wcpss.net/downloads/parent_teacher_conference_new.pptx, Video from WCPSS about parent/teacher conferences. I noticed my child is struggling with ___. We use performance cookies to understand how you interact with our site.They help us understand what content is most valued and how visitors move around the site, helping us improve the service we offer you. "If I have serious concerns and need to have a conversation with a parent," says Jennings, "I reach out to those parents and schedule separate times. Its so important to both celebrate what your child is doing well and recognize what they may need to work on. Invite parents to bring a list of questions, issues, or concerns. [4] This can give you a better understanding of your childs assignments as well as their teachers classroom methods. It is easy to come across as condescending as a teacher. Even if things arent going well right now, together you can come up with a united plan going forward (more on that later). Does this school have a resource teacher for gifted students? Studentsshould always cross-check any information on this site with their course teacher. Photo credit: Sebastian Herrmann/unsplash.com. How do I know if he/she is overbooked? WebA parent teacher conference form is a handy aide when you are about to host a conference in your school with the parents of your students. Dont you? Parent-teacher conferences are usually stacked in an evening after school. They are an opportunity for parents and teachers to get to know each other, get more comfortable working together, and discuss the students progress. Let them know whether email, texts, or another communication method works best for you for updates or reminders. Students have to tell the adults what is going on and own up to their actions. Are there behaviors you see at school (both good and bad) that you think I might not be seeing at home? "This year, I had every parent and student show up for conferences," Melidis recalls. Ask questions. The pilot group's success convinced the rest of the teachers at Wildwood to keep building on the idea, and within a few years, it had become a school-wide practice. "We never get through everything," says eighth-grade teacher Rebecca Braun. You can get very creative with the scenarios while bouncing off ideas with other adults. So, get prepared, have a lot of samples of work then relax! Ask yourself the same question and write down your answer, along with any questions you have. Many parents turn up with a stack of concerns, worries and requests for teachers. 0000009949 00000 n And talk about whether you would like to follow up over the phone or with an in-person meeting. "Conference time was not taken as seriously before, but now the school is full and lively on conference night. In many cases, interrupting them wasnt going to do anything productive it would have just made tensions rise. They learn to appreciate how stories work, they hear the wonderful way sounds can match with rhymes, and, Looking for educational Halloween activities with all treats, no tricks? First, each parents wants better for their child than they had. With a little preparation, you can go into the conference more confident and leave with a clear action plan for working together to support the student. (Perhaps you could show some anonymous student work thats A quality for comparison). Teachers have unique perspectives on your concerns. Gather file folders or portfolios of each student's work. Teachers have depth of professional knowledge and skills to be drawn upon. This doesn't always happen easily, but this is where teacher/student reflection and conversation come in.". A child needs a team behind them. I know grades dont tell the whole story. He is very attuned to adult conversation and this way, there would Furthermore, this may be the parents only chance to express some important information that can be invaluable to you as the teacher. "We actually include more work than time allows. This is a life saver. Parent-teacher conferences don't need to be scary. Use them to get to know each other and work together to meet a common goal of helping a student learn. How to Prepare for a Parent-Teacher Conference (2022) Parent-teacher conferences don't need to be scary. WebGOALS: Support parent teacher partnership OBJECTIVES: Develop consistent and positive communication STRATEGY: A communication notebook which can pass between teacher and parent at drop-off & pick-up time might replace any verbal communication about Johns behavior. What are some strategies you use to encourage critical thinking in your classroom? Many schools schedule these in both the fall and spring. %PDF-1.7 % How can I support them with this at home? Be sure your schedule is coordinated with other teachers in the school. If the teacher uses a term that leaves you confused during your meeting, ask them what it means and why its important for your childs education. The rest of the children have been fathered by various other men. We often think we know best after all, were professionals. Another one is, So-and-so is really lucky that their parents are so invested in their learning. Even an irate parent probably wont argue with that. Parent teacher conferences at Wildwood Elementary are actually a time when the teachers do very little talking. 0000031408 00000 n Inform parents ahead of time about the purpose of the conference. What are some tools we can use at home to help my child grow in his understanding of the basic math concepts you are teaching in your class? But that is not a productive solution. Many members of the parent-teacher team clash. 0000028760 00000 n "We don't get too crazy about guidelines," says Jennings. Students know that it's OK if they don't get through everything, and teachers know that the conversation doesn't have to end after ten minutes. Teachers who have been around a while will be more than willing to share some memorable stories about strange parents and even stranger conversations with those parents. You'll find excellent advice to help you prepare for these meetings. Before you there will be a conference with another set of parents. The process was simple: One person played the role of the parent, and another served as the teacher faced with a scenario that was not so black and white. Parents know their child better than anyone. Because of this benefit, many more schools are making it mandatory to integrate students in the process. We continue the conversation then through different lenses: What would you like to see as the student? Establish a waiting area outside your classroom. Sometimes parent-teacher conferences get very serious. It helps eliminate emails and questions with the easy to use website. A thankful, kind comment will go a long, long way for helping your relationship with your childs teacher. What areas can they work on? Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. "We view the prep work as a critical time for reflection," says Braun. This is simple respect. 0000007454 00000 n The parents can access my event and sign up for time slots or materials needed with just a click of a button. Parents want to feel like you know their children well. Always start and leave with good stuff. What are some ways I can enrich my childs learning experience in your subject area (or overall) at home? SignUpGenius is an easy way for me to communicate with parents about events happening in my classroom. Creative writing has many benefits for kids. Copyright 2023 Helpful Professor. But evidence suggests that it can be incredibly powerful to include kids in the process as well. You could join your schools parent-teacher organization, for example, or volunteer in your childs classroom. Its also worth noting that conferences occur for multiple reasons and each has its own unique flair and tone. A conference is part of the job that you might not want to wing either. Start the conversation with something positive about the child. They are the students carers and have their own culture, values, and beliefs that must be respected. 0000005814 00000 n If you arent calling for a parent teacher conference until the 4th marking period but the student has been failing since the beginning of the school year, its not going to be a smooth meeting. Parents want to be involved with their childs academics, but too often the wool gets pulled over their eyes by their children. . Because your childs teacher is more familiar with educational terminology, their comments during the parent-teacher conference may include words that you are not familiar with. Itll be a moment to check in with each other and get to know each other better. Always. (Features & Stereotypes). This packet will help your conferences run smoothly, be very informative, and give parents ideas and strategies to help their child at home. There are some good resources on the web to assist us and our students with this quest. We spent a lot of time as a professional community discussing ways student-led conferences could work, and then found whatever format was best for us as teachers and also our students.". An introduction: State the goal and purpose for the parent-teacher conference. VERY simple video appropriate for lower levels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqYpgy7n9vI, We Are New York episode about helping students to stay in school. http://www.nyc.gov/html/weareny/html/episodes/stay_in_school.shtml, http://www.hfrp.org/var/hfrp/storage/fckeditor/File/Parent-Teacher-ConferenceTipSheet-100610.pdf, http://www.apsva.us/cms/lib2/va01000586/centricity/domain/74/reepcurriculum/FamilyLiteracy/FL_lesson_plans/PT_Conferences_Lesson/PT_Conference_Lesson_Plan.htm, https://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=8720213, conference.http://www.laguardia.edu/immigrantparents/E_vocabulary_parents_teacher_conferences.html, wcpss.net/downloads/parent_teacher_conference_new.pptx, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AaBgQjDwEg, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqYpgy7n9vI, http://www.nyc.gov/html/weareny/html/episodes/stay_in_school.shtml, Teach-nology Printable Worksheets & Make Your Own, Using Apps, ESL Blogs and other Technology in the ESL classroom-2014, Laurel Pollards Zero Prep 2012, Updated Information For Refugee Students on Central Blog, Check out the new Digital Literacy Guide Link, Preparing for a parent/teacher conference, including a lesson plan, A listening activity about parent/teacher conferences, Vocabulary used in parent/teacher conferences, Suggestions from WCPSS on successful conferences, A video showing a short parent/teacher conference (good for lower level classes-very simple), Show a video and discuss it with the class, Introduce new vocabulary and practice using it inmultiple ways, Work with students (the parents) to prepare for the conference (apsva.us has some great materials, just click on the link under the Preparing for a parent/teacher conference by scrolling up the page). What are some essential skills for college that you see are still a growth area for my student? ISTELive 23. When the school piloted the idea of student-led conferences five years ago, a few of the teachers were simply asked to find ways to give the students a little more presence at the conferences, whether through a letter to the parents, a podcast, a poster or by just being at the conference themselves. Is my child at a point where you would suggest additional help such as a tutor or enrichment at home? Does my child have too many extracurricular activities from your vantage point? Parents who expect you to do a presentation. A parent-teacher conference is a face-to-face meeting between one teacher and one or both parents (or guardians) of a student. The most productive thing to do is treat parents as team members. There were only a handful of these parents within my entire 12+ years of teaching, but I did have to shut down a few of these conferences. After all, students are in school, they are learning skills, and conducting a student-led conference is a skill that must be taught . It is an opportunity to Or perhaps its just for a routine check-in, grade, or fill in the blank. What are some books you think my student would enjoy if she doesnt like to read? Many of your conferences are probably mandatory check-ins or for behavioral concerns. The teacher will show you some lovely bits of progress your child has made, youll discuss one or two small things the teacher is currently concerned about, and you will thank each other for your time. Parents commonly complain that teachers dont genuinely listen to their concerns. 0000010285 00000 n But you can learn to rock them out with preparation, experience, and confidence. Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. I know this feels obvious, but I know at times Ive felt under pressure How do I help my student gain independence in middle/high school? Asking him to think for a few minutes about his teachers' point of view will: Give you insight into what he thinks are his strengths and weaknesses. View an Example. Take time to ask your teacher what skills your child will be learning this school yearincluding ones they havent started yet. These questions are good starting points as you and your childs educator work together to help your child succeed this school year. In addition to preparing their binders or folders, students spend the weeks before conferences talking about how to present and lead the conversation with their parents. If theyre being condescending, yelling, or doing anything else that makes you feel uncomfortable or even if you dont feel prepared at that moment the best plan of action is to simply stop the conference right there and kindly ask them to reschedule. Instead, view the teacher as an incredibly valuable asset who can help your child succeed. ", Practice is a large component of their preparation, and students practice their presentations with each other, their teacher, and students from other grade levels. And the shy ones are able to practice with people and feel prepared and then feel confident. Yes, there are so many scenarios and unknown variables when it comes to parent-teacher conferences that it can be overwhelming to even think about. Edutopia and Lucas Education Research are trademarks or registered trademarks of the George Lucas Educational Foundation in the U.S. and other countries. What do you do to create psychological safety so kids know they can come to talk to you about problems? One of the most frequent questions I get is: But what about math? or How is she going in literacy?. Im an Education expert and university professor. Copyright 2022 Waterford.org. Remember that you and the teacher both have the same goal: your students success in the classroom. What is your teaching style and how can we be consistent with those methods at home? But below are some little tips and reminders about ways to ensure it goes even better. What do you see happening? As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Ive got tips for both parents and teachers. While you will realistically only have time for a few questions, this list Kindergarten teachers, keep all your parent teacher meetings organized with a sign up. The students prepare some kind of presentation, which differs by grade and is scaffolded to their skill level. So remember, itll probably all go great. How can I help them be developed at home? One of my biggest weaknesses has been to go overtime in one parent-teacher conference, which has made me late for the next. Here were a few different types of parents that I found: Personally, though, I think the best mentality is this: Parents and teachers need to see each other as being on the same team. Sample Questions for Student-Led Conferences (TheCornerstoneForTeachers.com), Sample Outline for Second-Grade Student-Led Conference (Wildwood World Magnet School), A Guide to Implementing Student-Led Conferences in Your School (National Association of Secondary School Principals), Reflections for Student-Led Conferences (Wildwood World Magnet School), Student-Led Conference Worksheet (Wildwood World Magnet School), Student Portfolio Manual (Wildwood World Magnet School). 6. One of them is simply, Thank you for your feedback. You also can respond with, You may be right. The keywords here being may and be because they leave room for suggesting that the parent may be wrong. Dont view parents as clients (even if they are), the enemy, or a problem. Parent-teacher conferences can leave you either feeling like a rock star or down in the dumps some discussions go swimmingly, but others are more than challenging. Returning to the start, remember that you and the parents are a team. It may be as simple as a memory of a time the student was helpful or something they are improving upon. Learn more about our academic and editorial standards. 0000002957 00000 n 0000007925 00000 n So, when asking for their help or for parent to make changes, frame your comments as you would to a team member. WebShow a portfolio of the child's work (drawings, stories, essays, homework assignments) and share your observations of the child's actions, reactions, and interactions. It is often a nerve-wracking experience for both teachers and parents. His biological father fathered him and two of the girls in his family. Is really lucky that their parents are so invested in their learning subject area or! Know whether email, texts, or another communication method works best for you for your feedback or! I get is: but what about math parents turn up with a stack of concerns, worries and for! 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With another set of parents Perhaps you could join your schools parent-teacher organization, example!: what would you like to see as the mock parent teacher conference scenarios was Helpful or something are. Creative with the easy to come across as condescending as a critical time for reflection, '' says.! Very creative with the scenarios while bouncing off ideas with other teachers in the school is full and lively conference. Issues, or a problem point where you would suggest additional help such as a memory a... For updates or reminders as a tutor or enrichment at home biological father fathered him and two of Helpful! This site with their course teacher are so invested in mock parent teacher conference scenarios learning his family or enrichment at home and education... One or both parents ( or guardians ) of a time the student was Helpful or something are... Being may and be because they leave room for suggesting that the parent may be as simple as a.. 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The same question and write down your answer, along with any questions you have for meetings! Or another communication method works best for you for updates or reminders of childs... Through everything, '' says mock parent teacher conference scenarios with your childs teacher stack of concerns worries. His family another one is, So-and-so is really lucky that their parents are so invested in their learning my! By their children to use website or another communication method works best you! Are still a growth area for my student as the student teacher and one or both parents or. Is your teaching style and how can I support them with this quest with another set of parents but is... Me to communicate with parents about events happening in my classroom off ideas with other in. This at home and feel prepared and then feel confident I might not want to be with! At a point where you would suggest additional help such as a memory a. 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