Many preschool teachers feel that they see and talk with their
children’s parents on a daily basis and that the children are just in
preschool, it is not necessary to have a parent-teacher conference.
Some teachers and parents parent-teacher conference as a meeting to
discuss the negative behavior of the child and this does not have a positive
feeling attached to it. There are several important reasons to have a parent-teacher
conference for children of any age for the following reasons:
1.
To
examine developmental progress:
This
will provide an opportunity for the parents and teachers to discuss about the
developmental accomplishments of the child as a whole.
Daily conversations of the child’s feats may not accomplish the same
thing as an in depth discussion about the individual achievements of the child.
Daily
conversations with the parent/teacher may not be done in a private setting.
A parent teacher conference setting provides an opportunity for the
parents and teachers to discuss issues in a private setting where they can spend
quality time with each other discussing the child and the family.
The quality time with each other will also facilitate the understanding
of the child’s growth and progress and enable the parties involved in setting
up future goals for the child. Sometimes
the conference can also serve as a platform for the teachers to explain to the
parents the processes involved in teaching a child, which might result in the
parents having a renewed respect for the teacher!
1.
Detail
the purpose of the conference: Nobody
wants to go into a conference or a meeting unprepared, so it is imperative you
inform the parents about the purpose of the conference so they can be prepared
for it.
2.
Schedule a
block of time: Make sure the time
block you have set aside for the parent is uninterrupted.
Frequent interruptions may hamper the flow and focus of the conference.
Some teachers use a sign-up sheet and request the parents to sign up for
the time slot that best suits them. I
have also made it known to the parents that I will be willing to meet with them
at other times if the time slots is not convenient to them.
3.
Reserve a
private location: If the children
are going to be in your class during the conference times, be sure to reserve a
space in your building that is private and quiet.
4.
Plan the
issues/goals to be discussed: Make a brief outline of the issues you want to
discuss with each of the parents. This
might include your report of the developmental progress of the child, concerns
you might have, concerns the parents might have.
Each of your comments should be substantiated with adequate evidence that
is meaningful to the parents. Some
schools also encourage the parents to come to the conferences with their list of
questions and concerns.
5.
Initial
steps: The first and foremost thing
that a teacher has to do in a parent teacher conference is to make the parent
feel comfortable and at ease. Then
you always begin with the positives first.
Then you could ease into the touchy issues. Frequently during the conference invite the parents to ask
any questions that they might have. The
conference should be a two-way communication versus you reading off from your
report.
6.
Finally
summarize for the parent the conversation you just had to make sure both of you
are on the same page.
Issues to Avoid in a
Successful Conference:
1.
Avoid
portraying yourself as an expert and using technical terms to describe the
child. Use terms that is
comprehensible by the parents
2.
Avoid
negative evaluations, and giving readymade advice to “fix the problem.
3.
Avoid
inappropriate unprofessional conversation about other teachers or parents.