Family meetings

Family Conferencing

Meetings held several times per year Provides forum for families to hear what

you have learned about their child Builds relationships between home and

school

Benefits of family involvement in planning

More accurate assessment Insights about child’s culture Families ideas on child’s strengths

and challenges Agreement on important objectives

Benefits of family involvement in planning

Shared expectations for child growth

Opportunities to encourage parent Common information for child at

home & school Care and education

Steps in Family Conference Process: Prepare for Meeting

o Assessments completedo Rapport developed with familyo Learn about family background

and cultureo Times set with family

Steps in Family Conference Process- Prepare for Meeting

Room set up & materials gathered Consider priority child objectives Work samples gathered

Steps in Family Conference Process- During the Meeting

Welcome Dreams Worries Description of child Plans/Objectives for child

Steps in Family Conference Process – Conclude the Meeting Briefly summarize Set another meeting to review

progress Determine communication

mechanism

Meetings for children with disabilities or other issues

Sensitivity for the whole child A non judgmental attitude A source of referral information

Prior to Sensitive Meeting

Carefully state the meetings intent to be sure family is aware of issues

Use a facilitator if possibleUse chart paper

Introduction to Sensitive Meeting

Clarify reasons for the meeting Explain the meeting process and

roles of all participants Remind parents they are the

expert on their child

During Meeting: Dreams and Concerns

Record on Chart Paper

DreamsConcerns

During Meeting - Description of Child

Record on Chart paper

Loving

creativeindependent

explorer

bossy

determinedoutgoing

controlling

During Meeting – Action Plan

Develop steps – support plan, communication system, meetings to update

Determine supports to steps in action plan

Determine family and teacher involvement

After meeting

Transfer chart information to family meeting form.

Use the action plan as a guide.

Activity 5.4

Review the role play activity.

Once you begin the role play stay in your role until the activity is done.

If you have questions during the role play write them down for later.