Teacher Parent Conferences

Here are some tips to help make your parent conferences productive and successful:

1. Make contact early. 
You'll get your relationship with parents off to a good start if you contact them early in the year, perhaps with a memo or newsletter sent home to all pupils. Give parents an outline of what their children will be studying, and let them know you'll be happy to meet with them during the year. (Be sure to say how and when they may contact you for conferences.)

2. Plan ahead. 
Have in mind a general--but flexible--outline of what you're going to say, including a record of student progress, a review of strengths and needs, and a proposed plan of action.

3. Be ready for questions. 
 Prepare yourself to answer specific questions parents may have. They're likely to ask questions such as:

• What is my child's ability level?
• Is my child working up to his/her ability level?
• How is my child doing in specific subjects?
• Does my child cause any trouble?
• Does my child have any specific skills or abilities in schoolwork?

4. Stress collaboration. 
Let the parents know you want to work together in the best interests of the student. A statement such as "You need to see me as soon as possible to discuss John's poor study habits" only arouses hostility. But "I'd like to discuss with you how we might work together to improve John's study habits" gets the relationship off on the right foot.

5. Focus on solutions. 
 Ideally, all parent conferences would concern only positive events. Realistically, many conferences are held because there's a problem somewhere. Things will go more smoothly if you'll focus on solutions rather than on the child's problem. Discuss what you and the parents can do to help improve the situation. Plan together a course of action.

6. Turn the other cheek. 
In routine parent conferences, it's unusual to run into a parent who is abusive and hostile. But it can happen. Try not to be rude, whatever the provocation. Hear out the parents in as pleasant a manner as possible, without getting defensive if you can.

7. Be specific in your comments. 
Parents may flounder if you deal only in generalities. Instead of saying, "She doesn't accept responsibility," pin down the problem by pointing out, "Amanda had a week to finish her book report, but she wrote only two paragraphs."

8. Summarize. 
Before the conference ends, review the discussion and the actions that you and the parents have decided to take.

9. Wind up on a positive note. 
When you can, save at least one encouraging comment or positive statement about the student for the end of the conference.

10. Meet again if you need to. 
If you feel you need more time, arrange another meeting later rather than trying to rush everything before the students get back from art class.

Source: http://www.mea-mft.org