Tips for Parent-Teacher Conferencing
By Elena Aguilar
November 7, 2012 Updated August 20, 2015
Each fall, I attend a parent-teacher conference for my son. I also spend time
coaching teachers on preparing for parent conferences. Given these
two different perspectives on this tradition, I figured I could share some
thoughts for making these conferences meaningful and rewarding for all.
1. Approach Parents with Positive Assumptions
Parents are your friends. They want to partner with you. They want to see their
child succeed more than anything else. Parent conferences might be an
opportunity for you to surface your beliefs about parents and reflect on them,
but when you engage with parents, even if you hold some doubts about them,
put those aside. Welcome every parent as your strongest ally in working with
your student (their child).
2. Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
What is your goal or objective for the time you have with parents? What exactly
do you want to communicate? What would you like the outcome of this meeting
to be?
Here's an example: My goal in Maria's conference is for her mom to see the
growth she's made in writing this fall and to determine some ways that she can
be more organized. I also want to hear her mom's perspective on the social
challenges she's dealing with.
Then prepare your materials. Have notes, tests, and work samples, but plan
exactly what you want to share. Don't just sit down with parents and open a
massive folder bursting with student work. Put sticky notes on the items you
want to share, select the best examples of the growth, and jot down a few
notes.
3. Be Solution Oriented
Be specific when asking for change. Telling a parent, "He's distracted a lot," is
useless. What is the parent (who isn't sitting next to her child all day) supposed
to do with that piece of information? How can she help her child or the
teacher?
Whatever support you ask from a parent needs to be something that is within
her sphere of influence. Asking a parent: "Can you talk to him about being
more focused?" is possible, and parents can talk and talk, but the results might
be limited.
A teacher could say: "I'm concerned because your son is often distracted
during independent work in my class. Here's what I'm doing to try to help him.
Do you see this behavior at home ever? Do you have any other ideas for things
I could try? Can you think of anything you might be able to do?"
Always convey a growth mindset. All behaviors can change given the right
conditions. If you want to see changes and have concerns about a student, be
prepared to offer specific, actionable solutions.
4. Take the Opportunity to Learn
What could you ask parents that might help you better support your student?
What would you like to know? If this is the first time you're sitting down with
parents, it's a great opportunity to hear their perspective on their child's school
experience so far, on what their child likes to do outside of school, on the
questions, and concerns they have about their child. So what do you want to
ask?
5. Show that You Care
For parents, conferences can be terrifying or wonderful. As a parent, I have sat
across from teachers whose feelings I couldn't identify -- I actually questioned
whether or not they cared about my son as a human being and as a student. I
have also sat across from teachers who I wanted to jump up and hug; they so
clearly cared about my boy.
Don't underestimate the power of the positive, and lead with it. Be specific in
the positive data you share -- tell an anecdote or show a piece of work. Make
sure you truly feel this positivity. We can all sniff out empty praise. There is
always, always something positive and praise-worthy about every single child.
It's your job to find it and share that data with parents.
