I attended my first parent-teacher conference today. It was pretty cool.
Since I really have no idea how to run one of those things, it was nice to get some ideas on how I can structure the 20 minutes, what student artifacts to use, what to say, and what to ask.
Actually, the superintendent of the district was in my first set parents. Not that it really mattered, being as I was just observing, but still. He commented that his daughter "really seemed to be enjoying school this year, but that she had said something about not liking the intern", then he gave me a wry smile and chuckled. Even knowing he was joking, I still almost peed my pants.
The experience of the conferences was great, but it got me thinking - with all of the technology we have available, why do we need to schedule a meeting to see our student's parents? Samples of the kid's work could be available online, and any concerns about that work could be voiced by email, Skype, text, cell, etc.
If the whole point of the meetings, as it looked to me, was to see samples of work and use it to talk about strengths or what needs work, then it could have been done in another, more efficient way. Through technology it could also have happened much sooner, rather than waiting several months into the school year to have an in-depth progress report.
But how would we balance that with the benefit of face to face communication? I certainly don't want the impersonal robot conference from my earlier post, but we have far, far too much digital assistance at our disposal to be doing things the same old way.
Thoughts?
I attended conferences today and the parents were so excited when they left the conference . Middle school conferences are student lead, but this year my teacher decided not to focus on grades (because parents already see the student's work and can view their grades online). Instead, she used the conference time to reflect with each student on "who they are as a learner?" We spent an hour with each student talking about their study skills, organization skills, test preparation, how they interact in the classroom, how they interact with teachers and what they could do to become more well rounded students. Each conference was different because it was based on the student and setting goals that took their personality and behaviors into account. She wanted them to stay true to themselves and set goals appropriate for their own needs that also suited their personality. It was so refreshing to see her suggest to students that they needed to actively participate in class discussion, get organized, set aside time to study in a quiet area or use a planner. The conferences went beyond the grade and really reflected the learner. The parents were so excited to spend an hour talking about ways they could assist their children in the learning process that could really improve their success and prepare them for high school. Every parent thanked the teacher profusely on the way out and left with a sense of accomplishment having spent time wisely, setting goals that would both work and improve the child's studies.
ReplyDeleteI had never thought about using technology to replace a face-to-face conference. There will always be a parent who prefers an old fashioned meeting; I think I probably would. Perhaps instead technology can be used to supplement parent-teacher meetings rather than replace them. At my main placement teachers are only given one day off in November per year for conferences, whereas Lake Washington conducts conferences at the beginning and end of the school year. Skype, texting, and blogs may be a creative way to touch base after the first meeting. Can you anticipate a negative side to using technology in this way?
ReplyDeleteI teach fourth grade and use student-led conferences. Student-led conferences really require students to take ownership of their progress. We also ask parents and students to develop very specific plans for improvement in each area discussed, which opens up genuine dialog about the work that needs to be done to meet goals for the next trimester. We teachers then meet with them to discuss their plans and share any other relevant information about the student.
ReplyDeleteThe down side is that we have to spend a fair amount of time practicing in class so that the conference is not a waste of time for parents. We supply the kids with a script, but they need to practice nonetheless.
Overall, it's worth it. It's a great experience for parents, teachers, and students alike!