1. Academic Conferencing with Parents/Guardians for Student Success
Presented by Mary Louise Silva,
Director of Parent & Community Engagement
(213) ext or (818)

2. What has been your past experience with parent-teacher conferences?
What role did you play? (Student, teacher, parent?)
What was the outcome?
What would you do differently or the same?
The Alliance-wide Summer Conference 2010

3. Workshop Goal:
Provide teachers with research-based strategies to conduct highly effective parent-teacher conferences that promote student success and establish meaningful parent-teacher partnerships.
The Alliance-wide Summer Conference 2010

4. Expected Outcomes: You will learn: The importance of parent engagement
Strategies to open lines of communication with parents
What to do before, during, and after your successful parent-teacher conference
What to do when parents or guardians are uncooperative
The Alliance-wide Summer Conference 2010

5. Parent Involvement = Student Success
Higher grades and test scores
Improved attendance
Better social skills
More likely to graduate from high school and go on to college
REFER TO HANDOUT RESEARCH ON PARENT INVOLVMENT
The Alliance-wide Summer Conference 2010

6. Parent Engagement & Parent Involvement
What do the words mean to you?
The Alliance-wide Summer Conference 2010

7. When schools engage parents, parents become involved!
Parent Engagement is a phrase used to describe the work of schools and organizations as they engage parents to become involved in their child’s education.
Parent Involvement is a phrase used to describe how parents participate at home and in their child’s education.

8. Alliance Core Values: High expectations for all students
Small, personalized schools and classrooms
Increased instructional time
Highly qualified principals and teachers
WORKING WITH PARENTS AS PARTNERS

9. Alliance Parent Engagement Model:
40-Hour Annual Volunteer Commitment
1. School Support
2. Academic Support
ACADEMIC CONFERENCING

10. TCRP - Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities
4.4
Develop two-way communication with families about student learning and achievement
Initiation of meaningful communication
Responsiveness to parent inquiries and communication
Inclusion of the family as a partner in learning decisions
Level III

11. Latest Research
Research shows that regular communication between parents and teachers leads to effective school and family partnerships and contributes to student academic success. Often, the only time communication takes place is at parent-teacher conferences.
90% of parents with elementary-aged children attend parent-teacher conferences, while (52%) of parents with high school teenagers do.
(National Center for Education Statistics, 2008) .
The Alliance-wide Summer Conference 2010

12. Types of academic conferences:
Scheduled parent-teacher conference with student present (4 x per year or as needed)
Student-led Conference
Student Success Team (academic/behavioral problems occurring in more than one class)
Individual Education Program (IEP) meeting
The Alliance-wide Summer Conference 2010

13. What do they look like? A successful parent-teacher conference?
An unproductive parent-teacher conference?
Think pair-share (30 seconds to share each) will have 2 people share out.
The Alliance-wide Summer Conference 2010

14. An unproductive parent-teacher conference occurs when:
Information is only flowing one-way
Only negative feedback is given
Arguing or blaming begin
Your point of view is dominant
The conference is something that happens only once or twice a year

15. A successful parent-teacher conference occurs when:
Decisions are made – usually in the form of a cooperative action plan to help a student improve/advance
There is an opportunity for teachers and parents to work together to ensure student success 15
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16. A successful parent-teacher conference occurs when:
Parents and teachers have an opportunity to formally talk and listen to each other (15 minutes)
Information is shared regarding expectations and student progress
The Alliance-wide Summer Conference 2010

17. Successful parent-teacher conference outcomes:
Parents
Are empowered and are regarded as real contributors to their students education
Students
Appreciate seeing teachers and parents team up for their success and do better in school
Teachers
Can eliminate problems in the classroom and save time
Strong family and school partnerships are formed based on the belief that learning occurs at home and at school.

18. Do you feel uncomfortable or dread conducting parent-teacher conferences?

19. Teachers: Addressing defensive, angry or agitated parents
Dealing with unmotivated parents or no-shows
Not having enough time to discuss a problem
Focusing on only the negative
False impressions
Nothing gets accomplished
Afraid of not being heard
The Alliance-wide Summer Conference 2010

20. Why do some parents feel uncomfortable or dread participating in parent-teacher conferences?

21. Parents: Not feeling valued or treated with respect
Lack of trust due to previous negative school experiences
Embarrassment about student’s progress or behavior
Frustration when school may have allowed a problem to escalate
Not understanding teacher recommendations
Afraid of not being heard

22. How can you move beyond discomfort and establish strong connections with your students’ parents?
The Alliance-wide Summer Conference 2010

23. Know your audience!
Develop an understanding of your student’s socio-economic and cultural background.
Drop the “we-them-attitude”
View parents as collaborators and speak their language
Regularly reach out to parents
The Alliance-wide Summer Conference 2010

24. Effective Communication Strategies = Strong Trusting Relationships
How and when do you plan to reach out to parents?

25. Communication Strategies:
Before or at the beginning of the school year:
Get to know parents informally
Tell parents that you regard them as valuable partners
Exchange contact information
Invite parents to visit your classroom
Send syllabus home (syllabus contract)
The Alliance-wide Summer Conference 2010

26. Communication Strategies:
Leave regular phone or messages (especially positive)
Set up a meeting to alert parents regarding a potential problem (don’t wait for parent-teacher conference)
Use your school’s translation services
Be willing to truly listen…………… 26
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27. Teachers in urban schools need better listening skills to engage in a meaningful two-way dialogue with parents. This leads to the formation of parent-school partnerships necessary to resolve student problems and help students reach new heights.
The Alliance-wide Summer Conference 2010

28. Listening: Be mindful of your tone of voice and mannerisms
Be aware of emotional baggage (parents/teachers)
Stop the “need to be right or appear smart”
Let the speaker know their message is being heard and understood.
Listen as a receiver not as a critic.
The Alliance-wide Summer Conference 2010

29. What steps should you take to accomplish the essential goals of a successful parent-teacher conference?
The Alliance-wide Summer Conference 2010

30. 5 Essential Goals to Accomplish:
Goal 1: Parents should see you as a friendly and knowledgeable Goal 2: Parents should feel an atmosphere of cooperation and support Goal 3: Parents should leave with questions answered and issues discussed Goal 4: Mutual respect and understanding should be established Goal 5: Agree to work together to solve problems

31. Actions to take before a parent-teacher conference:
Plan (decide on points you want covered)
Gather samples of student work
Review student records
Take notes regarding student strengths and weaknesses

32. Actions to take before a parent-teacher conference:
Anticipate questions from parents
Create a comfortable seating arrangement (bring food)
Create welcome signs
Create a schedule that is reasonable
Remind yourself to listen 32

33. Actions to take during a parent-teacher conference:
Greet parents with a smile and shake hands
Begin with a positive remarks
Clearly state issues and give examples (avoid jargon)
Allow parents to voice questions or concerns (reflect back)
The Alliance-wide Summer Conference 2010

34. Actions to take during a parent-teacher conference:
Express your desire to work with parent to resolve problems or help a student advance
Share information about school supports (tutoring, Homework Club, Saturday School)
Collectively agree on a plan of action and schedule a follow-up conference (if necessary)
End on a positive note and don’t forget to say thank you! 34
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35. Actions to take after a parent-teacher conference:
Follow-up:
Take detailed notes and complete a conference log.
After a few weeks, contact the parent and share progress or problems.
If the problem persists, schedule another parent-teacher conference and ask your administrator or counselor to sit in.

36. Dealing with an upset parent:
Let parent speak first and don’t interrupt
Maintain eye contact
Listen empathetically/reflectively
Describe what you have done to correct problem
Don’t force your point of view
Recap points covered and develop plan of action
Express appreciation

37. “At parent-teacher conferences you never see the parents that you need to see.” --Anonymous Teacher
Why do you think this is the case?

38. Keep in mind that some parents may…
View themselves outside of school system due to differences in ethnicity, income, and culture
Feel it’s the school’s responsibility to do the teaching - they don’t feel they can make a difference
Resist involvement due to cultural and communication differences
The Alliance-wide Summer Conference 2010

39. What should you do to engage a resistant parent?

40. Dealing with no-shows:
The week before the scheduled conference, send a reminder memo home or do a TeleParent message.
The week of and the day of the conference, call and let the parent know that you value his/her input and that it’s important that you meet to discuss certain issues.
If a parent does not attend, call to reschedule or ask your administrator about conducting a home visit.
Offer incentives (free dress, homework pass, etc.) if your school policy allows for this. Ask your administrator.

41. Other Resources:
The First-Year: Teacher’s Survival Guide – a Jossey-Bass reader
Parents and Teachers Working Together by Carol Davis and Alice Yang

42. Questions/Comments

43. THANK YOU!