Parent teacher conference agenda1/1/2024 “How are they doing with the academic work? How are they doing socially with the other children? How are they feeling emotionally?” “The parents should be looking to gain insight into how the day goes for their child while they’re in the school building and away from them,” McDonald says. The goal of parent-teacher conferencesĬhris McDonald, a Massachusetts elementary school teacher of 26 years, says that parents and teachers have similar aims when it comes to conferences. With so much to cover in such a short amount of time, we asked experienced educators for their thoughts on what parents can do to get the most out of parent-teacher conferences. Parents want to get the lowdown on how their children are doing, and teachers want to make sure they communicate everything a parent needs to know about their teaching style and how the child is performing in school - all in a 15-minute block of time. But as helpful as they are, they can be downright stressful for everyone involved. And we see parents making a real effort to attend.Parent-teacher conferences are one of the most useful tools that we have as parents to ensure our children are getting the most from their education. They are learning to advocate for themselves and to manage their time while speaking. Students are learning public speaking skills. Since moving to student-led conferences more than five years ago, we have noticed a subtle but important shift. It takes a lot of maturity to express your growth and areas for improvement, but I see a genuine effort from all of my students. And I help the student if the parent is talking too much, redirecting the conversation if someone begins to get upset.Īfter the meeting, students send thank you notes to their guardians who attended the event. I let the students lead, but I may ask probing questions or direct the student to the agenda. I know what classes my students are excelling in and if they are having trouble with behavior in a specific class or homework in another. Of course, it still takes work and an understanding of the students and their families. From there, teachers, parents, and students can work together to create action plans. Families can also trust that if their student identifies they are struggling with completing math homework and assignments on time, it is true. Students have the opportunity to reflect on the skills they learned, their accomplishments to be proud of, what they can work on during the next quarter, and how those goals align with our school’s values: bravery, ownership, and leadership. It takes a lot of maturity to express your growth and areas for improvement, but I see a genuine effort from all of my students.Įmpowering students to lead these discussions lessens the emotional and mental burden on educators. It also places a strain on teachers who have large class sizes. She was able to present, her shoulders back and head held high as she discussed her progress and how she wanted to be pushed not just academically but also socially.Īt traditional parent-teacher conferences, students may worry about being misrepresented, and parents and guardians might feel surprised and overwhelmed when a teacher expresses that their child is struggling. Through patience, practice in class, and the support of her family, her conference the next year looked completely different. At her first conference, she put her hands over her face, too nervous to share. She was a hard worker and strong reader but was often uncomfortable speaking in front of her peers. I remember one student whom I’ll call Maria. Even the design is intentional - we adjust our seats into seminar-style circles to promote discussion. The checklist, for example, reminds teachers that they can ask probing questions or direct the student to the agenda but to be careful not to dominate the conversation.
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