Parent-Teacher Conferences:Best Practices & Building

Partnerships

Karen BantuverisFounder & CEO

@VolunteerSpot

Lisa Dabbs#ntchat, Edu Consultant

@Teachingwthsoul

Joe MazzaPrincipal, #PTChat

@Joe_Mazza

Pernille Ripp5th Grade Teacher

@Pernille Ripp

Glenn Yetter6th Grade teacher

@CoachYetter

Greg GarnerEducational Technologist

@Classroom_Tech

Agenda Welcome & Why We’re Here Recent Survey Results – Karen Conference Game Plan and Tips – Lisa Student Led Conferences – Glenn Documenting Learning with New Tech – Greg Building Ongoing Parent-Teacher-Student Relationships –

Joe Q& A – All Resources & VolunteerSpot Demo: Free Parent-Teacher

Conference Scheduler – Karen

Parenting Magazine / NEA Survey April 2012

45% parents gave their teachers an “A” for parent relationships

88 percent of parents consider their child’s teacher a partner BUT…Only 54 percent of teachers feel that parents do their part at home to ensure kids the most out of classroom learning

 93% of teachers believe parents are given the opportunity to offer input into and participate in school events and activities, HOWEVER…25% parents say they feel shut out of the collaboration process

Recent Survey Results

Parent Engagement JourneyThanks to Chris Jarvis, @RealizedWorth

VolunteerSpot Survey Results

Parents rate last conference: 85% Excellent or Good

Teachers rate last round of conferences: 92% Excellent or Good

What %Pre-conference questions for parents

24%

Student Portfolios (paper) 73%Student Portfolios (electronic) 18%Student-Led Conferences 14%Use an Agenda 55%Prepare Action Plans for Students 60%Prepare Action Plans for Parents 35%Parent Resource List 65%Virtual Parent Meetings 7%

What Are Our Teachers Doing?

Lisa Michelle Dabbs M.Ed@TeachingwthSoul

Educational Consultant & Speaker, Los Angeles, CA#ntchat Founder , Edutopia Core Blogger,

Edupad Representative

 

Communicate with Parents right away

Ask parents for the best way to reach them

Use a variety of communication tools

Begin on a Positive Note

  

Take time to setup appointments and follow up TIP: VolunteerSpot Makes it easy! Keep data base with parent

contacts Include a map of the campus

Set expectations for discussions Hold a phone or Skype

conference if parents can’t attend

Establish your Conference Calendar

Establish a method to share

Consider Electronic tools (DropBox, wikis, Google Drive, etc.)

Capture work samples each week

If Student-Led, set clear guidelines and deadlines

Create Student Portfolios

Start and end on time! TIP: Set a timer!

Share an agenda to guide discussion

Ask questions, take notes, LISTEN Stop and re-schedule if

conference becomes unproductive

Have a Conference Day Plan

Focus on strengths and share several

Include 1 or 2 opportunities for improvement

Share social observations with peers and adults

Let parents know they can share their concerns with you anytime

Focus on Whole Child

Ask how they would like to participate

Have volunteer opportunities planned and make it easy for parents to signup

Do they have a special talent?

Share Web2.0 tools for home-school collaboration

Invite Parents to your Team

Remember! Parents need to feel valued and DO, when you include them!

Welcome to My Student-Led Conference

Glenn Yetter@CoachYetter

Hatfield, PA

What are they?Students are trained in the specific skills necessary to engage their parents in a discussion about their academic progress

Hey Mom & Dad…look at my success!

Goals- Students will:1. Learn to set goals2. Evaluate their own work3. Improve communication and organization

skills4. Take an active role in their learning

Portfolios:The Centerpiece of the Conference

Portfolios are…a purposeful collection of student work that tells a story of academic progress. It reveals the child’s knowledge, skills, interests, and attitudes towards learning.

Student Script

Student Report Card Review

Presentation Highlights

Reflection sheets for each subject – guides discussion

Create a slide for each subject Review Successful Learner segment of report card PRACTICE!! Hold chair for parents, establishes tone of meeting Use TECH! PowerPoint, Prezi, Slide Share This is a conference…NOT a reading

Greg Garner@Classroom_Tech

West Ridge Middle School, Austin, TX

Technology Provides Options

CommunicationFlexibilityChanging Learning

Paradigms

Video conference File and screen

sharing (show exactly what you see on your screen)

Shareable, multimedia portfolios from any device/machine

Organized by tags, notebooks, and search

Deep integration with variety of tools/apps

OCR, indexed PDFs, audio and text notes

Resources: http://evernote.com/schools/resources/topics/k12/

Student learning community

Parent access on-going, just-

in-time, asynchronous learning and assessment

SpEd and 504 Use portfolios to show progress in learning

and impact of accommodations on the learning process

Documentation can be tied to and stored with student work samples

Example: Evernote with audio records and feedback plus student assignments, shared with the parents via Edmodo or Skype

Set the stage for your next ARD or 504 meeting during Conferences  - Introduce digital tools!

Joe Mazza@Joe_Mazza

Lead Learner @knappelementary, Philadelphia, PA ~ @penngse student studying home-school

partnerships 2.0 ~ Host of (Parent-Teacher) #PTchat Weds 9EDT

A chance to show your investment in face to face communication, relationship building. 

Building Parent-Teacher Relationships going FORWARD

What is the best means of 2 way communication for you?

http://bit.ly/PTChat2Way

How you will differentiate for varying home tech environments?

ASK - "What access to online resources does your child have at home?"

10 Websites to Bookmark on your student’s home computer: http://bit.ly/HomeComputerBookmarks

Before the meeting ends, reinforce collaboration

ASK: "how can "we" better meet the needs of your child?"

Demonstrate Partnership

Small gestures show the extra care and commitment you will deliver to child throughout the school year.

When possible, walk the parent out.

Questions & Comments?

Link to recorded webinar Articles, check-sheets and templates for

Teachers Articles & Links to share with Parents Tech Guides for Teachers & Parents

Resources to Share

http://vols.pt/4r (caps matter)

Karen BantuverisFounder & CEO@VolunteerSpot@VSpotMom

Lisa Dabbs#ntchat, Edu Consultant

@Teachingwthsoul

Joe MazzaPrincipal, #PTChat

@Joe_Mazza

Pernille Ripp5th Grade Teacher

@Pernille Ripp

Glenn Yetter6th Grade teacher

@CoachYetter

Greg GarnerEducational Technologist

@Classroom_Tech

FREE, Easy Parent Conference Scheduling & Reminders

VolunteerSpot.com

Please stay for a quick DEMO (< 5 min)

VolunteerSpot Demo

Parent Experience Organizer Setup Manage Your Activity

Parents Get Invited

Parents Click to Sign UpNO PASSWORDS

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Organizer Setup

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Launch Planning Wizard

Choose your Activity Type

Enter Activity Info

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Select First Conference Day

Plan the Day

Add ‘Spots’: Jobs, Shifts & Things to Bring

Add ‘Spot’ Details

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Conference Time List

Review Spots

Status Calendar

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Wa – La!

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