Increasing the Power of Conferencing with Students and Parents

1. Increasing the Power of Conferencing with Students and Parents Michael Pechon Chalmette High School 9th Grade Academy

2. Increasing the Power of Conferencing with Students and Parents • Introduction • Traditional Conferencing • Team Conferencing • Differences • Questions

3. Increasing the Power of Conferencing with Students and Parents • Traditional Conferencing: • Teacher/Student • One on one with student. • Typically happens after class or school. • Unscripted event where teacher expresses unhappiness with student for some action or lack of performance.

4. Increasing the Power of Conferencing with Students and Parents • Teacher/Student (cont.) • Knowledge of student performance behavior in other classes not known. • Expectations are generally “you need to straighten yourself out”, or “you are capable of so much more, I’m very disappointed in you”. • Success of conference event: usually minimal.

5. Increasing the Power of Conferencing with Students and Parents • Teacher/Parent • Typically happens after some student behavior or academic calamity in class. • Often times is teacher’s first contact with parent. • Environment can be hostile with angry parents and students.

6. Increasing the Power of Conferencing with Students and Parents • Teacher/Parent • We continue during the meeting by again pouring out all the shortcomings of this person’s child. • Knowledge of student performance and behavior in other classes may or may not be available. • Outcome of conference event: “please do something at home to make your child behave better at school”.

7. Increasing the Power of Conferencing with Students and Parents • Team Conferencing • Format is the same for a student conference or a parent conference. • It is a scripted event. • There is only one speaker, even though all available are present. • Desired outcomes are discussed and planned ahead of time.

8. Increasing the Power of Conferencing with Students and Parents • Team Conferencing (cont.) • Tone of the conference is supportive and positive throughout. • Conference is led by the teacher that has the best relationship with the student. • We start with why the student has been called in. • Cover performance in each of their classes.

9. Increasing the Power of Conferencing with Students and Parents • Team Conferencing (cont.) • Discuss positives about the student. • We give student specific suggestions for success. • Ask student to repeat back expected behaviors and get agreement that they are fair.

10. Increasing the Power of Conferencing with Students and Parents • Team Conferencing (cont.) • When parents are present, ask them to tell the student the expected behaviors and to explain rewards and or consequences that will occur. • Schedule some form of follow-up to ensure compliance--if yes, then done– if no, another conference with a parent.

11. Increasing the Power of Conferencing with Students and Parents • Conclusion: With a few minutes of advance planning, a script, and a positive tone the time spent conferencing with students and parents can go from an exercise in frustration to a positive useful tool for the teacher.