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Harvard Family Research Project 'Parent-Teacher Tips Conference Tip Sheets

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Harvard Family Research Project 'Parent-Teacher Tips Conference Tip Sheets

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DoE WA Advice for Parents 'Talking With my School'

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DoE WA Advice for Parents 'Talking With my School'

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Attendance Works Document for 'Making the Most of Your Parent-Teacher Conferences'

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Attendance Works Document for 'Making the Most of Your Parent-Teacher Conferences'

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Alpha State School QLD Parent-Teacher Interview Policy

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Alpha State School QLD Parent-Teacher Interview Policy

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Download the free guide on the website

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Parent-Teacher Conferences do not need to be stressful, but for many teachers (and parents, too) they are. Will I say the right things? How do I start the conference? How do I tell a parent I'm worried about their child? What if the parent doesn't like me? How do I convey the love I feel for their child? These are all worries that many teachers have had at some point prior to meeting with parents.

Having been a elementary teacher for over 22 years now and a parent of 4 boys, I can tell you that both teachers and parents have worries when it comes to parent-teacher conferences. I t does not not need to be a stressful time, though. Here is what I would like to say to those teachers who need some guidance and help with de-stressing about conferencing:

You can do this. You are a highly-trained, capable, professional. You are a person with compassion. You love your students - each and every one of them. You can place yourself in the shoes of the parent(s) you will see across the table and realize that their child is their world. They have a right to be worried, proud, or anxious when it comes to their little one. You know how to help them. And if you don't know all the answers, you will be honest and tell them you will work with them to find the answers. Parents need and deserve to have you at your very best during their 20-30 minutes with you. You will be ready, organized, and you will give them your best.

I've wondered for some time why my Parent-Conference Forms Packet is my number 2 seller of all time in my Teachers Pay Teachers store. I recently took some time to review the packet and look at the feedback from teachers who have used it. I think I know why it's so popular (almost 1,000 sold) now. Teachers, beginners and veterans alike, tend to stress over conference time. What is one of the best ways to take care of stress and anxiety? Preparation and organization. I don't know about all of you, but I know that when I am totally prepared and organized for anything (hosting a party, the first day of school, a camping trip, etc.), I am so much more relaxed and better able to really enjoy the experience.

I guess my Parent-Conference Forms Packet does that for teachers. It fully organizes them before the conference day, so they are really more relaxed and better able to be themselves during the time of the actual meeting. It guides teachers through the entire process, from gathering data to talking to parents to creating an inviting atmosphere.

Ready to get organized? Here are some suggestions on how to prepare and successfully navigate Parent-Conferences with confidence:

1. Think about how you want to approach your conferences, what you will say to parents, how you will arrange the space, and how you can put parents at ease the moment they walk through the door. You can download my FREE guide on "What to Do and What Not to Do" right here.

2. Create a schedule for conference times. The day before parents' appointments, send home a friendly reminder.

3. Gather data. I can remember the days when all I had to share with parents were grades and notes I had taken on each child. The amount of data we have now can be to your benefit. Get it organized on paper. I started sharing the simple 4-square form on the left a few years ago, and parents responded very well.They love having something substantial to take home and look over. It is very important to involve parents in goal-setting. Being organized with information prior to the conference is so helpful with this process!

4. Have a few extra things planned to make conferences even more rewarding for your students. In the hallway outside my door, I have a small table with " Love Letters" and pencils for parents to write a note to be left on their child's desk. If I have parents who are not able to come to conferences, I write a note to their children and leave them on their desks, so that nobody feels left out. I also give raffle tickets for a free book from the next book order everyone attending conferences.

5. Treat your parents to something fun at the end of the conference! They will love you for it!

6. Wait, you're not done! The goal of parent conferences is to meet with every, single parent. Take the time to call those parents who could not make it. Have a conversation with them about their child. Use a phone log to document who you contacted and to take notes.

My wonderful blog followers can download the " What to Do and What NOT to Do" Conferencing Guide for FREE HERE! It is a part of the entire packet, and I thought it might be helpful to you during this conferencing season.

Very well organized and helpful reminders to create smooth conferences!!!

Worry Free is sooo accurate. Thanks for creating this!

Very organized! Great help for conferences!!

These were a hit with my parents last year! 🙂 I plan to use them again this year. Thanks so much!

Very helpful when I was scrambling to pull things together for conferences. Thank you!

I love this resource! Makes parent-teacher conferences a breeze!

What a wonderful resource! Thank you for helping me organize my conference madness!!!

Thank you so much! As a first year teacher, this has helped me tremendously!

Great resource! Helped me be completely prepared for conferences. Very useful tool!

This was a great way to stay organized before doing conferences. Thanks!

Perfect and useful! I felt very prepared for conferences!

Excellent forms to help communicate clearly with parents.

You can find the entire packet HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy teaching and best of luck with your parent-teacher conferences!

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Parent Teacher Conferences - A Worry Free Guide - Appletastic Learning

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Parent-Teacher Conferences do not need to be stressful, but for many teachers (and parents, too) they are. Will I say the right things? How do I start the conference? How do I tell a parent I'm worried about their child? What if the parent doesn't like me?

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Walker & Dotger Research- 7 Categories to quantitatively measure the structure and responsiveness of teachers during interviews

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Walker & Dotger Research- 7 Categories to quantitatively measure the structure and responsiveness of teachers during interviews

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Particular attention to page 16 of 'Keeping Our Workplace Safe' for managing confrontation

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This website provides the definitive online repository for all of the Department's policies and also contains other information including strategic documents and links to relevant legislation.

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School Interviews provides simple online bookings for parent-teacher interviews, conferences and more.

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That time of year is approaching again - parent teacher interviews. It can be a busy time for teachers and it's best to be well prepared. By following these pointers, your upcoming parent teacher conferences will be far more enjoyable.

These tips are divided into 3 sections - what you can do before, during and after your parent teacher interviews.

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

- Think about it from the parents' perspective
Parents are nervous too. Remember that they are a person just like you.

- Anticipate questions parents might ask
Make a list of possible questions that parents might ask you and take some time to think about how you might answer those questions. For a list of questions click here.

- Plan your physical environment
Where will you sit? Where will the parents sit? How do you want your space organised? What will the parents be looking at over your shoulder? Are there any hazards in your space? Are there any potential interruptions/distractions that you can/can't control?

- Complete your interview proforma
I always prepare for every parent-teacher meeting. I developed an 'Interview Proforma' which I have found SO helpful in facilitating effective meetings with parents. (If you'd like a copy of this, just click the download button below. Seriously, it will really help you).

DURING THE INTERVIEW

- Be nice
Think about the first 60 seconds of your meeting with parents. Say hello! Be welcoming! Smile!

- Use the 'Feedback Sandwich'
Simply put, you start with the bread - something positive and encouraging; then you put in the filling - the student's behaviour that you need to address; followed by another piece of bread - something positive and encouraging. This is a great little strategy to help you talk through any tricky issues.

- Always, always, always take notes
Taking notes communicates to parents that you are engaged and listening. It gives them visual confidence in your ability to follow through. It is also really helpful for you too - it gives you something to do during the interview and also serves as a reminder for any follow up you need to do.

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

- Make some final notes
Take a minute or two to write down some final thoughts and reflections.

- Diligently DO what you said you would do
Make sure you follow through with any commitments you made to the parents. Your diligence in this will ensure you maintain a healthy professionalism in the eyes of the parent.

- Keep communicating with parents
Look for ways to keep connecting with parents. Parents love hearing things about their child.

You CAN have winning parent-teacher interviews by following these steps in planning for before, during and after the interview.

Enjoy the journey,

More importantly, enjoy the moments.

🙂

Megan

P.S. Want to be super-prepared for your interviews with parents? Download the Parent-Teacher Interview Preparation Proforma by clicking the download button below. It will really help you! I use it for every single parent teacher meeting.

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How To Have Winning Parent Teacher Interviews

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That time of year is approaching again - parent teacher interviews. It can be a busy time for teachers and it's best to be well prepared. By following these pointers, your upcoming parent teacher conferences will be far more enjoyable. These tips are divided into 3 sections - what you can do before, during and after your parent teacher interviews.