Nothing astonishes men so much as common sense and plain dealing. Ralph Waldo Emerson Poet,

Session #7 Communicating with Parents Parent-Teacher Conferencing

Be proactive and be prepared. Parents can be your greatest source of information and support. Generally parents and teachers want the same outcomes from schooling.  some teachers feel somewhat uneasy at the prospect of parent- teacher conferences  element of uncertainty about a conference Be proactive and be prepared.

 Establish a rapport with your parents early in the school year.  Let parents tell you about their child’s interests and extra curricular activities.  Parents need to know that you care about their child and you are a competent teacher.

 Maintain open communication with parents throughout the year.  Try to write notes or make phone calls to parents to tell them something positive about their child.  Merit awards and certificates are also a form of communication with parents.

 Know your parents… obtain accurate knowledge of issues of custody, guardianship and access.  Know your parent community… which includes the demographics, language and culture. Consider the need for an interpreter in the interview.

 Your school will have an interview schedule for parent-teacher conference days.  Uphold the interview time limits, and if parents absolutely need more time, book another time to complete the dialogue.  Put chairs in the hall with some educational reading material.  Prepare a private and comfortable area for conducting the conference.

1. Plan ahead and be prepared to: 7 Steps to Conducting Parent-Teacher Conferences 1. Plan ahead and be prepared to: - Identify your goals - Provide information about curriculum expectations - Discuss the report card grades - Have samples of the student’s work - Describe the “Next Steps:” - Suggest resources or strategies for parents to use at home

2. Welcome the parent(s) and state the purposes of the meeting: 2. Welcome the parent(s) and state the purposes of the meeting:  To discuss the strengths and needs of the student  To answer any questions that the parents might have about their student’s achievement and learning skills

3. Begin with a positive statement about the student 3. Begin with a positive statement about the student  Demonstrate that you know the student very well with a few specific comments beyond those that were noted in the report card

4. Listen actively 4. Listen actively  Empathize with parents and accept how they are feeling  Address their needs, interests and concerns without using educational jargon

5. Raise issues with parents that will help the student 5. Raise issues with parents that will help the student  Establish a partnership and ask parents to follow through on class goals at home

6. Document what was discussed and make notes about any follow- up tasks 7. End with a positive statement 6. Document what was discussed and make notes about any follow- up tasks  Plan follow-up contacts and keep parents informed before problems develop 7. End with a positive statement

 Avoid being defensive to aggressive parental comments.  Most problems stem from misunderstandings, so clarify the issues.  Keep the child’s best interests in mind and ensure that the parents’ rights are acknowledged.

 Maintain your control and deal with parental complaints in a professional manner.  Attempt to discuss the issues in person as opposed to over the phone/written communication.  Request a meeting time and ask the parent what they wish to discuss with you so that you can make the necessary preparations.

1. Identify the Problem What to do when there is a parental concern… 1. Identify the Problem  Ask the parent define the problem and focus on the main issue.  Encourage the parent to offer all relevant information.  Let the parent express his or her feelings without becoming emotional yourself.  Avoid making judgmental comments or expressing opinions.

2. Reach an Agreement 2. Reach an Agreement  Once the problem has been identified and all of the issues are understood, you and the parent(s) can explore a range of possible solutions.  Compromise on the implementation of the solutions.

3. Propose an Action Plan 3. Propose an Action Plan  This is how the solution will be implemented and it identifies roles and timelines.  The parent should leave the interview satisfied that his/her point of view has been heard and that something is going to be done.

4. Following-up 4. Following-up  Decide on a subsequent interview appointment to assess the effectiveness of the action plan.

At all times exhibit… At all times exhibit…  Self-control  Active listening skills  Clear and honest communication  Respect for the needs of your students and the rights of their parents  Adherence to professional principles