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Today Conferences Parent – Teacher Parent-Student-Teacher Break A look at the final project For Tuesday. Parent Teacher Conferences Why Have One?. Preparation (for any conference). Help parents get prepared….
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Today • Conferences • Parent – Teacher • Parent-Student-Teacher • Break • A look at the final project • For Tuesday
Preparation (for any conference) • Help parents get prepared…. • preparation often determines whether the conference will be a success and this is where you could consider spending a considerable amount of time • Parents want to know that they are part of a team that cares for their child and that all are working towards common goals. Cameron, Gregory 2000
Work with the Office Personnel • Try to arrange your schedule on Conference Days so that you have built-in breaks for • Catch up/overtime • Time to reflect/rest – it’s hard work! • Unscheduled or extra
Administrator help • If you think you are going to have a particularly difficult interview, you may want to have support personnel to assist, depending on the issue: • Principal • Learning Support Teacher • Counsellor
Preparation • Help the students get items ready (books, portfolios, etc.) • Set up the room (and outside the room) yes, the students can help here, too! • Have large signs outside and inside your room welcoming the parents indicating room number, your name, and the subject(s) you teach. • Have (both in the classroom and in the waiting area) documents your students would have received: such as a syllabus or an outline of general areas of study and a copy of your classroom rules and procedures. • Have displays of students’ work including projects in progress. • Have adult sized chairs set up outside your room positioned so that the people waiting cannot easily hear what is being discussed in your room if the door is open. Leaving the door open while conducting the interview is acceptable and in some cases preferable. Close the door only if necessary. • Set the chairs in your room in a non-formal manner.Try not to have a large desk between you and the parents. Use a small coffee table for documents See also in recommended reading: forms for preparation
Preparation (cont) John Poulson, U of Lethbridge)
Be Prepared to talk about(or already have): See also in additional reading: Cindy Bond – 5 Must Ask Questions….
The Meeting – Parent-Teacher • You only have one opportunity to make a first impression. Dress professionally. • Thank the parents for coming, shake hands, and use their names. • Be cognizant of time – try to stick to the amount allotted – if you run out and need more than a few minutes, then schedule an additional time (maybe that day during a break, or another day • Open Positively e.g. · Thank you for coming Mrs. ---. Your child is a very important member of my class. • Consider a few pleasantries before getting down to business to get to know your audience - emotions and values affect communication. Consider being rather bland until you get a sense of who the parent is. • Telling the parents what structure you are going to use can be very helpful to some individuals who like to know the agenda before beginning. Consider an organization that looks at (1) Performance, (2) Growth, and (3) Strengths.
The Meeting – Parent-Teacher Think of organizing the conference into 3 main areas: • Strengths • Performance • Growth/Goals
Strengths • This is a time to let the parents know how well you know their child • Highlight something a student’s major strength(s)
Performance • Look at overall grade • Examine specifics • Comments concerns • Have assignments on display or available that you will be commenting on • Rather than comparing to children in the class, use this time to state the child’s development in relation to age/level expectations
Growth/Goals • Consider readiness and skills to use as main topics • Be specific and use examples to illustrate • Use a teamwork approach in developing a plan for action (if the student is available, now is a good time to include) • In developing the plan, write down roles for • Parent, student, teacher (include ALL)
Growth/Goals • Keep the plan workable • Identify specifically what needs to be done • Remember roles • Set a time frame (to re-meet if necessary)
Stand up when the parents leave! John Poulson, U of Lethbridge)
Follow-up • Make notes about any directions follow-up immediately, if necessary • Try to avoid note-taking during the conference –it is important to look at the person you are speaking to • Make follow-up calls/emails on time • Ensure that you make an effort to contact each parent and it’s ok to have a phone interview if an appointment is impossible (highly unlikely)
3 Way Conference • Similar preparation, but even more so for the students • Rehearse and practice in class – this is a powerful learning experience for students • Have work available in hallway or room nearby
Specific Preparation for 3-way/Student Led Conferences • Self Assessment • Student Goals • Work Samples • Portfolios
During • Let the student run the show • Assignthe seating arrangement around the table for the teache(rs), parents and him/herself • present preselected portfolio pieces along with their Math and French workbooks (to be discussed later); • discuss behavior and overall performance; • set goals for next term, recorded these on their contract; • Sign goal plan along with the parents and teacher. • Complete a summary sheet • Keep the parent on task • Ask parents to complete a feedback sheet • Set up further conference times as required
After • Collect the parents’ feedback sheet • In class, debrief with the students using a reflection process
Student Led Conferences- Up Close and Personal - Brenda Dyck 2002
For Tuesday: Articles of Interest: • Ontario Ministry Videos: • http://www.curriculum.org/secretariat/studentled/index.shtml • Student-Led Conferencing Presented by: PRSD AISI Team Carol Fedoruk, Janet Wallentiny, Gail McNabb ATA PD Day September 29, 2008 • Handouts and templates • Student Centred Conferences (BC)
