Memphis City Schools Educators

Educating Our Children, Engaging Our Parents,

Empowering Our Schools

 

 

Parent Conference/Involvement

Schools today are relying more and more on conferences to supplement report cards and other written forms of communication between parents and teachers.

 

Teachers realize that they cannot do the best possible job of educating each child without the help of the child's parents.  The parent can supply information about the child that could be very useful to the teacher.  And the teacher can offer suggestions to parents on how they can help with the education process at home.

 

The best way to discuss such matters is an informal face-to-face meeting.  It gives both the parent and the child's teacher an opportunity for full exploration of progress, behavior, and the reasons for a child's successes and failures.

 

 

Here are some suggestions for making your next parent-teacher conference successful:

  • Be very prepared for your parent-teacher conference (even drop-by meetings).

  • Keep the following forms in an accessible place for fast and accurate preparation:  1.) mini "report cards" on which to write the most recent student grade averages in each subject; 2.) checklists for work habits and conduct summarization; 3.) copies of poems or encouraging words regarding school or parenting matters; 4.) school conference forms, if required; 5.) feedback forms for parents to send back later (optional if beneficial to you)

  • Adjust your attitude for the best possible results.  Professionalism is mandatory!  Believe that all parents want what's best for their child - even an angry parent.  A parent may or may not know how to communicate a disagreement with you concerning their child.  Remain calm and resist the pressure to take it personally.

  • As you become more experienced with parent communication, you will learn to enjoy parent conferences.  Parents can be one of your most valuable assets for understanding the students.  Parents who trust you will support you.

  • In addition, these NEA sites can provide you with helpful information concerning parent conferences and parent involvement!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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