Parent- Teacher Conferences Cohort III http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr5kWOdkHYA

Research has shown that parental involvement is the most important factor in a student's success in school. For many parents, however, that involvement is limited to attendance at parent-teacher conferences. Learn how to make the most of the opportunity!

What Parents Want to Know Detailed information about their children's progress, in a language they can understand. Advice on dealing with homework and avoiding confrontations over it. Information about what they can do at home to reinforce what teachers are doing at school. Ideas for additional learning activities. Learning materials they can use with their children. Advice on handling discipline problems. Information about after-school programs

WHAT ADMINISTRATORS CAN DO Make parents aware of conference dates and goals. Announce dates and times repeatedly -- at PTA meetings, open houses, technology nights, sports events, and school assemblies. Publish the schedule in school newsletters and post it on the school Web site. Create a hallway or office bulletin board devoted to conferences. Provide conference information in as many languages as necessary to reach all parents. Wherever possible, include information on conference goals and the reasons parental attendance is important

Make it as easy as possible for every parent to attend the conferences. Develop a flexible schedule that includes early morning, late afternoon, and evening conference times. Consider scheduling 20 to 30 minute sessions, rather than the typical 15-minute time slots, or set aside additional time so teachers can schedule longer conferences as needed. Arrange for school counselors, office staff, or parent volunteers to telephone parents, remind them of appointments, and encourage them to attend. Talk to the PTA about providing childcare, transportation, and refreshments. Make sure translators will be available, if needed. Let parents know what services will be provided.

What Teachers Can Do

Schedule conferences and notify parents. Send home personal letters to notify parents of conference dates. Outline an agenda that will interest them and emphasize the importance of the conference to their children's education. Schedule conferences for students who have siblings in the same school first and coordinate conference times with the siblings' teachers. Do everything possible to avoid scheduling siblings' conferences on different days or at widely disparate times. Base the length of the conferences on the needs of the students. If necessary, schedule two consecutive periods with parents you suspect might require more time.

Schedule conferences and notify parents……….. Send home personal invitations to the conferences and ask parents to RSVP by a specific date. Telephone parents who do not respond and encourage them to attend. Send home reminders one week before the conferences. Contact parents who do not show up and try to reschedule.

Make it possible for all parents to get the maximum benefit from the conferences. Let parents know what special services will be available, and ask them to notify you if they'll require services such as childcare, transportation, a translator, or a specific conference time. Provide parents with information about your curriculum and classroom procedures before the conference date. Include a syllabus or an outline of general areas of study, a list of broad academic goals for the year, and a copy of your classroom rules and procedures. Invite them to ask questions about those materials at the conference. Provide parents with suggestions on how to help make the conference productive and ask them to complete a conference planning sheet and bring it to the conference

Parent Conference Sheet 1 A conference with your child's teacher is scheduled for ___________ at __________ in room _____. This planning sheet will help you identify topics you may want to discuss during the conference. Please complete any sections that are appropriate and bring it to the conference with you.   What are your goals for your child this year? What specific concerns do you have about your child's academic progress or behavior? What general questions do you have about classroom curriculum, standards, evaluation techniques, or procedures? What questions or concerns does your child have about school? (Complete this section with your child.) Does your child have any health problems that might affect his or her behavior or academic progress? Is your child dealing with any personal or family issues that might affect his or her behavior or academic progress? What do you want the teacher to know about your child?

Parent Conference Sheet 2 DIRECTIONS: The questions below highlight some of the most common areas of parental concern. Make a note of the questions you want to ask and then write any additional questions you have on the back of the page.   1. How is my child doing in your class? What are my child's grades in each subject area? 2. Is my child in any special classes, groups, or programs? Why? 3. How does my child's work compare to the work of other students? 4. Is my child working up to his or her ability? 5. What goals have you set for my child this year? Do you anticipate that my child will meet those goals? Why or why not? 6. What programs are available if my child needs extra help? 7. Has my child missed any classes or failed to complete any assignments? 8. Does my child participate in class discussions and activities? 9. How well does my child get along with others? Have any incidents at school involved my child? 10. What concerns do you have about my child's behavior or academic progress? 11. What can I do to help? 12. How can I get in touch with you?

Plan ahead for a pleasant and productive conference. Create a comfortable and private physical environment. Include adult-sized seating, paper and pens so parents can take notes, and an area large enough to spread the student's work out so parents can examine it. Prepare a folder with samples of the student's work and a list of the student's current grades. If you plan to ask parents to work with their child on a particular skill or subject area, have appropriate materials available for them to take home. Know exactly what you will say and what questions you will ask. Be prepared to cite specific examples when expressing concern about the student's work or behavior. Try to anticipate parental reaction and be prepared to respond calmly and appropriately. Fill out your part of the conference record.

Conference Record Student Effort and Academic Progress (Complete before the conference.)   Student Behavior and Social Skills (Complete before the conference.) Parent Questions and Concerns (Complete during the conference.) Student Goals and Plans for Implementation (Complete with the parents.) ____________________________ ____________________________ Parent Signature Teacher Signature Date

THE CONFERENCE

You At The Conference Dress professionally. Start every conference on time. Make it clear to parents that you like their child. Remain calm and positive. Listen carefully and reflectively. Emphasize a spirit of collaboration and cooperation.

Welcoming Parents Welcome parents at the door and thank them for coming. Establish rapport by sharing an anecdote about the student or by inquiring about an activity the student takes part in outside school. Mention the student's strengths first. Briefly discuss the student's progress in each subject area and show examples of the student's work.

Briefly discuss the student's behavior, work habits, and social skills. Devote half the conference to the parents' concerns. Invite parents to share their thoughts and suggestions about the student and encourage them to ask additional questions about their child's progress. Set two or three immediate goals for the student and work with the parents to create a plan for meeting those goals. Provide any materials parents might need to implement the plan. Arrange for a follow-up phone call or meeting and let parents know how they can reach you if problems arise.

Complete the conference report and ask parents to sign it Complete the conference report and ask parents to sign it. As soon as possible, make a copy of the report and mail it to the parents. Review the highlights of the conference and end on a positive note. Walk the parents to the door and thank them for coming. Take a few minutes to make personal notes about the conference. If you agreed to follow up on a particular issue, note it on your calendar.

Communicating with Parents Use ordinary language. Professional jargon intimidates urban parents and keeps them from asking questions. Let parents know that teachers understand their situation. If parents are comfortable, they'll take in more information. Hold conferences in the evening in conjunction with a school or social event so parents can meet other parents, share information and ideas, and find support. Establish and maintain communication

Further Points to Remember…. What is the “traditional family”? “Just because parents can't spend much time at school, it doesn't mean they aren't interested in their children's education."