Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Do's and Don'ts for Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences

I found this link http://k6educators.about.com/od/classroomorganization/a/dosptconfs.htm under Beth's Elementary Education Blog. If was extremely useful for me becuase I do have Parent-Teacher conferences this upcoming Tuesday. This blog provided helpful do's and dont's for conferencing. I like how it suggested alwys starting and ending with something positive about their child. I also like the idea of having student work samples to share with the parent. Being organized and prepared will allow the meeting to run a lot smoother. It was nice to see other educators ideas on topics such as conferencing.

Beth's Elementary Education Blog: http://k6educators.about.com/b/2008/10/21/dos-and-donts-for-parent-teacher-conferences.htm#comments

4 comments:

EStrauch said...

Lauren,

I think that article summarizes the do's and don'ts about parent conferences wonderfully. Especially, hearing all the positives about their child. It also helps out a great deal to be organized and prepared beforehand. I only have 15 minutes with each parent to discuss their child, so I write down specific points to help me flow through the conversation and that way when it is over I know that I said all that I wanted to say and I won't feel like the time spent was wasted. I agree, it is also nice to hear other educator's ideas and try them out once in awhile!

Laura Ann said...

I definitely think the most helpful tip for parent teacher conferences is remembering to remain positive. Even when you have a student who seems to be stuggling with everything, it's important to point out what he/she is doing effectively. (Even if it is something as mundane as keeping his/her desk organized.) Parents are more willing to accept their child's struggles when it doesn't seem like an attack.

Lindsey said...

Lauren,

I enjoyed this article as well. I too have parent-teacher conferences in the near future and this article was a nice refresher for me. In a conference with parents/guardians of struggling student, I always have extra resources available for help at home. I usually keep handouts of math practice websites, study skills and tips, my class syllabus, and organizational tips at hand just in case. Thank you for choosing this article, I too like hearing tips and tricks from fellow educators!

Travis said...

Lauren,

This was a great article that you found on parent teacher conferences. We have our parent teacher conferences in about two weeks and this list of do's and don'ts will be extremely helpful. It is important to remember that it is their time to discuss their child. During this time it is vital to keep some of those do's and don'ts in mind so that the parent(s) and you have a successful conference. The ultimate goal is to discuss the things their child does well and things their child needs to improve. Overall, you will succeed during parent teacher conferences if you are organized, have data, and listen to their concerns.