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Parent–Teacher Conference Tip Sheets (Hojas de Consejos Para Las Reuniones de Padres y Maestros)

 

Click here to download

In this short but instructive episode of PT Chat Radio, Dr. Joe Mazza, lead learner at Knapp Elementary in suburban Philadelphia, speaks with guests Heidi Rosenberg, Senior Researcher at Harvard Family Research Project, and Elissa Malespina, South Orange Middle School Librarian and Owner of ELM Educational Technology Consulting, who help map a plan for meaningful parent-teacher conferences.

Mazza asks questions to help teachers as well as families get the most out of these conferences, including the following:

• What does the dream parent-teacher conference look and sound like?
• What does the parent leave with as he or she walks away from the school on the day of the conference?

Suggestions for teachers include:

• Set a positive tone for the conference by starting with the child’s areas of growth and areas of achievement, especially if the child has experienced some struggles that need to be discussed as well.
• Make sure that the conversations are two-way, both from the teacher’s side and the parent’s side.
• Show parents that you know their child as a person as well as a learner by sharing stories about the child in the classroom.
• Share with parents examples of the child’s class work; such evidence is more helpful than just telling how the child is doing in the classroom.
• Make sure that the information that is shared with families is actionable—that parents walk away knowing what they can do, what the teacher can do, and what the child can do to improve the child’s performance.

Listen to the episode on Bam! radio’s website (You may also download as a podcast.)