Effective Parent Teacher Conferences Whitmore Bolles Elementary School October 25, 2013 "If you promise not to believe everything your child says happens at school, I'll promise not to believe everything he says happens at home".

School – Home Connection "Families and teachers might wish that the school could do the job alone. But today's school needs families, and today's families need the school. In many ways, this mutual need may be the greatest hope for change." - Dorothy Rich NOTE: To change images on this slide, select a picture and delete it. Then click the Insert Picture icon in the placeholder to insert your own image.

Purposes of Parent/Teacher Conferences NOTE: To change images on this slide, select a picture and delete it. Then click the Insert Picture icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. 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

NOTE: To change images on this slide, select a picture and delete it. Then click the Insert Picture icon in the placeholder to insert your own image. 1. Start the conference on a positive note! 2. Write down the items you want to discuss before you arrive! 3. Take notes during the conference so you don’t forget! 4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Keep asking until you understand! 5. Recap at the end what was talked about! 6. Commit to listening with an open mind! Even if there are problems!

At-The-Conference-Checklist This is an opportunity to engage in conversations about student learning at school and at home Use the Checklist to remember what to ask Grade-level performance Assessment performance – MEAP, Common Assessments, Unit Tests, Quizzes, Homework Remember the socio-emotional and behavioral aspects Best way to communicate Don’t forget the important points listed on the back!! Research shows that student achievement increases when parents, students and teachers work as a team!

Common Ground “It takes a village to make an impact, to make a difference, to change our world for the better” -Anonymous PARENTCHILDTEACHER