Parent-Teacher conferences provide a productive time to discuss the strengths of a student and areas for improvement. Communication between the classroom and home is essential in supporting a student’s education and carving out time for conferences is never wasted. Take advantage of this time with caregivers and plan ahead with conference tips for teachers.

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Conference Schedule

The first step in preparing for conferences is to create a conference schedule. This can be done using a scheduling site like Sign Up Genius or by sending out a simple Google Form. We suggest 15–20-minute blocks of time for each conference. Be sure to build in a small buffer between conferences. Time is valuable for everyone so provide plenty of options that will work for your schedule and that of families. Consider offering phone, in-person, and virtual conference formats so that all families are able to hear about their child’s progress. Tip: Send a conference reminder the day before each conference.

Get Organized

The most important conference tip is to organize all data, notes, and materials BEFORE conferences. Review up to date assessments and progress of each student so the information you share is direct and relevant. Gather conference checklists, examples of student work, assessment results, and observations that will be discussed during the conference. We suggest creating a folder for each child, so information is organized and easy to access. These folders can be given to guardians, so they have a copy of everything you cover during the conference and any resource you want to provide.

Provide Resources

Prep and provide resources that families can use to support their little learners at home. Resources should include easy to understand information, cover key skills students are learning and encourage learning beyond the classroom. Check out this list of easy-to-use resources.

• Simply Kinder’s Parent Handouts – These handouts cover skills such as phonemic awareness, handwriting, numbers & counting, fine motor skills, and much more. Grab your set HERE.
• Educational Apps – Read more about suggested educational math apps HERE and reading apps HERE.
• Send Home Centers – These resources are great to send home at conferences or any time of the year if a student needs support targeting a specific skill. Take home centers can focus on letter sounds, counting, rhyming, decoding & blending, addition, subtraction, and more. Grab a yearlong bundle of Take Home Centers from Simply Kinder HERE.

Discuss Progress

The main focus of a parent-teacher conference is to discuss the progress each child is making in the classroom. This includes academic, social, and emotional domains. Organization will be key to making sure that all areas are discussed and done so directly. Follow these tips to make the most of discussing progress with families.

• Focus on the positive growth and qualities of each student.
• Use evidence to support feedback. Show parents examples of work, discuss observations, and look over data that you have collected. Simply Kinder’s Checklist Assessments are a helpful tool for collecting data on letter identification and writing, sounds, sound isolation, concepts of print, rhyming, phoneme segmentation, counting, number identification and so much more. Grab your set HERE.
• Use a checklist to keep the conference on track and ensure all areas are discussed.
• Be prepared to provide examples of ways families can support a student in an area that needs improvement.
• Discuss goals and strategies for each student no matter where they are in their academic growth.
• Be transparent about concerns.
• Actively listen when families ask questions and share their thoughts.
• End all conferences with a positive about each child.

More Conference Tips

We’ve covered the essentials to help you plan and execute seamless parent-teacher conferences. Check out more conference tips for teachers below and make the most of this valuable time.

• Secure an interpreter if needed.
• Offer a small snack or treat for visitors.
• Sit side-by-side with parents or guardians to create a more relaxing atmosphere.
• Provide time for families to ask questions and give feedback.
• Have student work on display so families can browse before or after their conference.
• Show your appreciation for attending conferences by sending thanking you cards home.
• Keep communication going all year long so students are set up for success!

What conference tips can you share? Please make sure to tag us on Instagram here or share inside the Simply Kinder Teacher Facebook Group here.