Conferences are coming up soon,

so I thought I'd share some things that I do, that might be helpful to you.

•  I keep all of my conference things in a box labeled “Conference Stuff” so I’m not searching for things.
• I type up “conference signs” and laminate them and use them each year.  They go in the box.
• To make things a bit more festive, I put a table cloth on a long table that I set up in the hallway.
• I tie a medium size basket with fall-colored curling ribbon and crumble up some yellow tissue paper and put it in the bottom of the basket. Sam’s Club sells bulk dinner mints for $5 and I fill the basket with those. I put a sign on a Popsicle stick that says: “My Y5 Family’s are worth a mint! Enjoy one while you wait!” and stick it in the basket.
• I display the laminated class books that the children have made as a group.
• I display our class photo album that includes pictures of our daily activities as well as our fall fieldtrip to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch.
• I have a poster that tells them to check the 2 hallways for their child’s artwork and our science, geography and computer wall displays.
• If you are computer savvy this is a great time to set up a power point slide show and have it playing.
• I set up 4 chairs for people to sit on if they want.
• I have a sign that says: “Thank you for coming. Please sign in.” This is on a clip board with a pen TIED to it.  I also squish a pumpkin ornament on the pen and glue it on. People are less likely to take your pens.
• I send a letter home that tells parents to CALL the office for an appointment. Our school does it this way. At the end of conference appointment calling, if a child’s parents haven’t called, I assign them an appointment with a note that says if this doesn’t work for them to please call and arrange another time.  I send reminder notes home the night before of their date and time. The note also says to jot down questions they might have, and to remind them to arrive promptly as conferences are booked back-to-back and are only 15 minutes long. If they are late their conference will be shortened.
• I send a "Head's Up" note home to parents letting them know that I wll be assessing their child on report card standards and tips of how they can help their child review concepts at home. Click on the link for a copy of that letter which includes three helpful attachments: An "I love you gram" that helps their child practice writing their name in a fun way, a shape practice template, and a discipline tip sheet that I give to parents at conferences who have a child that's having problems.
  
• I have a Form for my parents to fill out of how their child likes school thus far and any concerns they may have. Click on the link for a copy.
• I also have an “I love you, and am proud of you.”  Happy Gram that they fill out for their child and take home. Click on the link for a copy.
• I make the easy pre-made dough sugar cookies that you just slice off.  Sometimes they have a seasonal pattern in them like a pumpkin or leaf.   I put two in a baggie and tie them with orange and yellow curling ribbon.  I punch a hole in my poem, fold it and attach it to the baggie.  I put these in another fall basket and give these to parents as a thank you for coming and working with me as a team.  I have a poster in my room that uses team as an acronym: Together Everyone Achieves More.  Click on the link for a copy of the Poem.
• I have a laundry basket of toys on my Circle of Friends carpet as well as a basket of books that it is OK to play with if parents bring their child or younger siblings.
• I also put up a tee pee tent in the fall and a princess tent in the spring. This keeps children occupied and contained.  I tell my student to keep an eye on younger siblings as they know the rules, and that these are the ONLY options to play with.  It’s amazing how some parents will let their children run amuck in your classroom and you’ll be left with either a very chaotic conference or a destroyed classroom that you’ll have to clean up later when you’re exhausted. Having these areas and things has really helped.
• I keep a pleasant sounding timer at my table. As soon as a parent walks in I start it. It goes off one minute before they are due to leave so that I can tie things up.  I explain to them the necessity of the timer and that if they still have questions after the conference I will be glad to discuss things further on the phone or after or before school. I do this because it’s easy for me to lose track of time with some parents and 15 minutes goes so fast.
• If you have a difficult child that you know you might need more time with, schedule a double conference for them, or schedule someone after or before them that you know will be a much shorter conference time.
• I’m always prepared with a high school translator for my Hispanic parents.
• I keep a week’s worth of papers that the children have done in class the week of conference time so I have examples of children’s in-class work.
• I put papers, assessments, art work  and report card etc. in a file folder for each child and have the folder on my conference table.
• My conference table also has a table cloth on it. I want my parents to feel comfortable so I don't sit at my desk, and we all sit in adult chairs.
  
• Make sure that you figure in at least a 15 minute snack/supper/bathroom break into your conference time.
• I see parents from 2:45-7:30 for 2 days.
• I keep a bottle of water under the table along with those cheese and cracker snacks for a quick pick-me-up.
• I keep another sign in sheet at my table in case they forgot to sign in on the outside table.
• I make sure that I do the same format for each child so that I don’t forget what I have said, or miss something.  I have this set up in their folder so that I start and end in the same place. I have this in a check list that I keep next to me so that I don’t forget anything. This also keeps me within the 15 minute time frame.
• Carefully think how you will relay negative comments; do so in a constructive, not critical manner. Give the parents tips of what they can do to help, and don't relate information to them in "teacher jargon."
  
• I always end with the positive. Find at least 3 positive things to say about their child no matter how difficult they are. All children have strengths and abilities; parents need these encouraging words. Many of them seek your approval and worry that you might feel that they are bad parents or have poor parenting skills so reassure them.
  
• I end with “Do you have any questions or concerns?” and thank them for coming.
• I make little turkeys for my students that say: “My teacher thinks I’m Turkey-riffic!”  I give these to the parents for them to give to their child. This is for fall conferences. I make kites for spring: “I’m flying high with great work!”  “If parents don’t bring their child, most children ask them when they get home:  “What did my teacher say about me?”   This is another opportunity for me to build their self esteem. 
• I make the turkeys on an Ellison die cut machine and attach a label.  Click on the link for the Turkey Labels.  I’ve also made a little Turkey Note for you in case you don’t have an Ellison. Here's a turkey certicate too.
  
• Make sure you get a good night’s sleep the day before your conferences.
• I try to plan the day time activities with my students to be filled with lessons that are less hectic for me.  I’m not introducing new concepts and standards that require a lot of work; and I try to have a room helper with me so that I’m not quite as exhausted at the end of the day as I am when I’m working alone. 
• I tell my students that the work that they are doing that week is extra special in that I will be keeping it and showing it to their parents.  As always I want them to give me their “best effort”.  I think when I tell them this they do try a little bit harder. 
• I notice that they are neater and that their coloring and writing samples are not as “scribbly.”
• I also ask my students to pitch in and tidy our room up doing some extra cleaning and straightening at the end of the day, ensuring that everything looks extra nice for conferences.
• I bring a change of clothes that are a bit dressier for conferences than my regular, more comfortable teaching outfit. Putting on a “fresh” more feminine outfit makes me feel better and more energized too.  My grandmother always said to splash on some perfume to give yourself a burst of energy.  It helps me; perhaps it will help you too.
• Whatever you do, relax, smile, and realize that you have done your best.
• If you have any conference tips I’d love to hear from you.
• For another article with some great tips check out this link How To Ace Parent Teacher Conferences.
  
• If you have ESL students that speak Spanish and parents that read Spanish better than English, they will appreciate important notes home written in Spanish. Click on the link for a site that offers 12 templates of important notes home. You fill out your information and click translate.  You can also print out an English version as well.  Included in the templates are a Parent-Teacher conference note, Homework note and a Progress Report. Casa Notes.