Parent and Teacher Conferences

Building Partnerships with Parents

The New Teacher Center at the University of California, Santa Cruz put together some phrases to help support your communication with parents. They suggest that you use data such as student work and assessments as reference throughout the conversation. Make sure to develop partnerships with parents around the goal of student success.

GREET THE PARENTS

• I'm so glad you were able to join me today. I'm looking forward to working together.
• I am glad for the opportunity to share __________'s progress with you.
• The purpose for our conference today is...
• What might you be interested in learning or knowing about?
• What are some things you'd like me to know about _____________?
• You know your child best, and I hope to learn from you what might help __________ be as successful as possible in school.

EMPHASIZE THE POSITIVE:

• Tell me about your child's strengths. What have you noticed at home?
• We use student content standards as a guide. __________ is able to....
• This works shows....
• This assessment shows....
• What I've noticed is...

SPECIFY AREAS FOR GROWTH:

• Do you have any concerns about _________'s progress? What are you seeing at home?
• I've noticed that _____________ is having difficulty with ....
• This work shows that sometimes s/he...
• By then end of the year, students are expected to....Your child is...
• I'm concerned because...

PLAN NEXT STEPS

• So, our goals for ________________ are...
• One way you could help at home is....
• How would it be if ....
• I will contact __________ to set up a (Study Team meeting, meeting with the school psychologist, resource specialist, principal, etc)
• Some other resources (or programs) that are available are...
• What is the best way to ensure...?
• What is the best way to stay in contact regarding __________'s progress?