Conferences can be an intimidating task, especially for newer special education teachers. Read on to find out some parent teacher conference dont’s, and what to do instead to ensure a successful conference!
Conference don’t #1: Don’t start out with negative things.
One thing I have always been told is to present information in the form of a “sandwich” to parents: positive, area of need, and another positive. Parents are going to be more receptive if you start out by saying something good about their child versus starting off by saying “he/she is really struggling”, “he/she doesn’t listen”, etc.
It can be easier to think of these positives for certain students than others. If you’re struggling to think of something, remember, it doesn’t always have to be academic. It can be that they are a good friend to others, they show a growth mindset, they have a good sense of humor, etc.
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Conference don’t #2: Don’t give them pages of notes and documents to read through.
Parents are not going to want to be given a huge packet of things to read through about their child. Instead, try using a “glows and grows” note sheet. I have used this in the past and highly recommend it. This is just one page split up into two areas: “glows” (positives, again, can be academic or not) and “grows” (areas of need). This breaks the information down for parents in a simple way that is easier to digest.
I try to make sure I have at least 3 bullet points for each. The more specific examples you can give, the better! You can download this form for free here.
Conference don’t #3: Don’t use “teacher jargon” with parents.
Teaching, especially Special Education, can have a lot of acronyms and specific phrases associated with it that parents may not know (shown in the crossword puzzle below from WordMint). When referencing these things, do not just say things like “Your child needs an FBA”.
Instead, you can say “the team that works with your child thinks that doing a functional behavior assessment would be helpful. This means that he/she would be observed to see things that are leading up to the behavior, and things that are happening during and after to try to figure out the reason for the behavior. Then we can come up with a solution to get he/she what they need in a more positive way”.
Taking a few seconds to explain the terms to parents will make them feel more comfortable with you and feel less intimidated. This is especially true for parents who may speak a language other than English as a first language.
Conference don’t #4: Don’t procrastinate and “wing it”.
Parent teacher conferences may be the only time you get a chance to sit down with your students’ families and really talk without interruptions. Make sure you use this time wisely and plan ahead for what you will say. It’s also a good idea to send home a questionnaire ahead of time so parents can express any concerns they have or questions they want to bring up. That way, you can be prepared with answers to their questions, resources for them to take home, etc. Click here to see an example of a free form to send home.
Conference don’t #5: Don’t assume!
One thing to remember is to never make assumptions about parents. It can be easy to think of it as you vs. them, but in reality, you are all on the same team. Approach the conference with an open mind. See it as a chance to get to know not only the student, but their families. Parents have invaluable information to share about their child. Click here to read another SSE blog about how to build rapport with parents.
Whether it’s your hundredth conference or your first, these tips can help you feel successful in your conversations. Good luck!
