Prepare your students for conferences

Students have to know where they are academically. It should not be a secret that they are behind in writing or advanced in math. They should all have goals and take pride in their progress toward their goals. Conferences are a time to make parents a part of the process. Give students a “conference plan” beforehand and some incentive for making sure their parents come. A conference plan might look like this:

1. Reading: get the book you are reading and read a page to your parent. Explain your reading goals.
2. Writing: get the last piece of writing that you published from your writing folder. Explain your writing goals.
3. Math: Choose a math game and teach your parent how to play. Explain your math goals.
4. Science: Show your parent your science fair project and the peer comments you received.

Be prepared to show parents the data

A report card is not enough. You need test results and examples of grade-level work. After each student shares with their parent, you need to show them the relevant data. Parents might not know what third grade writing should look like. Show them. They might not know what a fifth grade book likes like. Show them.

An Example 
Here is an example of a fifth-grade student named Gaby. She is doing well in math, but struggling in reading and writing.

Gaby brings her book to the table with her grandmother and me. She reads aloud and I can see that her grandmother is surprised at how she is struggling. Next, we look at the test results. I explain that Gaby is now reading at a third grade level (remember, this is no surprise to Gaby). We discuss Gaby’s progress so far and her reading goals. Gaby tells her grandma, “I am working on context clues to figure out words I don’t know”. I explain to grandma that she really needs extra practice at home. We talk about where Gaby can read at home and if they can go to the library together.  Grandma commits to helping her at home.

After a similar conversation about writing (it’s important that I show her what fifth grade writing looks like), we move on to math. Gaby chooses to play a multiplication game with grandma and explains the rules. Gaby wins the game and is beaming. I show grandma the math data and congratulate them on her achievements.

After we’ve been through the whole conference plan, we review what they’ll work on at home. I give them a book and a take-home math game.

Additional Resources:
Public Engagement
Education World