Effective Parent/Teacher Conferences Section III Changing the Way We Do Business in the Village through Parent/Family Empowerment Raising Achievement & Closing Gaps Section PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education | Department of Public Instruction PT 1

Objectives Effective Parent/Teacher Conferences Identify the purposes of parent/teacher conferences. Identify the rights of parents/guardians. Develop and use strategies to prepare for parent/teacher conferences. Changing the Way We Do Business in the Village through Parent/Family Empowerment | Raising Achievement & Closing Gaps PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education | Department of Public Instruction PT 2

Objectives (continued) Identify and use effective communication skills during parent/teacher conferences. Identify questions parents should ask during the parent/teacher conference. Effective Parent/Teacher Conferences Changing the Way We Do Business in the Village through Parent/Family Empowerment | Raising Achievement & Closing Gaps PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education | Department of Public Instruction PT 3

The Purposes of Parent/Teacher Conferences Activity Effective Parent/Teacher Conferences Changing the Way We Do Business in the Village through Parent/Family Empowerment | Raising Achievement & Closing Gaps PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education | Department of Public Instruction PT 4

You Have the Right to… review records, take time off for school-related matters, and NCGS 95 – 28.3 talk with your child’s teacher. Effective Parent/Teacher Conferences Changing the Way We Do Business in the Village through Parent/Family Empowerment | Raising Achievement & Closing Gaps PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education | Department of Public Instruction PT 5

Purposes of P/T Conferences Meet and greet Learn school policies Discuss strengths and weaknesses Discuss social skills Exchange of helpful information Home/school learning connection Expectations Share family information

Activities “Preparing for the Parent/Teacher Conference” Effective Parent/Teacher Conferences Changing the Way We Do Business in the Village through Parent/Family Empowerment | Raising Achievement & Closing Gaps PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education | Department of Public Instruction PT 6

“Conversations between families and schools should not take place above children’s heads, behind their backs, or in a language they don’t understand. The family school relationship should be a triangular one, including the experiences and perspectives of parents, teachers, and children. When adult figures begin to focus on their reason for coming together in the first place, and begin to act in the best interests of the child, some of their defensiveness will fade away, and the territorial lines will erode.” “A Two Way Street” Dr. Sarah Lightfoot Harvard Graduate School of Education

The Importance of Basic Communication Skills in a Parent/Teacher Conference Effective Parent/Teacher Conferences Changing the Way We Do Business in the Village through Parent/Family Empowerment | Raising Achievement & Closing Gaps PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education | Department of Public Instruction PT 7

Active Listening… tends to be more difficult than most realize; requires the listener to focus on the speaker in order to understand the speaker’s message; and it requires the listener to suspend judgments and direct her energy into listening attentively. Effective Parent/Teacher Conferences Changing the Way We Do Business in the Village through Parent/Family Empowerment | Raising Achievement & Closing Gaps PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education | Department of Public Instruction PT 8

Active Listening Skills Focused attention Verbal feedback Open mindedness Questioning techniques Expressed interest Effective Parent/Teacher Conferences Changing the Way We Do Business in the Village through Parent/Family Empowerment | Raising Achievement & Closing Gaps PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education | Department of Public Instruction PT 9

10 Suggestions to Improve Listening Skills Stop talking. Concentrate on the speaker. Put the other person at ease. Remove distractions. Be patient. Hold your temper. Do not argue; reserve your criticism. Make eye contact. Ask questions. Stop talking. Adapted from the University of Minnesota Extension Service Effective Parent/Teacher Conferences Changing the Way We Do Business in the Village through Parent/Family Empowerment | Raising Achievement & Closing Gaps PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education | Department of Public Instruction PT 10

Activity “Active Listening” Effective Parent/Teacher Conferences Changing the Way We Do Business in the Village through Parent/Family Empowerment | Raising Achievement & Closing Gaps PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education | Department of Public Instruction PT 12

Put Another Way DoDon’t Use active listening skills Yell Remain calm Use profanity Write a thank-you note Threaten anyone that reflects the outcome Throw tantrums of the meeting Effective Parent/Teacher Conferences Changing the Way We Do Business in the Village through Parent/Family Empowerment | Raising Achievement & Closing Gaps PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education | Department of Public Instruction PT 13

What SHOULD I Ask? Effective Parent/Teacher Conferences Changing the Way We Do Business in the Village through Parent/Family Empowerment | Raising Achievement & Closing Gaps PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education | Department of Public Instruction PT 14

Empowering Questions Parents and Advocates Should Ask Schools At what level is my child performing on the End-of-Grade or End-of-Course Tests? What is my child’s scale score within that level? –(Note: If your child is performing at Level I or Level II, say, “I wish to review my child’s Personal Education Plan.” If there is not one, insist that one be written with parental input.) Effective Parent/Teacher Conferences Changing the Way We Do Business in the Village through Parent/Family Empowerment | Raising Achievement & Closing Gaps PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education | Department of Public Instruction PT 15

Empowering Questions Parents and Advocates Should Ask Schools On what grade level is my child being taught? Who is my child’s counselor and what does he/she do with my child? Is my child in rigorous and challenging classes? Effective Parent/Teacher Conferences Changing the Way We Do Business in the Village through Parent/Family Empowerment | Raising Achievement & Closing Gaps PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education | Department of Public Instruction PT 16

Empowering Questions Parents and Advocates Should Ask Schools (continued) How does my child perform in class, academically, behaviorally, and with regard to completion of homework? Did our school make its ABC goals? What is the level of performance of our school? Did all of our school’s subgroups make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)? Effective Parent/Teacher Conferences Changing the Way We Do Business in the Village through Parent/Family Empowerment | Raising Achievement & Closing Gaps PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education | Department of Public Instruction PT 17

How is the school using its Title I funds or other funds to assist students who are functioning below grade level? Does our school use “ability grouping” to track students? What can I do to help my child? When can I schedule a time that my child and I can meet with all of my child’s teachers? Effective Parent/Teacher Conferences Changing the Way We Do Business in the Village through Parent/Family Empowerment | Raising Achievement & Closing Gaps PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education | Department of Public Instruction PT 18

How do I contact the teacher? The Principal? Central Office? Administrators? The Superintendent? How do I join the school’s parent organization(e.g. PTA, PTSA, PTSO, etc)? Effective Parent/Teacher Conferences Changing the Way We Do Business in the Village through Parent/Family Empowerment | Raising Achievement & Closing Gaps PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NORTH CAROLINA State Board of Education | Department of Public Instruction PT 19