Effective Parent Teacher Conferences

Whitmore Bolles Elementary School

October 25, 2013 "If you promise not to believe everything your child says

happens at school, I'll promise not to believe everything he says

happens at home". 

School – Home Connection

"Families and teachers might wish that the school

could do the job alone.

But today's school needs families, and today's

families need the school.

In many ways, this mutual need may be the greatest

hope for change."

- Dorothy Rich

Purposes of Parent/Teacher Conferences

• Meet and greet• Learn school policies• Discuss strengths and

weaknesses• Discuss social skills• Exchange of helpful

information• Home/school learning

connection• Expectations• Share family information

1. Start the conference on a positive note!

2. Write down the items you want to

discuss before you arrive!

3. Take notes during the

conference so you don’t forget!

4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Keep asking until you understand!

5. Recap at the end what was talked about!

6. Commit to listening with an

open mind! Even if there are problems!

6 T

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At-The-Conference-Checklist

• This is an opportunity to engage in conversations about student learning at school and at home

• Use the Checklist to remember what to ask• Grade-level performance

• Assessment performance – MEAP, Common Assessments,

Unit Tests, Quizzes, Homework

• Remember the socio-emotional and behavioral aspects

• Best way to communicate

• Don’t forget the important points listed on the back!!

Research shows that student achievement increases when parents, students and teachers work as a team!

Common Ground“It takes a village to make an impact, to make a difference, to change our world for the better”

-Anonymous

PARENT CHILD TEACHER