How to Make the Most out of your Teacher Conferences
Rachel O'Malley
McKay Student Ambassador
Elementary Education
One of the most beneficial experiences that you can have in practicum or student teaching is observing parent and teacher conferences. This is important for us teachers-in-training because it provides us with an opportunity to observe how experienced teachers communicate with families, discuss student progress, and address concerns professionally. It also helps build an understanding of the importance of building positive relationships with parents and working together to support each child's academic, social, and emotional growth. It reminds us how teaching is a partnership between teacher, student, and family. Learning how to strengthen and build positive relationships with our students' families is a valuable experience that we should start having now.
During my second practicum experience, I was able to attend parent teacher conferences and observe my mentor teacher. I had a great experience watching how my teacher communicated with families and balanced student successes with areas for growth. I was even able to participate in a meeting where there was a translator for a student's mom who spoke Spanish. Watching my teacher handle difficult discussions and even communicate with language barriers made me feel more prepared for my future teacher conferences with my own students.
When observing teacher conferences, pay attention to:
How the teacher greets parents and helps them feel welcome
What professional language the teacher uses to communicate
How they discuss concerns, strengths, and weaknesses without the parents feeling judged
How the teacher builds trust with families and gets to know them
What they do to listen to parents' perspectives
How the teacher celebrates student accomplishments and progress
How they respond to parent concerns and ideas
What they do to create goals, strategies, or resources for student improvement
What the teacher does to stay organized and prepared
How they handle difficult conversations
Ask yourself:
What strategies can I use in my future classroom?
What did I learn about communicating with families?
How can I create stronger partnerships with families to support student success?
Schedule an appointment with a student ambassador here to learn more about the McKay School and how to get involved!
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