Welcome to Effective Parent- Teacher Conferences! As you come in, please take a look at the poster on your table. As you come in, please take a look at the poster on your table. Please add your “Words of Parent Teacher Conference Wisdom” to the sheet. Please add your “Words of Parent Teacher Conference Wisdom” to the sheet. Questions and answers on this topic are welcome, too! Questions and answers on this topic are welcome, too!
Have you ever felt like this about parent teacher conferences?
Top Eight Things to Remember About Parent Teacher Conferences..with apologies to David Letterman By Kathy Gates, Secondary Learning Coach, USD #497
#8 Plan before the conference starts Have you communicated with the parents prior to this meeting? Have you communicated with the parents prior to this meeting? Do you have documentation or examples of work that you’d like to share with the parents? Do you have documentation or examples of work that you’d like to share with the parents? Decide what you want to say and how to say it before the conference. Decide what you want to say and how to say it before the conference.
#7 Stay Positive! Negative school experiences for some parents Negative school experiences for some parents Difficult situations for some parents Difficult situations for some parents All parents want teachers who know and care about their children. All parents want teachers who know and care about their children.
#6 Professionalism counts! How will you have the room arranged? How will you have the room arranged? Comfortable spot to sit while they wait? Comfortable spot to sit while they wait? How are you dressed? How are you dressed?
#6, part two “Please don’t talk to me like that.” “Please don’t talk to me like that.” “Let’s work together so this won’t happen in the future.” “Let’s work together so this won’t happen in the future.” “I understand where you are coming from. Let’s focus on developing a plan so we aren’t in this situation again.” “I understand where you are coming from. Let’s focus on developing a plan so we aren’t in this situation again.” Shift the conversation to focus on the positive! Shift the conversation to focus on the positive!
#5 Share information Parent-friendly terms, please! Parent-friendly terms, please! Start by sharing strengths Start by sharing strengths Be specific Be specific Be more than a verbal report card Be more than a verbal report card
#4 Involve the Parents Talk to parents as equals Talk to parents as equals Ask for their opinions. Ask for their opinions. Any questions or information they would like to share? Any questions or information they would like to share? Remind them of how and when they can contact you. Remind them of how and when they can contact you.
#3 Listen!! According to research, if you listen to another person for three minutes without interrupting, they will be more likely to listen to you. According to research, if you listen to another person for three minutes without interrupting, they will be more likely to listen to you. Make eye contact and hold it. Make eye contact and hold it. Call people by name Call people by name Listen to entire statement or question Listen to entire statement or question Pause before responding Pause before responding
#2 Begin and End on Time Begin with a warm greeting and an agenda of what you’re going to talk about Begin with a warm greeting and an agenda of what you’re going to talk about Stand up to signal the end of the conference. Stand up to signal the end of the conference.
#1 Remember that we’re talking about someone’s baby Focus on solutions Focus on solutions Emphasize collaboration Emphasize collaboration End with positive comments End with positive comments Thank the parent Thank the parent
Sources Rutherford, Paula. Why Didn’t I Learn this in College? Alexandria, VA: Just Ask Publications, Effective Parent-Teacher Conferences. Bloomington, IN: Center for Professional Development & Services, Phi Delta Kappa International, Whitaker, Todd and Fiore, Douglas J. How to Handle Difficult Parent-Teacher Conferences