For us parents, at some point in our lives, we thought it would be a brilliant idea to have a child. For some, we thought to ourselves, it would be even more fantastic to have a second. For those that went beyond that, like myself, it had very little to do with the thought process at all.
None-the-less, we have them. And, now that we do have them, we get to love them unconditionally. Because let's face it, they are ours regardless of the ups and downs of their development. The joys of parenting!
As you think about the upcoming PT Conferences and prepare to sit down with your child's teachers, keep in mind that it the relationship with all involved that makes this educational experience what it is. We rely on each other, for good or bad, to ensure the needs of the learner are met.
As you gear up for conference week there is much to consider as both the parent and the teacher. Therefore, as a colleague of mine, Keith Howell, recently shared in a column on his blog, consider the following as parents:
·
Be on time for your
conference and understand that if you are 5-10 minutes late, then that will affect the entire conference schedule for the rest
of the day.
· Focus on the 5 things teachers want from parents.
o
Research tells us that there
are 5 things teachers want from parents:
1.
Establish child’s behavior
2.
Initiate warm conversation
3.
Get involved, monitor homework/school work/notes sent home/etc.
4. Respond to teacher
communication
5. Good health
·
Don’t wait until
conferences to provide teachers with a list of your concerns. Waiting
months to articulate your concerns will only lead to speculation and negative
feelings. Many times a quick conversation or e-mail will answer your
questions and put your mind at ease.
·
Understand educators: the
teaching profession is their calling and a life-long journey of learning. Teachers
act out of love for their students and their passion for educating children,
helping them become their best.
If you are on the other side of the table and are the
teacher welcoming in the parent, his suggestions are:
·
Say something positive: Show
parents that you have a positive relationship with the child. Show
parents that you care about their child as if they were your own.
· Focus on the 5 things parents
want from teachers (see above).
· Act, instead of react.
Watch body language of parents and adjust if necessary, focusing on positive
collaboration.
· Have some suggestions ready,
setting goals for behavior or academic needs. Know your students and their academic and behavioral
characteristics.
· Keep to your conference
schedule, and if you need more time then reschedule an additional
conference.
· Let your principal or
colleague know if you need support with any of your conferences. It is
always beneficial to work as a team, collaborating to meet the needs of all
students. Parents will appreciate the extra support and ideas to increase
learning and/or improve behaviors.
·
Understand parents: there is nothing more important to them than their children,
parents act out of love for their children.
Even though these interactions are brief they can be
powerful. Each party can gain quite a bit of insight on the other person’s
lens. The reality is that our children spend an incredible amount of time at
school. And teachers often see more of the students during the day than many
parents.
If it success we are aiming for then let’s work to get there
together. As parents we can’t give
them back and as teachers we can’t turn them away. Make Parent-Teacher
Conferences meaningful for all. It
is more than worth it!
For more great suggestions, ideas and posts about Parent-Teacher Conferences, check out the blog roll from the #Compelledtribe.
Also read:
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