Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences
Posted by Sherry McGregor on 16 Oct 2009 | Posted in: Classroom Routines, Teachers and Teaching
When I was teaching, our district set aside one week in the fall and in early spring for parent-teacher conferences. During those weeks, we taught in the mornings and met with parents in the afternoons. Before each conference session, I set two chairs and a small table or desk outside my door. Despite careful scheduling, I invariably talked with parents just a little too long and wanted to make sure there was something to keep each new set of parents occupied for the extra minute or two I needed to wrap up the previous conference. (I always put a sign on my door asking parents to knock at their scheduled times so the parents with whom I was working and I both knew our time was up.) On the table, I set out a small bowl of hard candy, books we’d made in class or a hands-on activity from a recent math lesson, and coloring sheets for younger brothers and sisters who often tagged along. As I welcomed each set of parents, the materials on the table gave us an instant connection. We had something to talk about, which set a positive tone for the conference. It took a few minutes to set up the display each day, but it made every conference much more productive.
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2 stars and a wish is an acitvity where the students critique each others assignments. After the student presents their work, the class has a time period to give them 2 stars. These are points that they liked about the story, project, whatever the presentation is. Basically they are compliments about it. Then they say “I wish … you would have given more information about the main character…I wish you would have made the letters on the poster bigger…I wish you would have been more specific when you were explaining how to do the experiment” That part is a time to let them know that you may have understood something better if they had done whatever you said you wished for.
for those asking about the 2 stars and a wish idea–check out response number 5. It is a nice idea.
Please elaborate on the two stars and a wish idea…..
Thank you
Hi Rhonda the school where I work has never held a conference, I am very familiar with them, after reading the comments on this page I am thinking of starting a conference session this year. I do like the idea of putting out a table in the foyer for the parents to look at their child work. I will let you know how it goes ok. Mel
2 stars and a wish…. what is that?
My school system has had the parent-teacher conference on Veteran’s Day for many years. It makes it convenient for the many parents who work for the government and have that day off (I teach in the suburbs in Maryland). The students are not in school that day and the teachers can use the entire day to schedule conferences. It used to be a half day of teaching and a half day of conferences for 2 days in a row.
I allow parents to choose their time slot (20 minute increments) at back to school night and then I fill in the rest of the parents. I send out conference forms with the date/time about 2 weeks in advance and reminders notes a couple of days before the conference. I try to meet with parents of any students who are struggling in September or October. I place book order forms and different pamphlets I have created (reading strategies, etc.) on a table in the hall for the parents to read while they wait. I also have a page prepared for each student which helps the conference run efficiently. I love the 2 stars and a wish. I will incorporate that this year-Thanks!
Our conferences were last Friday. Fortunately we don’t have them at night like some schools. We do have them on a school day and the children are out of school. Most parents are try to attend with out children. The ones that have to reschedule, we have to either have the conference after school one day or at naptime (I teach Kindergarten).
There are some parents that do think their children are sooo smart and can’t believe that their children aren’t. There are others that are in such denial that their children are struggling when you are trying to get them help. I actually had a set of parents tell me on Friday that they had their opinion and I had mine, but that their son did not have a learning problem, when it is quite obvious he does, he is just lazy. He needs to be evaluated by a professional and they refuse. Oh well, I have done my job, that is all I can do. I will continue to help the poor child as much as I can in the classroom, but it kills me when parents think they know more than someone who has been teaching for 16 years. I also have a child of my own who has special needs.
This will be my first year doing Parent-Teacher Conferences. I am a 3 yr old Preschool Teacher. I LOVE the ideas of setting up an area outside the classroom with the schedule posted! I have a couple of books that I have complied of pages the children have colored that I will put out for the parents to look at.
How do you handle the parents who think their children are self taught geniuses and it’s obvious they aren’t?
Also, how do you address the fact that the children are exhausted when they come to class (we start at 9 am)? I don’t want to step on any toes but a couple of my students are always so out of it and they have bags under their eyes.
Thanks!
The district in which I work has set time aside for conferences. We teach a full day on Monday and Tuesday, then we meet with parents (42 days into the school year.) One night is a Tuesday evening, from 4:00 - 7:30 pm. The next day, we teach all day. Then we have a professional inservice Thursday morning, followed by conferences from 12:30 - 8:00. The parents were given the opportunity to sign up for a preferred time during Open House Night earlier in the year. Then each school sends reminder notes the week before conferences and providing a phone number to the school in case the parents should need to reschedule. Each conference is 10 minutes long.
I have previously taught where parents were allowed to come whenever they wanted on one assigned day - it was crazy, with parents arguing which family arrived first! I don’t like arena conferences for that reason!
What is 2 stars and a wish?
I really enjoy taking photos of special times in our classroom. I download the pictures into the same folder and then run the photos during conference nights. I usually set a computer near the door, so parents have something fun to occupy their time as they wait for their conference time. I always get great feedback - it really seems to start all conferences off on a positive note.
We were actually given a specific day this year that we could have conferences. During Thanksgiving week, the kids have all week, and we have one day of professional development and the other for conferences. Of course, if you have your conferences prior to that date you may take that day as yours. When you have your conferences is totally up to you. Some teachers are having conferences right now. Others are waiting until the end of the marking period (end of October). Because of all of the individual assessment data we are collecting in 1st grade, I’m not having my conferences until the week of November 2nd. I’m offering different times each day. I will offer some 8:00 a.m. slots, during my planning,and immediately after school up until 5:00. One night I will stay very late. Most teachers try to set a 15 minute limit. If the parent cannot meet personally, we do offer a phone conference. I have lots hanging in the hall for the parents to look at and read.
I love parent teacher conferences because it gives me a chance to really get to know my students. I always feel like once I know their parents, I know them. However, I understand how you feel about conferences when you say they make you nervous. One thing I do to help with the “nerves” part of conferencing, is I have a page ready that I make for each child. It is a format that I follow for each student. Before conference time, around report cards I fill out the page for each child, so that I have many things to share with the parents about their children. Positive comments and true concern for each child always go along way to making for a good working relationship with parents. Hope something I have written here helps.
We have a half day with conferences in the afternoon and evening (12:30-3:00 and 5:00-7:30). I teach 5th grade and way back in my first year of teaching a colleague introduced me to student led conferencing. We build portfolios (work samples) throughout the semester and at the conference it’s the student’s responsibility to discuss with the parent(s) how they are progressing. I am able to have several conferences going on at the same time. I “mingle” around joining the ongoing conferences at the beginning, middle, or end. I love this method and rarely have a parent unhappy with the process.
I love the Two Stars and a Wish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I plan to have my students illustrate their “two star” accomplishments and then I will add my wish!
Thanks for the idea.
My district only provides one day for our parent conferences all year. We may have our conferences after school or before school (7:50 am start!) or on our “B” Monday (teacher driven) staff meetings 2 times a month. The official conference day is a pupil free day, always the Wednesday before Thanksgiving! We are expected to be at school during our contractual time (7:30-2:35) on the day before Thanksgiving. Sometimes my principal will send us home at noon, if no one says anything about it.
I try to have most of them done before that, and use the “designated day” as makeup for no shows. (I started with my conferences yesterday, October 19, having 4 scheduled from 2-3:30. Of those 4, I already have 2 no shows! These were appointments they picked at Back To School Night two weeks ago, with reminders sent home last Friday!
Don’t you just love the excuse, “Oh, I can’t make the appointment. I have to work.” Do the parents think that teaching is not working? But that will bring on a different rant.
Our conferences are from 2:00-4:00 and then 5:30-8:30. The kids get a half day of school that day. I still get nervous and it’s been 20 years that I have done this. I teach kindergarten so when I started we went half days and now we’re going full days all week. It is really shocking to parents as to how much they need to know. Yes, our curriculum for kindergarten feels more like a 1st grade curriculum. Parents will come in and always talk about that in hopes that I can change it. I can’t and we have State guidelines to go by. I don’t really think it sets in until after Christmas for some parents. Then if they receive a letter that their child is struggling and may need to have another conference with the teacher to see if they are ready to go on to the next grade, parents seem to kick it in gear. (Sometimes) As far as how I set up my conferences. I give them a “headsup list” of things I will be checking the students on. They should come with questions or concerns. I set out cookies and books we’ve made. Our halls are nicely decorated. It’s a long night for us too.
We teach all day and then do conferences late into the evening. I, too, set up a small table outside with candy and reading material for parents who end up having to wait. Conferences make me nervous, as I am much more comfortable with kids than I am with adults. However, I remind myself that, as in my classroom, I set the tone. I also remind myself that sometimes the parent is just as nervous as I am. I always try to do 2 Stars and a Wish. I start positive and then tell the parents 1 important thing that I’d like their child to work on. I also remind myself to listen and much as I talk.
Parent Teacher conferences are always very stressful. I wish we had a schedule like yours, but instead we teach all day then have them till 8 at night. This makes for two long days in the fall and spring.
I’m glad you guys view conferences in such a positive light. Conferences scare me horribly, and I’ve done them four times before. I’m not looking forward to conferences this week. Advice on how not to be nervous?
I set up a style like yours…the major difference is we teach all day and then start conferences all evening. Two nights in the fall and two in the spring. It makes for a very long day. I love to meet with all of the parents. It is always fun to make the connection between parent and child. It provides a lot of insight.
I’d be interested in hearing about middle schools where arena style conferencing is used. We tried it this month, and parents were not always willing/able to wait until it was their turn, so a few left before I got around to talking to them. There has to be a better way!