Tips for Parent Conferences

Communicating with parents is one of the most important things we do as educators. When we can work together with a child's parents toward common goals, we improve the atmosphere for learning.

Most successful teacher-parent "teams" begin with a conference, usually one conducted before there's a real need to meet.

Of course, while parent conferences can be most helpful, we also know that sometimes they can be a discouraging waste of time -or even turn into ugly confrontations. Here are some tips to help make all your parent conferences productive and successful:

Invite both parents.
Encourage both parents to attend conferences when possible. Misunderstandings are less common if both parents hear what you have to say, and you'll be able to gauge the kind of support both parents give the child.

It is also critical to remember that both mother and father may not be available; that many children come from single-parent homes; or that some come from homes where grandparents are raising the children.

Make contact early.
You'll get your relationship with parents off to a good start if you contact them early in the year, perhaps with a memo or newsletter sent home to all pupils. Give parents an outline of what their children will be studying, and let them know you'll be happy to meet with them during the year. (Be sure to say how and when they may contact you for conferences.)

Allow enough time.
Twenty to thirty minutes is usually adequate. If you're scheduling back-to-back conferences, be sure to allow enough time between them (10 minutes or so) so you can make necessary notes on the just-concluded conference and prepare for the upcoming one.

Be ready for questions.
Be prepared to answer specific questions parents may have, such as:

Get your papers organized in advance.
Assemble your grade book, test papers, samples of the student's work, attendance records and other pertinent data ahead of time.

Plan ahead.
Have in mind a general - but flexible- outline of what you're going to say, including a survey of student progress, a review of his or her strengths and needs, and a proposed plan of action.

Greet parents near the entrance they'll use.
You'll alleviate anxiety and frustration (nothing is more confusing to the uninitiated than wandering around those look-alike school hallways trying to find the right classroom) and make parents feel more welcome.

Get the name right.
Don't assume that Jennifer Peabody's mother is Mrs. Peabody. Check your records ahead of time to make sure you've got the parents' names right. Don't assume that the wrinkled grey-haired gentleman coming in with Johnny is his grandfather. It could be his father, or an uncle. Politely ask. And try not to talk to the Smiths about their son "Stan" when their son's name is "Steve.".

Avoid physical barriers.
Don't sit behind your desk, while forcing the parents to squeeze into the children's desks on the front row or perch miserably on folding chairs. Arrange conference-style seating if possible so you'll all be equals.

Open on a positive note.
Begin conferences on a warm, positive note to get everyone relaxed. Start with a positive statement about the child's abilities or work or interests.

Structure the session.
As soon as the parents arrive, review the structure of the conference - the why, what, how and when - so you'll both have an "agenda." ( Remember, of course, that parents often come with their own agendas or questions they want answered, so you'll have to be flexible .)

Be specific in your comments.
Parents may flounder if you deal only in generalities. Instead of saying "She doesn't accept responsibility," pin down the problem by pointing out "Amanda had a whole week to finish up her book report, but she only wrote two paragraphs."

Offer a suggested course of action.
Parents appreciate being given some specific direction. If Jane is immature, it might be helpful to suggest that the parents give her a list of weekly chores, allow her to take care of a pet, or give her a notebook to write down assignments. ( Of course, when you offer advice, let parents know you're only make a suggestion .)

Forget the jargon.
Education phrases like "criterion-referenced testing," "perceptual skills" and "least restrictive environment" may be double-talk to many parents.

Turn the other cheek.
In routine parent conferences, it is unusual to run into parents who are abusive and hostile. But it can happen. Try not to be rude, whatever the provocation. Hear out the parents in as pleasant a manner as possible, without getting defensive.

Ask for parents' opinions.
Let parents know you're interested in their opinions, are eager to answer their questions and want to work with them throughout the year to help make their child's education the best.

Focus on strengths.
It's very easy for parents to feel defensive, since many of them see themselves in their children. You'll help if you review the child's strengths and areas of need, rather than dwelling on criticism or stressing weaknesses.

Use body language.
Nonverbal cues set the mood of the conference. Smile, nod, make eye contact and lean forward slightly. You'll be using your body's language to let parents know you're interested and approving.

Stress collaboration.
Let the parent know you want to work together in the best interests of the child. A statement like "You need to see me as soon as possible to discuss Johnny's poor study habits" only arouses hostility, whereas "I'd like to discuss with you how we might work together to improve Johnny's study habits" gets the relationship off on the right foot.

Listen to what parents say.
Despite the fact that we spend nearly a third of our lives listening, most adults are poor listeners. We concentrate on what we're going to say next, or we let our minds drift off to other concerns, or we hear only part of what a speaker is saying. You'll get more out of a parent conference if you really listen to what parents are saying to you.

Ask about the child.
You don't want to pry, of course, but remember to ask parents if there's anything they think you should know about the child (such as study habits, relationship with siblings, any important events in his or her life) which may affect his or her school work.

Focus on solutions.
Ideally, all parent conferences would concern only positive events. Realistically, many conferences are held because there's a problem somewhere. Things will go smoother if you focus on solutions rather than on the child's problem. Discuss what you and the parents can do to help improve the situation. Plan together a course of action.

Don't judge.
It may not always be possible to react neutrally to what parents say - their values may be very different from your own - but communicating your judgments of parents' attitudes or behaviors can be a roadblock to a productive relationship with them.

Summarize.
Before the conference ends, summarize the discussion and what actions you and the parents have decided to take.

Wind up on a positive note.
When you can, save at least one encouraging comment or positive statement about the student for the end of the conference.

Meet again if you need to.
If you feel you need more time, arrange another meeting later rather than trying to rush everything before your students get back from art class.

Keep a record of the conference.
You may find it helpful later to have a brief record of what was said at the conference, what suggestions for improvement were made and so forth. Make notes as soon as possible after the conference, while details are fresh.

Many local associations sponsor workshops on Parent Conferencing, especially for newer teachers. Ask your Association Representative or contact Debbie Stevens at 1-866-734-5834. .