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Teachers: Conferences are Coming!

Could a little of Aretha’s R-E-S-P-E-C-T make a difference?

Respect is the key for both parents and teachers during conference time and throughout the year. You both come to the table with your own unique expertise. Parents are the surefire experts on their own children. They understand what drives their child; their strengths, weaknesses, dreams, and worries. You come to the table with vital knowledge about learning styles, age-appropriate skills, developmental milestones, and an understanding of where each child is on his/her educational journey.

It takes both parent and teacher further the child along in their journey. Conferences will be successful when attitudes of respect and gratitude are communicated in both directions.

So, find out what R-E-S-P-E-C-T means to parents…
Parents need to walk away from conferences with hope. Parents walk into the classroom holding their breath, waiting for all of their parenting weaknesses to be exposed. Your words are extremely powerful and the verbal picture you paint inevitably contributes to the parents’ view of their child. Have sincere, specific praise to give to the parents so that they can celebrate their child when they get home from the conference.
As important as praise is, parents also want an honest appraisal of their child’s strengths and weaknesses. With your specific suggestions for improvement, parents can go home with a plan and a vision for their child’s next step of learning.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T Before the Conference

1. Be prepared to ask questions about your student. Tapping into the parents’ understanding of their child will give you vital insight.
2. Be prepared to answer typical questions. You might even send out forms ahead of time to elicit parents’ concerns. Here are some websites that can aid you on this step:
   1. Pre-Conference Form
   2. Conference Organizers and Handouts
3. Be prepared with the students’ opinions of how school is
   going. This site can help you prepare yourself for this step:
   • Student-Created Report Card
4. Be prepared to use specific comments, evidence, and everyday language. Here are some suggested comments you can use:
   1. Report Card Comments
   2. Comment Ideas for Report Cards
5. Be prepared to stay on time. Everybody’s time is valuable.
6. Be prepared to be on the same team. Voice your concerns AND listen to suggestions. Parents should be treated as equals.
7. Be prepared to take notes so you don’t forget the agreed upon strategy!

R-E-S-P-E-C-T During the Conference

1. Relay positive comments about the student’s personality and the unique qualities they have that you admire.
2. Express one or two areas the student needs to work on and provide evidence.
3. Share any classroom observations, information on learning styles, academic standards, grade-level expectations, or other resources you have that will point towards a plan. Visit this website to find more information about Learning Styles.
4. Put an action plan together with the parent’s input and their own observations about their child.
5. Encourage the parent to ask questions and give them the time to do so.
6. Close the conference with a review of the plan and the agreed upon timeline.
7. Thank the parent for their involvement in their child’s education.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T After the Conference

1. Follow through on explaining the plan to the student.
2. Follow through on the plan you put in place.
3. Follow through in communicating the progress your student is making. Make phone calls and notes home routine.
4. Follow through on changing the plan as the student changes.
5. Follow through on expressing thanks and R-E-S-P-E-C-T for the parents’ ideas!

Check this out: 27 Tips for Parent Communication

Related Links

Conference Tips for Parents