Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent conferences aren’t here quite yet…but they’re coming! Are you ready? Do conference days make you anxious? How do you prepare?? Today, I have my process written out in plain English, because I want to demystify the conference prepping process for us all!
Step One: Collect lots of data, and store it in individual file folders.
Binders and notebooks are popular because you can personalize them and make them pretty, and I am the kind of person who typically appreciates this. But during parent conferences, I need to be able to keep my table clutter-free and organized, AND move quickly. Flipping through a binder is not the most efficient use of your time, especially if you have a district like mine who gives each family exactly 15 minutes to chat with you.
PLUS: Confidentiality is a very real concern that you should have when you’re moving so quickly between families. Accidentally flipping to the wrong student’s data at the wrong time is such an avoidable error-keep it all in separate file folders!
Step Two: Complete a one page summary.
Condense the things you want to tell the parent to one page. A summary of their strengths, their work habits, the social behaviors, and their data. I typically believe that data should take up the bulk of the discussion, but sometimes there is a kid who needs to spend more time talking about socialization over behavior. Just plan to speak quickly about the other boxes and save more time for the concerns you are seeing.
I attach diagnostic reports and assessments that parents can take home to the back of their copy of the summary sheet. (I fill in each page by hand, and then make an extra copy for parents to take home…I keep one with their signature). It has always made sense for me to speak quickly, but allow parents to take some things home to read more deeply if they are interested.
Step 3: Lead with strengths, follow up with data, budget time for listening.
Always, always lead with why you love the kid. There is something you appreciate about each child in your class, even if they’re the kid who is giving you the most gray hairs this year. Dig deep, find that thing you love about them, and share it.
If you’re struggling to think of strengths, here are some for those kiddos who may not be traditionally star-students:
-Creative
-Compassionate/Kind
-Always tries their personal best
-Displays leadership skills
-Tactile learner-does well with anything hands-on
-Makes you laugh
-Thinks outside of the box
-Thoughtful
-Social/Outgoing/Has a lot of friends
If and when you have to share that child’s weak spots…support it with data, and your plan or solution!
Example: Instead of saying that a child is struggling in reading, say: “They scored at the 60th percentile on our school’s diagnostic assessment, and earn an average of 62% on weekly reading tests that we’ve had so far this year. He/she is currently receiving extra support in our RTI block, as well as meeting with me in differentiated small group at the beginning of every reading block. The data I’ve collected shows that there are still gaps in his/her phonics understanding, so that is were I am focusing most of my instructional attention. As improvements are made, we can start shifting our focus to fluently reading grade level texts”.
Data + what I’m doing about the data. Just share what you’re actually doing, and there is nothing to be anxious about!
Finally, budget time for listening. This is a conference, not a lecture. It should be a two-way conversation. I’ve had parents request testing, counseling services, disclose that they are moving soon and they need help transitioning their child, and other major life changes that I need to be made away of…all within that 15 minute window. If I blab on the entire time, I won’t get to hear what the parent has to say about that child, and there is so much to learn in that conversation. Don’t skip it!
Step 4: Take notes and follow-up if needed.
I keep a signed copy of my summary paper for my own records, and send one copy home. If parents say something during the conference that requires next-steps, I have a sticky note on the inside of each file folder to remind me what I need to do to follow up. Again, CONFIDENTIALITY IS KEY! Leaving a running to-do list out on your table is not wise if a parent requests testing, or you learn about a death in a child’s family that may require some counseling services. Being able to close one file folder and open another prevents any accidental over-sharing.
