Parent-Teacher Conferences

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2. What do you know about the purposes of parent
conferences?
 Can you identify some of the strategies for
planning and conducting parent conferences?
 What are some of the pitfalls to avoid in parent
conferences?

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3. 
To provide a developmental overview

To provide time and privacy

To increase mutual knowledge

To formulate goals
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4. Explain purpose of conference to parents
 Plan for uninterrupted time
 Plan for private location
 Plan goals and materials to be discussed
 Prepare parents for their participatory role

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7. Help parents feel at ease
 Begin with positive attitude and comments
 Encourage parent participation

◦ Active listening: paraphrasing and reflecting

Summarize for parents
◦ Copies of assessment tools
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8. 
Consider any experiences you have had
participating in or observing parent-teacher
conferences. Can you recall specific examples of
some of these principles in action? Or, can you
identify which of these principles would have
improved the conferences?
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9. 
Avoid using technical terminology

Avoid the role of “expert”

Avoid negative evaluations
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10. 
Avoid unprofessional conversation

Avoid giving advice

Avoid rushing into solutions
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11. 
Can you describe a specific example of each
pitfall? It is important to recognize these.
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12. Planning for follow up and next steps
 Self-evaluation

◦ How prepared was I?
◦ How well did I listen?
◦ How well did I involve the parents?

Parent evaluation
◦ How valuable was the conference?
◦ Did I get new ideas about my child?
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13. 
Productive parent-teacher conferences need:
◦ Planning and preparation to achieve goals
◦ Time and privacy for discussion
◦ Strategies to facilitate two-way communication and
sharing of information, questions, and ideas
◦ Respect for each participant’s expertise
◦ A positive focus on child’s progress and development.
©2013 Cengage Learning.
All Rights Reserved.