Hosting parent conferences is an important aspect of teaching. These conferences are so important for building relationships between families and teachers. However, most teacher preparation programs don’t prepare us for how to run parent-teacher conferences! Because of that, prepping and running these crucial meetings can feel a little stressful. But, it doesn’t have to be! Read on to see how I run parent conferences in my special education classroom.
Scheduling Conferences
The first thing you must do is decide on the timing of your parent conferences. Every school does things differently! For example, my school has trimesters instead of four marking periods, so our conferences are usually scheduled at the end of the first trimester. This allows me to go over report cards and IEP progress reports during the conference. In addition, it is important to offer parents a variety of days and times to choose from, so that they are able to fit the conference into their schedule.
Preparing for Parent Conferences
I do a few different things to help me prepare for my parent conferences. First, I make some notes about what I want to say about each child’s progress. Using a simple template, I jot down the child’s current progress in our main subjects: reading, math, and writing. I also note any behavioral concerns I want to discuss. Finally, I make sure to note a “glow” and a “grow” for each student. A glow is a compliment or positive story about the child – sometimes there are many to share! A grow is an area where the student has some room for improvement.
Another thing I do to prepare is to generate reports from any online programs that we are using in class. These reports can help provide some context on student progress. And, they sometimes have recommended “next steps” that are good for parents to see.
Additionally, I consult with related service providers (such as speech, occupational, and physical therapists) before conferences. They can provide pertinent information that parents may need to know about their child.
During the Conference
It’s conference time! Take a deep breath – you got this! I always start y conferences by going over my “glow” and “grow.” Always start with the positives, so glow first! Parents want to hear great things about their kid — and you should share them! Students in self-contained classes don’t often go home and share about their day at school. So, if there are any cute or funny stories you can share, parents really appreciate hearing them. After glowing about your student, you can then mention a grow area – something that the student needs a little more practice with. Try to be prepared to share ideas about how parents can work on these skills at home!
Next, I go through how the student is doing in each subject area. I keep my IEP bins nearby so I can show parents exactly what their child is working on. I have found that seeing these concrete examples really helps parents to understand their child’s academic levels.
An important thing to remember about parent conferences is that they can be a collaborative conversation. Sometimes it is really easy for the teacher to just take off and go because there is so much to say about each kid! But, I I keep my the prepared notes I made in front of me, and jot down parent input as we go so that I remember their important points. (Tip: I use a different color pen or pencil for conference notes than what I used for my prep, to keep everything organized.)
Following Up
After your conferences are over (and you’ve had a chance to decompress!) it’s important to follow up on anything that came up. For example, if a parent had a question you weren’t able to answer, reach out to someone who can help you find that info. Or, if a parent was curious about something you are teaching in class, make an extra copy to send home for them to see. These handouts that you can send home are another great resource! These little gestures mean a lot to parents! It also helps you to keep on building that bridge of home-school connection that is vital to students success.
Do you have parent conferences for your special education students? What are some “must-dos” that you discuss? Share your ideas with us below!
