to get your blog address to parents. A business card is a great way to leave parents with a concrete reminder of the art room. If you don’t have a blog, think about what other information you could send with parents.
Amanda Heyn
Amanda Heyn is the Director of K-12 Professional Development at The Art of Education. She enjoys helping to create relevant, engaging PD just for art teachers.
What should parents discuss at parent teacher conferences?
While the main focus of parent-teacher conferences should be learning, it’s also important to discuss factors that can affect learning, such as students’ behavioral and social development. Other topics might include standardized test results, individualized education programs …
Why is it important to have a parent-teacher conference?
Conducting effective parent-teacher conferences can boost family involvement in your classroom and help promote positive outcomes for you, your students, and your school. A parent-teacher conference is a great opportunity to: share academic progress and growth based on classroom observations, testing data, assessments, portfolios, and assignments.
What to keep for teachers during conferences?
Some teachers keep worksheets with strengths, needs, and social or behavioral notes to guide them through conferences. If you’ll be discussing any problems, make sure to have documentation, such as examples of misbehavior or missed assignments. Also, make sure to inform parents about any problems before the conference.
What are the topics of the 504 conference?
Other topics might include standardized test results, individualized education programs (IEPs), 504 education plans, peer relationships, classroom behavior, motivation and work habits, as well as students’ strengths and challenges. School staff who support your students’ learning may attend the conference, too.
How often do parents and teachers meet?
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.
How to learn from parents?
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 and growth.
Do middle schools have parent conferences?
Some middle and high schools only request parent conferences to discuss problems. Most schools set aside specific dates and times for conferences, but if school schedules conflict with family schedules, it’s worth the effort to find a mutually convenient time, or even schedule a phone or video conference.
Parent-Teacher Conferences During a Crisis
In a pandemic, parent-teacher conferences may need to occur on video calls and over email or other messaging platforms. And, in some cases, the shift to these platforms can actually increase the amount of communication between parents and educators.
Additional Resources
The Center for Family Engagement:
External link
hub from the National PTA offering useful videos, podcasts and research information.
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 conferences, but if school sched…
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 …
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…