Lesson 10: Parent Teacher Conferences

Attention

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able

  • Describe the importance of a parent teacher conference and/or home visit.
  • Describe the dynamics of the parent teacher relationship.
  • Discuss the challenges of parent teacher conferences and/or home visiting.

Teaching

Each early childhood setting looks vastly different when it comes to parent teacher conferences and home visits.  For example, Head Start has specific guidelines for family partnerships which include conferences AND home visits in every program.   Family childcare providers may not follow specific standards but may choose to create their own system for connecting with families.  Public schools typically schedule two or three parent teacher conferences and zero home visits.  Many options have a family night or community event such as an art show or open house.

In any early childhood setting, the elements outlined in NAEYC Partnerships for Learning and DAP Cultivating Good Relationships with Families should be considered when partnering with families.  The core beliefs may be difficult at times but we have one thing in common…. The child! It is our role, as the educator to:  listen, seek to understand and formulate a response that is respectful to their culture.  Strategies to include are to remain positive, use strength based examples, home-school connections, using language the family understands and more. 

Keep in mind that attending a parent teacher conference and/or home visit for this assignment is a snapshot.  Every time is different, even with the same family.  However, the approach should always be consistent to build an effective partnership with the family.

Assessment

Lesson 10 Assignment

By this point you should have set up a time when you can attend a parent/teacher conference and/or home visit meeting with your cooperating teacher. 

First gather the basic information. (You may have to ask your cooperating teacher for some of the information)

  1. Are the conferences done on-site or in the home at your placement?  Do they have standards that they have to meet in regards to parent teacher conferences? (frequency, length and place)  Where will you be joining a parent teacher conference?
  2. What preparation does the teacher need to do before meeting?  What is on the agenda?
  3. What considerations are taken when interacting with the family?  How does the teacher individualize their interactions?

Second, attend the meeting/home visit.  Ask your teacher if it is okay to take notes for your assignment on a parent/teacher conference and/or home visit.  (Provide specific example(s) of how you did or did not see the following.  Keep confidentiality in mind when providing examples)

  1. What did communication look like?  Provide examples of how you did or did not see examples of tips 5-12 from the NAEYC Partnerships for Learning.
  2. What did communication look like?  Provide examples of how you did or did not see examples of the five tips in the DAP Cultivating Good Relationships with Families.
  3. Did you notice any challenges and how were they resolved?
  4. Did the teacher offer the family any resources or community events?  Explain why or why not.

Third, reflect on the family partnership. 

  1. Is this what you thought a parent/teacher conference and/or home visit looked like?  Explain.
  2. Describe one thing you are still wondering about after your experience.  Any what-ifs?
  3. How do envision a parent/teacher conference and/or home visit when you are a teacher and participating in the family partnership?

Submit a document to the Lesson 10 Dropbox that documents this entire process.

Lesson 10 Discussion

Read chapter 27 in Swinging Pendulums.   Is it our job to judge families or to do what is best for the child?  Explain your reasoning.