Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences
Successful parent-student-teacher conferences don't just happen. They require thoughtful preparation. The goal in conferences is to make allies of parents in the ongoing task of teaching students effectively. If parents understand your goals and support them, then students can have confidence that they are achieving in a healthy learning environment.
As with teaching, planning is critical to an effective conference. Here are some important steps to include:
“BE HEARD”
Keep these principles in mind for a great parent–teacher conference:
Best intentions assumed
Emphasis on learning
Home–school collaboration
Examples and evidence
Active listening
Respect for all
Dedication to follow-up
Arranging the Setting
Try making the conference area as comfortable as possible. Try to greet parents at the door and sit with them at a table or in chairs facing each other. (Never put the teacher's desk between yourself and parents.) If you provide paper and pens, parents can take notes to follow up on at home. Many teachers find it helpful to hang a "Conference in Progress" sign on the door to prevent interruptions.
Conducting the Conference
First off, briefly review the agenda you prepared in advance. Then, communicate the specific information you have gathered about the child. Listen carefully to parents' responses, answer their questions, explain each point, and ask them if they can confirm your impressions. Set goals together for the child's future progress.
When you are delivering news about an academic or behavioral problem, some teachers suggest these strategies:
As with teaching, planning is critical to an effective conference. Here are some important steps to include:
- Contact parents to meet with you, stating the purpose of the conference, and indicate potential times also being considerate of parent work schedules.
Note: When divorced parents share custody, don't forget to invite both. - Decide upon the goals for the conference (one or two will do).
- Prepare an agenda that you share with parents before the conference. Include such topics as your general impression of the child, his or her progress in each academic area, standardized test scores, your goals for the child in each content area, and strategies you will use to meet goals.
- Plan (and write down) questions to ask, points to make, and suggestions to offer.
- Ask parents to bring to the conference a list of their child's strengths and weaknesses as they perceive them..
- Fill out the Sample Teacher Form (or one like it) listing the child's strengths and weaknesses and proposing action to be taken.
- Collect samples of student work to display.
- Prepare to explain your goals and teaching strategies.
- Schedule enough time for questions and discussion.
- Pull together necessary materials such as a daily schedule of classroom activities, a checklist of skill areas and notes on student progress, sample work, test scores, and reports from other teachers where appropriate.
“BE HEARD”
Keep these principles in mind for a great parent–teacher conference:
Best intentions assumed
Emphasis on learning
Home–school collaboration
Examples and evidence
Active listening
Respect for all
Dedication to follow-up
Arranging the Setting
Try making the conference area as comfortable as possible. Try to greet parents at the door and sit with them at a table or in chairs facing each other. (Never put the teacher's desk between yourself and parents.) If you provide paper and pens, parents can take notes to follow up on at home. Many teachers find it helpful to hang a "Conference in Progress" sign on the door to prevent interruptions.
Conducting the Conference
First off, briefly review the agenda you prepared in advance. Then, communicate the specific information you have gathered about the child. Listen carefully to parents' responses, answer their questions, explain each point, and ask them if they can confirm your impressions. Set goals together for the child's future progress.
When you are delivering news about an academic or behavioral problem, some teachers suggest these strategies:
- Focus your comments and efforts only on things that can be changed.
- Limit the number of suggestions for improvements so that parents are not overwhelmed.
- Speak plainly and avoid jargon and euphemistic language.
- Be tactful, but not so tactful that you don't adequately communicate the problem.
- Ask for and listen to parents' reactions.
|
|
|