OTL502-Learning Theories and                      Models of Instruction

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Parent-teacher conferences are an important component of ongoing school-to-home communication and family involvement in your classroom. Did you also know that school-to-home communication predicts positive outcomes for students and for schools? Here are some effective tips to provide you with information to help make your parent–teacher conferences productive and effective.​

 

Approach

• A two-way conversation. It is a time for parents to learn from you, but also for you to learn from them.

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• Emphasis on learning. Keep bringing communication back to strategies to support student learning.

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• Opportunities and challenges. Parents need to hear their child’s strengths and challenges.

 

Prior to

• Send invitations. Include information about the time and goals of the conferences, as well as alternative scheduling options.

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• Review student work. Be prepared to go over student data, assignments, and assessments during the conferences.

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• Prepare thoughts and materials. Create an agenda or list of key issues you want to discuss each student’s progress and growth.

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• Send reminders. Prior to the conference, send home a reminder for when and where the conferences will be held.

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• Create a welcoming environment. Ensure you have enough seating for the student, parents, and siblings. A nice touch would be to offer a refreshment of some type.

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During 

• Discuss progress and growth. Starting with the positive, let families know about their child’s ability level in different subjects and in relationship to his or her peers.

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• Use examples. Walk parents through the assignments that demonstrate student’s progress and abilities.

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• Ask questions and actively listen. Solicit family input into student strengths, needs, and learning styles.

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• Share ideas for supporting learning. Provide suggestions for activities families can use at home to help their children learn.

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• Seek solutions collaboratively. Avoid judgments. Emphasize the "WE" not the "they".

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• Make an action plan. Spend the last few minutes discussing how you and the family will support the student.

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• Establish lines of communication. Describe how you will communicate with families and they can contact you.

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After 

• Follow up with families. If practical, contact parents who attended the conference and thank them for doing so.

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• Communicate regularly. Communicate on an ongoing basis with families, with positive news as well as updates on student progress and challenges. 

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• Connect in-class activities. Create responsive instructional practices based on what you learned about family cultures, home learning environments, and student strengths and needs.