GETTING THE MOST FROM PARENT TEACHER

CONFERENCES

Goals For This Session

Discuss importance of relationships Pinpoint the purpose of conferences Learn what teachers want you to ask How to prepare for the conference Find out the most important questions to

ask Learn what NOT to do during a

conference

It’s All About the Relationship

Good relationships are the key to the most important interactions we have

Marriage, children, neighbors, doctors, insurance agent etc.

Good relationships are like grease on a wheel…keeps us moving smoothly down the road

Why not have a good relationship with your child’s teacher?

View your child’s teacher as a team member

What is the point of conferences?

To get to know and build a working relationship with your child’s teacher

To discuss your child’s strengths and weaknesses

To gain understanding of teacher expectations

To better understand programs and curriculum goals

To establish a ongoing line of communication To work together to ensure YOUR CHILD

LEARNS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!

What to do BEFORE the conference

Make a list of things that will help the teacher better understand your child. For example:

Any special health problems or medical conditions

Outside of school interests and hobbies Feelings about school Strengths and weaknesses Learning style Tips for managing negative behaviors

What to do BEFORE the conference cont.

Make a list of things you want to find out from the teacher. Examples:

Discipline and grading policy Homework policy Services and programs offered by the

school Teacher’s goals for your child Information about curriculum, testing,

MAPS, etc. Best way to communicate during school

year

What teachers want parents to know…

The main purpose of a conference is… to discuss progress or concerns to meet parents and begin relationship

building to set goals for student to answer any questions to communicate with one another about

needs of child

What teachers want parents to know cont…

The questions I wish all parents would ask are…

how is my child doing in class? what can we do at home to help our

child? what can we do to help our child be more

successful at school? how can I reinforce what your are

teaching at home?

What teachers want parents to know cont…

The best way for us to work together this year is to…

communicate with each other keep an open mind keep in close contact by agenda, email,

phone, and periodic conferences stay in touch at least every few weeks

with each other look in your child’s folder each night and

read the weekly newsletters

What teachers want parents to know cont…

Conferences do not go well when teachers…

are not prepared to share specific data regarding student progress

do all the talking don’t know about circumstances that

could be affecting a student performance become confrontational when there is a

point of disagreement only talk about negatives, blame parents

What teachers want parents to know cont…

Conferences don’t go well when parents…

try to blame others for student’s lack of progress

don’t have high expectations for the student

are defensive and confrontational do not ask questions already have an opinion of teacher based

on gossip

What teachers want parents to know cont…

Conferences goes well when parents and teachers…

are open, honest, and willing to try new ideas and suggestions

work as a team for the benefit of the student develop a sense of partnership set goals for the student finish the conference with all questions

answered are both willing to talk and listen

Key questions to ask during the conference…

What would you say are my child’s strength and areas for improvement?

How is my child’s behavior? How should I track my child’s progress? How will

we know if my child is progressing? Do you have suggestions for things we can do at

home to better support my child’s learning? How is my child doing socially? What concerns do you have for my child? What is the plan to improve areas of concern? What is the best way for us to collaborate this

school year?

What NOT to do during a conference!

Don’t… Show up late! View your child’s teacher as an adversary Pull a no show! Focus always on how/what other children

are doing…focus on your child Create tension if there are points of concern

or disagreement during the conference Be shy or reluctant to discuss your concerns

Post conference…what happens next?

Share conference details with your child…starting with the GOOD news and then discuss areas for improvement

Discuss ways to improve areas of concern Develop a system to monitor your child’s

progress…checking agenda, homework, asking about test results etc.

Let your child know that you and teacher are working TOGETHER!

Stay in contact with teacher throughout the school year

Questions?Concerns?