One last thought on Parent-Teacher Conferences
One of our readers's Beth Vogt from Mommy-Come-Lately sent the following comment and question:
I'm intrigued by the different conference options available these days: parent/teacher, including the student, and now student-led conferences. Maybe I'm straddling the fence here, but why does it have to be an all or nothing proposition? Why does it have to be one or the other? Maybe give the parents or students a choice. I know one of my daughter's wouldn't have felt comfortable--at least at a young age--doing a student-led conference. My son, on the other hand, would have relished the opportunity.
I also agree with Mary Scribner (see Student-Led Conferences) that there needs to be some time where parents and teachers can talk about a student without the student being there.
I just attended my first-grader's first parent/teacher conference. Before I went, I asked if there was anything I needed to know. "Well, my teacher did have to tell me not to say "ain't," my daughter told me. That's the only problem she could think of. Her teacher and I had a good chuckle over that.
So how can a parent request a conference other than the one the school is coordinating?
From Parent Coach Mary Scribner: I would go directly to the teacher, either by phone or email. Find a time that is convenient for the teacher. Be prepared and empathize with how little time the teacher may have. Again use the approach of working together as a team and collaborating toward helping your child succeed.
Have a question for Mary? Just email her.
Comments
When I was teaching, I definitely would have preferred to keep students out of the parent / teacher conferences. However, I was a special ed teacher, which means that I already had IEP meetings that included the student. At the very least, I would want to speak privately to the parent before bringing the student in.
Posted by: Mama Zen | November 19, 2007 11:50 AM
Having been a parent now for 20+ years, I take a different approach altogether.
At the beginning of the year, I go and meet my children's teachers (yes, that includes middle and high school where there's more than 1 per child) in person and provide them with my home and cell phone numbers as well as my email address. I also come prepared to collect their phone # and email address.
I tell them that my children's education is Priority #1 with me and I am prepared to back that up by assisting them in any way I possibly can.
I ask that they alert me to any problems at the first sign, rather than trying to "tough it out".
I let them know I consider them a part of my child's "team" because they spend such a large amount of time with my child and I am a single mother who cannot be everywhere all the time. I rely on them to be the eyes on my child at school.
I also have these conversations with each school's principal and student counselor(s).
Upon returning home, I send each teacher and administrator an email thanking them for taking the time to meet me and provide me with their email address and other contact information.
Thus begins an on-going dialogue with all those involved with my children each year, so that when it's time for parent-teacher conferences, I usually can tell them to skip me and spend their valuable time with parents who are not as available as I am.
I make regular visits to their classrooms - some scheduled (usually in elementary where I volunteer to read to the class or help the teacher in other ways) and some unscheduled (usually in middle and high school where they've previously told me it's ok to just pop in every now and then.)
I also substitute teach in both my children's schools - which started out as a way to "walk a mile in the teacher's shoes" and keep closer tabs on a struggling middle schooler, but now I find I really enjoy it, so I continue.
I can do all this because I rearranged my life and became self-employed when I got laid off from my corporate job in 2000. My oldest ended up dropping out after a 2nd try at 9th grade, and I'll be dipped and fried before that happens to the 2 I have left at home.
So far...so good. :)
Posted by: SuzanneSays... | November 19, 2007 8:16 PM
I'm trying to friend you on nanoblomo but not sure where to find it... i'm kinda slow this week... anyway, not blogging daily anymore, but stop by to say hello!!!
Posted by: Manic Mommy | November 19, 2007 8:52 PM