8 Tips for Successful Teacher-Parent Conferences - Teacher Perspective
Parent-teacher conferences are a crucial opportunity for teachers to connect with families and establish partnerships that can help students achieve their best. As long time educators, we believe that these meetings should be positive and action-oriented, with a focus on collaboration and mutual support. Here are eight tips that can help you conduct successful parent-teacher conferences:
Be proactive: One effective way to ensure that parents are aware of the conference schedule is to send out regular reminders through multiple channels, such as email, text messages, and automated phone calls. You can also work with your school's administration to provide language translation services and childcare support for families who need it.
Be welcoming: When greeting parents, make sure to maintain eye contact and use their names whenever possible. This can help establish a sense of connection and rapport. You can also create a welcoming environment by decorating your classroom with student work and other visual aids that showcase the learning that takes place in your classroom.
Explain objectives and expectations: One way to help parents understand your classroom policies and expectations is to create a parent handbook or website that outlines these details in a clear and concise manner. You can also provide examples of student work that demonstrate the skills and knowledge that you are working to develop in your class.
Be prepared: Before the conferences, review your students' work and grades to identify areas of strength and weakness. You can also prepare a list of questions or concerns that you anticipate parents may have, along with possible solutions or strategies to address them.
Create an action plan: When developing an action plan, involve the student and parent in the process so that everyone feels invested in the outcome. For example, you might create a shared document or worksheet that outlines specific goals, timelines, and responsibilities for each party.
Use the good-bad-good sandwich: When discussing a difficult topic with a parent, make sure to frame the conversation in a positive light by highlighting the student's strengths or progress. For example, you might say, "I'm really impressed with how well Kiera has been keeping up with the class reading assignments. However, I've noticed that she seems to struggle with some of the more complex vocabulary words. Here are some strategies that we can use to help her improve her comprehension and build her vocabulary."
Don't tolerate abuse: If a parent becomes angry or hostile during a conference, remain calm and professional. You might say something like, "I understand that you are upset, but I cannot continue this conversation if you are using disrespectful language or threatening behavior. Please take some time to calm down, and we can schedule another conference for a later date."
Keep lines of communication open: Make sure that parents know how to contact you after the conference, and encourage them to do so if they have any questions or concerns.
By following these tips, you can create strong partnerships with parents and help your students achieve their best. Remember, parents are essential partners in their children's education, and by working together, you can make a real difference in their lives.