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Parent conferences are an important part of the teaching year. It is an opportunity to share a student’s progress and participation in class with the parents. In some cases, students are reluctant to share what they are doing in school so that a teacher can give the parents a glimpse into a child’s learning experience.
Conducting a successful parent conference is a skill that can be developed over time. It is always helpful for a teacher to speak with colleagues to get ideas on how to interact with parents.
A few things for a teacher to consider when preparing for parent conferences:
Date and Times of Conferences: The high school has one conference in November after the 1st term and another in the spring. The conferences are from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M and 6:00 to 8:00. There often is a 2nd set of conferences in the spring.
Dress Appropriately: Real simple. Dress for success. You are making an impression on the parents and the community; make it a good one.
Shaking Hands: We have known that teachers can contract Covid, the flu, or a cold at parent conferences. We recommend NOT shaking hands with the parents you meet. The teacher we spoke with had 38 conferences. Eliminating contact will go a long way toward keeping everyone healthier. Our biggest concern is the health of the teachers.
Organizing the Room: We recommend setting up two chairs six feet away from the teacher. This will allow for comfortable conversations at a safe distance. November is a time for an increase in sicknesses.
Review IEPs and 504 plans: It is good practice for a teacher to review special needs plans so you will not be caught off guard.
Conference List: Many schools have parents sign up using an online scheduling system. We recommend that teachers use this document as a resource for the conference. Include the student’s grade and any other relevant information that you would like to share with the parent on the schedule of conferences.
Have Grades Easily Available: Have a printout with up-to-date grades.
Computer Access to Grades: Many teachers will have access to a computer during parent conferences. We recommend having the grade page up so the assignments are easily accessible. Missing assignments, low quiz grades, or high test scores can be shared to give a more complete picture of the student’s performance.
Some grading systems allow a teacher to see ALL the student’s grades from other classes. This can also be viewed to get a broader picture of a student’s performance.
When discussing a student, try to focus on the positives. Share some tips on areas a student can improve for the rest of the school year.