How to Prepare Efficiently for Parent Teacher Conferences

Are you a new teacher worried about Parent-Teacher Conferences? Well this article will help ease your tensions at school and give you some great tips on how to be prepared for conferences.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 1 file folder for each student
• a notebook and pen
• folders containing student practice papers in all the subject areas
• your class list
• a friendly smile

1. Leading up to the conferences keep in mind that you will want to show the parents some of their child's work. This means that you should be keeping a Writing folder, Science journal, Math folder for each student.

2. A week before conferences talk them up with your students so that they remind their parents. Also send home a reminder note with each parents scheduled date and time. You should ask for a signed copy from the parents to confirm they have received their date and time.

3. Using the student report card as a guide, find pieces of student work or assessments that demonstrate your reasoning for giving the student that grade. You can choose the subject areas that you want to talk about more in detail. Place all of these pieces along with a copy of the report card in the students' individual files.

4. You are now ready for conferences. When each parent enters place a check next to their name on the class list so you can easily report to the principal how many parents attended. Greet them with a smile or handshake, whatever you feel comfortable with. Keep in mind that some cultures may shy away from handshakes. You may want to ask an ESL teacher in advance what you can expect. Show them to their seats.

5. You may either go right in to the folder and report card or you may ask the parents if they have any questions. Saving their questions until the end of the conference is sometimes wise since you will more than likely answer any doubts they may have.

6. It is important to have a notebook handy during the conference. Parents may have requests that you will want to keep track of. Some parents may ask for extra practice work in certain subject areas or concerns about something that may be happening during lunch hour. Keeping notes will help you remember to follow up with the parents.

7. Many parents ask, "What should I be doing at home?". This is when you need to have practice work prepared in folders for parents to take home. You may have flash cards to practice sight words or multiplication facts. You may also have copies of the Science glossary for the upcoming quarter so that parents can help prepare their child for upcoming lessons.

8. End the conference on a positive note. You may need to organize some ideas for your more challenging students so that you have a positive comment at the end of the conference.

9. Report your numbers to the principal and pat yourself on the back!
   Make any notes that may help you improve for the next time.

Tips & Warnings

• Bring a snack if you have a long conference schedule that may not allow you time for a real meal.
• You may have long breaks in your schedule. Make a to do list so that you can accomplish tasks you normally do not have time to do.
• You don't want the conference room to be a free for all. So if parents bring younger siblings that want to pull books and toys off the shelves, do not allow it. The room needs to stay tidy for the next conference. Instead have a basket of books handy to help entertain young children.