Tips for Holding Parent-Teacher Conferences

[@TheTimeCrunchedTeacher]

Great video! Here are the tips I've learned over the years: 1) My colleague came up with the idea to have parents sign up for conferences at Back to School Night since they're already there and a captive audience. 2) Post your conference schedule on your door so people waiting can confirm their start and end time. 3) Set daily alarms on your phone for 2 minutes before the end time of each conference as a little reminder to wrap things up for the next family. 4) Have a classroom library book, or a few, ready to hand out to each family to read with their kid that evening. 5) Bonus - people love pictures of their kids! Take a picture or two of each kid during the week leading up to the conference to share with their family.

[@anphix]

Year 3 teacher in the UK :) Always ask if they have anything they want to discuss first!

[@nickandlauren99]

So happy to see you back! I feel your pain, though I don't have the guts to vlog/you-tube, I am a brand new rookie 3-4.5 year old PreK teacher, and seeing you back today, helped me appreciate the end of the day, as we had school today, since I work for a daycare, I only had 6 out of 10 kids, but I am brained out... still in my classroom, and will probably be here a while...but I have missed your videos so much, watching a fellow teacher, with tips and classroom help, organization, etc, helps me keep my sanity...I have another new kid starting on monday, we just had a new one added this week, so last week was 9, this week, 10, and next monday, 11 kids...I will max out by christmas with 12 kids, ratio wise where I work, 1:12 one teacher to 12 kids

[@bigmumma1969]

We’ve missed you so much Welcome back ❤ and vlogmas would be great

[@steveanddonnanewton6554]

Great job Sis, so proud!! ATWA❤

[@pamela.imagines.p10]

I teach middle school in Texas and missed your videos. Life has been too much in so many ways. I love your upbeat attitude and tips. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

[@mariemolloy2392]

We use I Ready or math. They take a diagnostic at the beginning of the year and it lets us know the comparable grade level they are at in 4 specific math areas and then what their average current grade level. Many of my 3rd graders tested at Kindergarten level in math at the beginning of the year. Students work on their I Ready path each day and we take a progress assessment once a month. That assessment breaks down their learning just as the diagnostic did so we are actually able to growth areas and areas of need. We also have our state ¨check in¨ given each quarter.

[@kimberlydickison8890]

Great video and so helpful! You are an amazing teacher! ! Please keep making videos!

[@melanieberube6163]

So happy you are back! I'm a grade 3 teacher in Canada and have discovered you recently. I've changed my ways of doing and you have inspired me with your ELA and math centers. Thanks so much for sharing with us!

[@fandebudget9778]

This year I am very prepared like you. I have a box with files and put the student number on each file. Also, I have a Google sheets where I put all the data about the students (assessments, missing works and homeworks, school trips). I saw that in Michelle Ferre (Pocketful Primary) video and it helps me a lot to document everything!

[@theredemu]

Which video? I'm curious about how to do this and manage it for next year? Or what do you do for all the data?

[@mariemolloy2392]

3rd grade this year. Always begin with the positive. Show work samples when discussing progress. Be honest but kind!

[@christinem9280]

Glad to see you!!! I loved watching this!

[@rebekahduncan8403]

I teach 1st in KY. We use a similar app called Seesaw, but I haven't tried Classy. Thanks so much for this video! This is something I felt completely overwhelmed by when I started teaching. One thing my team has done is make a free Sign-up Genius and email a link to parents to sign up for a conference time slot. It has saved tons of time! Thanks!

[@deidraroberts9628]

Omg! Yes please, vlogmas I'm a mom not a teacher and you are as organized as my kids teachers are when we have conferences. I love how they are prepared and show me things even if my kid is doing really good or struggling. I wish my 19 year old had you for 2nd grade it would have helped her a lot. But we are working on it. ❤️❤️

[@alb8539]

So happy you are back! Thank you for all of the great ideas. Any way to give quick directions how to find that report on Lexia?

[@tracyinnes8840]

ALWAYS have your ‘proof’, all your assessments and information. I make a cover sheet that has all my assessments and I use 4 different highlighters to show their progress from September to November to March to the end of the year. Set a timer. Share a personal detail or story about each child, to show parents that you know their children and care.

[@claredavis5960]

I teach Kindergarten. I give the kids a survey before conferences asking who 3 friends are, something they have learned, something they want to learn this year.

[@deidraroberts9628]

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!!🥂🥧🦃

[@jc3teacher265]

Yes, it has been a crazy year!

[@teacherof20]

Put talkative parents at the beginning...genius!!! My curriculum specialist taught me how to schedule them on Google Calendar and parents can sign up directly on your google calendar! It was so easy!

[@aylah7041]

Great tips! Thanks for sharing!

[@gracefullyliving8678]

I used a website called Sign Up Genius which allows you to make a sign up for conferences including time slots and dates and your parents can pick their time and sign up for it. So easy and we also used it for field trips, holiday party items needed and volunteering

[@EarlyEDventures]

I’ve used it for conferences every last year. I didn’t even want to get them that choice!! Saved time and a headache cuz they could swap without me knowing

[@marisolmartin1329]

Glad to see you. Happy Thanksgiving 🍁🍽 🦃 . I teach Pre-K and I just make sure that I have lots of documentation

[@judithzwarst4460]

I tea 5th and 6de grade. we always start with at least 3 positive things of the student. What he/she really likes to do and what not really is his/her preference. Keep you topics to a minimum. And the last thing I've learnt, don't try to speak every parent. If they don't sing in to bad for them.

[@karlyheld1637]

I would LOVE to see a video about your schedule and small groups. Maybe how you decide what to do with your groups, does the daily schedule change from day to day, how much 'paperwork' you grade from the students etc. Just a thought :)

[@franchiknott7943]

This is such a great video. This helped me so much.

[@itstiahra]

Loved this!! I’m teaching 2nd grade and my tip is to listen to all the advice about conferences and find what works best for you! As a first year teacher I’m truly nervous but I’m hoping it goes well. Do you use any data from Happy Numbers to show parents? You put me onto that amazing app and my students love it! We use it religiously.

[@chelsyealyssa]

I teach 3rd grade in California. I use class dojo and post a link to the website sign up genius where I have plugged in my schedule and parents are able to sign up there. I bring most recent assessment data to each students conference and we talk about glows and grows. I have a specific form filled out for each student, and I also am going to have students fill out a self reflection survey Google form this year- which I will share with parents. I also have a parent survey that I’ll be sending out to get feedback. 😊 Have a happy thanksgiving!!🍁

[@victoriaLL345]

Great tips!

[@bethellsworth5795]

Grade 1- conferences should not be the first time parents hear "bad news". If there is something like troublesome behavior or academic deficits, parents should have a heads up before the conference.

[@EarlyEDventures]

Yep!

[@anmichele3829]

History and Science?

[@EarlyEDventures]

Don’t go in depth during conferences. 2nd grade is more exposure in both subjects rather than “grading”

[@pamela.imagines.p10]

I do not do well in parent conferences.

[@Grayceyoga]

Good morning

[@teachingwithjosh]

4th grade math and science

[@steveanddonnanewton6554]

Dad

[@LovePink278]

Schedule yourself a bathroom break!