Communicating With Parents / Guardians Page 8
ADVERTISEMENT
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26Com m unications Checklist for Parent Conference / Interview
A.)
Before the Conference/Interview
The best com m unication clim ate is a com fortable one; if you are relaxed, parents will usually
relax, too. There are m any com m unication techniques that will lead to a successful
conference.
"
Inform your teaching partners of interviews (other subject teachers, ie...Core French).
"
Arrange inform al seating around a table with the student work on display.
"
Sit around a table not facing each other across the teacher's desk. Make sure the chairs
are adult-sized if it is a prim ary classroom .
"
Ensure privacy.
"
Be well prepared; collect dated sam ples of student work com pleted throughout the term to
show im provement or decline in quality.
"
Com pile appropriate m aterial to substantiate your evaluation.
"
Before your first meeting with parents, review the academ ic history of the student.
"
Prepare a conference form for record keeping to keep the discussion focused and to be an
aid for future conferences.
"
Send out an interview confirm ation sheet; ask parents to return it indicating the nam es of
other teachers who should attend.
"
Have appointm ents posted outside the door and keep to the schedule; parents needing
additional conference tim e should be invited to com e at a later date.
"
Have chairs and coffee/cold drinks available outside the classroom .
"
Successful conferences deal with only a few issues because of tim e constraints; m ake sure
you know what points you want to cover.
"
Consider having the student included in the conference.
"
If the students are not included in the conference, m eet with them beforehand so that they
are aware of what will be discussed.
"
If the conference is part of the regular reporting period, send hom e a newsletter describing
your programs and som e of the topics being studied.
B)
During the Conference/Interview
"
Greet the parents/guardians at the door.
"
Introduce yourself with a friendly voice, but keep opening com m ents to a m inim um to allow
m ore discussion tim e.
"
Maintain the focus and keep the discussion on track.
"
Be clear and concise in your com m ents; be an attentive listener.
"
Keep the parents involved by encouraging them to share pertinent inform ation with you.
"
No m atter how m any problem s/challenges a student has, find som e positive things to
report.
"
W ith the parents' help, develop som e goals for the rest of the year.
C)
Concluding the Conference/Interview
"
Sum m arize the points covered and add these to your files.
"
Highlight the conclusions and the agreed-upon actions.
"
If needed, set another date for an interview check that the parents have a clear
understanding of what was discussed.
"
End as you began-on a positive note.
"
Thank the parents and walk them to the door.
New Teacher Induction Program - 2011
Page 97
ADVERTISEMENT
0 votes
Related Articles
Related forms
Related Categories
Parent category: Miscellaneous