Parent-Teacher Conferences

I tried something new this year for parent-teacher conferences.  It ended up working so well that I thought I would share!

In the past I would always have tons of information to show the parents how their child was doing academically at parent-teacher conferences.  BUT it never failed that year after year the parents I needed to meet with to discuss their child’s academics would never set up a parent-teacher conference.  Also, those parents that their child was doing great would always be the ones that filled my designated conference times.

So this year instead of preparing all the information and holding onto it for parent-teacher conferences - I decided to send the information home BEFORE conferences.  This allowed all my parents to see beforehand if it was necessary or not to meet during parent-teacher conferences.

This year I had every parent that I wanted/needed to meet with sign up for a conference!  I also had many of those parents that I did not need to meet with decline a conference.  Usually our designated conference times are in 15 minute blocks to be able to fit everyone in.  Since I did not have everyone sign up for a conference this allowed me more time (sometimes up to 30 minutes) to be able to talk with those parents that I really needed to meet with.  By sending out all the information beforehand all my parents felt well informed on how their child was doing in 1^st grade – even if they did not set up a conference.

Here is a look into the packet of information that I sent home before conferences. 

This was the cover page in the packet.  This form explains the packet of information that I sent home.  It also has an area where parents can write down their questions or concerns.  This form gets sent back to me before conferences.  This form really helps me make sure I am not caught off guard by any questions the parents might have and make sure I have all the resources available to answer their questions during their conference time.  

Next was the various 1st grade benchmark pages.  The benchmark pages explained to the parents the different tests and data we use to measure how a child is performing academically in 1st grade.  It explained where a first grader should be at this point in the school year.  It also listed how their child is performing compared to those benchmarks. 

Not only did I include academic information on their child.  BUT I also gave an evaluation of how their child’s work habits and behaviors are at school.

Finally, the last page of the packet had the parent-teacher conference request form.

When the parents returned this form requesting a parent/teacher conference I marked them down on my conference schedule.

 

 I also sent home an appointment notice letting them know the day and time their conference was set for.  

Finally, to prepare for each parent's conference I put together a folder for each child that had all the information, paperwork, etc. that I was going to discuss during conferences with the parents. 

As you can tell each folder has the student's number instead of their name.  This lets me reuse these folders year after year.

  

During conferences I always like to give the parents handouts, practice pages, ideas, etc. on how they can help their child - especially in those areas that their child is struggling with.  Here are some of the items I pass out.  It includes sight word practice pages, handwriting practice pages, math fact practice, reading fluency pamphlet, writing prompts, non-sense word practice, syllable count practice, etc.

During conferences I also sit this bulletin board outside my classroom door.  This bulletin board has helpful information for parents to read while they are waiting for their conference.  The bulletin board includes handouts and practice pages they can take home to help their child at home.  Many parents want to help their child at home, but just don’t know how.  These handouts and practice pages give the parents easy ways to help at home.

 Click HERE to download my Parent/Teacher conference folder, forms, bulletin board, and practice pages on my TpT store!