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Getting the Most From Parent Teacher Conferences

Getting the Most From Parent Teacher Conferences. Goals For This Session. Discuss importance of relationships Pinpoint the purpose of conferences Learn what teachers want you to ask How to prepare for the conference Find out the most important questions to ask

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Getting the Most From Parent Teacher Conferences

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  1. Getting the Most From Parent Teacher Conferences

  2. Goals For This Session • Discuss importance of relationships • Pinpoint the purpose of conferences • Learn what teachers want you to ask • How to prepare for the conference • Find out the most important questions to ask • Learn what NOT to do during a conference

  3. It’s All About the Relationship • Good relationships are the key to the most important interactions we have • Marriage, children, neighbors, doctors, insurance agent etc. • Good relationships are like grease on a wheel…keeps us moving smoothly down the road • Why not have a good relationship with your child’s teacher? • View your child’s teacher as a team member

  4. What is the point of conferences? • To get to know and build a working relationship with your child’s teacher • To discuss your child’s strengths and weaknesses • To gain understanding of teacher expectations • To better understand programs and curriculum goals • To establish a ongoing line of communication • To work together to ensure YOUR CHILD LEARNS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!

  5. What to do BEFORE the conference • Make a list of things that will help the teacher better understand your child. For example: • Any special health problems or medical conditions • Outside of school interests and hobbies • Feelings about school • Strengths and weaknesses • Learning style • Tips for managing negative behaviors

  6. What to do BEFORE the conference cont. • Make a list of things you want to find out from the teacher. Examples: • Discipline and grading policy • Homework policy • Services and programs offered by the school • Teacher’s goals for your child • Information about curriculum, testing, MAPS, etc. • Best way to communicate during school year

  7. What teachers want parents to know… • The main purpose of a conference is… • to discuss progress or concerns • to meet parents and begin relationship building • to set goals for student • to answer any questions • to communicate with one another about needs of child

  8. What teachers want parents to know cont… • The questions I wish all parents would ask are… • how is my child doing in class? • what can we do at home to help our child? • what can we do to help our child be more successful at school? • how can I reinforce what your are teaching at home?

  9. What teachers want parents to know cont… • The best way for us to work together this year is to… • communicate with each other • keep an open mind • keep in close contact by agenda, email, phone, and periodic conferences • stay in touch at least every few weeks with each other • look in your child’s folder each night and read the weekly newsletters

  10. What teachers want parents to know cont… • Conferences do not go well when teachers… • are not prepared to share specific data regarding student progress • do all the talking • don’t know about circumstances that could be affecting a student performance • become confrontational when there is a point of disagreement • only talk about negatives, blame parents

  11. What teachers want parents to know cont… • Conferences don’t go well when parents… • try to blame others for student’s lack of progress • don’t have high expectations for the student • are defensive and confrontational • do not ask questions • already have an opinion of teacher based on gossip

  12. What teachers want parents to know cont… • Conferences goes well when parents and teachers… • are open, honest, and willing to try new ideas and suggestions • work as a team for the benefit of the student • develop a sense of partnership • set goals for the student • finish the conference with all questions answered • are both willing to talk and listen

  13. Key questions to ask during the conference… • What would you say are my child’s strength and areas for improvement? • How is my child’s behavior? • How should I track my child’s progress? How will we know if my child is progressing? • Do you have suggestions for things we can do at home to better support my child’s learning? • How is my child doing socially? • What concerns do you have for my child? • What is the plan to improve areas of concern? • What is the best way for us to collaborate this school year?

  14. What NOT to do during a conference! • Don’t… • Show up late! • View your child’s teacher as an adversary • Pull a no show! • Focus always on how/what other children are doing…focus on your child • Create tension if there are points of concern or disagreement during the conference • Be shy or reluctant to discuss your concerns

  15. Post conference…what happens next? • Share conference details with your child…starting with the GOOD news and then discuss areas for improvement • Discuss ways to improve areas of concern • Develop a system to monitor your child’s progress…checking agenda, homework, asking about test results etc. • Let your child know that you and teacher are working TOGETHER! • Stay in contact with teacher throughout the school year

  16. Questions?Concerns?

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