Like any other school day, teachers need to prepare for parent teacher conferences. Most parent teacher conferences are held within a certain block of time. I prefer scheduling parents for appointments within that time period. By scheduling parents, you reduce the amount of ‘wait in line’ time and do not feel as rushed to move parents in and out. You can also look at the schedule and somewhat prepare for the next conference by knowing which child will be discussed next.
About one week before conference day, I send home a note with time slots and blank lines. Parents choose a first and second choice for conference time. I then try to best accommodate each parent by giving them either their first or second choice. I schedule parents on a first come first serve basis. A couple of days before conferences, I send home a schedule to confirm the time of the appointments.
Before conferences begin, tidy up your room. Make sure that a table and chairs are provided for you and the parents to conference. Try to have some type of student work displayed. Place chairs outside of your door for parents to sit in while waiting. If you have created any type of student made books, place them outside your door for parents to look through while they wait.
Teachers must mentally prepare for what needs to be said to each child’s parent. If a child is struggling, make sure that you have samples of work to show the parents. If a child has completed a piece of superior work, also have that on hand to show parents. Make sure that you have at least one positive comment to make about every student. No matter how horrific the child acts, remember that to the parents he is still the most precious thing in the world. Be tactful about your wording and think about how you would feel in the parents’ position. However, be honest and do not lead parents to believing that the child has appropriate behavior or is on target academically if these things are not true. Parents need to be aware of academic and behavior troubles before they worsen.
Teachers also should always be able to give specific examples. Never say, “her behavior is inappropriate” or “he is struggling” or “he never completes his work”, with out giving specific actions. Make notes during the school year if necessary. You can never go wrong by having dated, detailed information. Most teachers are too busy to keep up with every student’s actions without some type of record.
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