RESPOND TO STUDENT POSTS

CANDACE POST

What strategies can you use to ensure that parents/caregivers feel welcome and comfortable at the beginning of the conference?

“As the teacher prepares for the conference with the parents, the backgrounds, concerns, priorities, resources, and needs of parents are considered”( Wortham&Hardin, 2016 p.276). In order to provide a relaxed and comfortable environment for parents, it is important for the teacher to get familiar with the needs of the family first, do they need an interpreter? will  they need extra room to move around the classroom because of a walker or wheelchair?. The teacher can also make the environment inviting by displaying flowers or light refreshments. Not only is the environment important, the teachers personality plays a role in the parent conference. The teacher should b polite and friendly when greeting the parents. During the conference, it is important for the teacher to talk about the students achievements. The teacher can talk about issues but also have solutions to what he or she is doing to improve the issue with the student inside the classroom. Parents should have opportunities to ask questions and ask for advice.

What strategies can you use when sharing assessment information with the parents/caregivers? Why did you choose these strategies?

When sharing results with parents, it is important to address the child’s successes. Many parents may feel embarrassed or negative when teachers stress the “not so good” things their child is doing inside the classroom. So the teacher should spend less time talking about what the child lacks and more time addressing strategies to see improvement?

What method can you use to summarize the student’s progress?

I really like portfolios for conferences. With all of my children, I was presented with portfolios of my children’s work to see how they completed their work and how they have progressed throughout the school year. It allowed me, as a parent, to see the effort they are putting forth in school and what other things they are ready to learn.

What role do the parents/teachers/administrators have in the conference?

All parties role in the process is equally important for the benefit of the child. The teachers role in the process is to educate the parent on the child’s progress and recommend any resources that will improve their learning experience and build a relationship with the parent. The role of the parent is to support the teacher in the school and at home by following any recommendations given. The role of the administrators are to support teacher and parents in making sure all parties are respectful and supportive.

How could you share results that may be perceived by the parents as negative?

“Its not what you say, its how you say it”. Teachers need to be sensitive of other parents feelings and be totally open to answering questions throughout the process. 

DOMINQUE POST

• What strategies can you use to ensure that parents/caregivers feel welcome and comfortable at the beginning of the conference?

I would start asking them how they are and show them some things around the room that their child has done! Then I would start saying how well he is doing, some things that he has achieved, like he can count to 10, and other things. I would also tell them that they are the child first teacher and how much we love that and want to reassure that. 

• What strategies can you use when sharing assessment information with the parents/caregivers? Why did you choose these strategies? 

Some strategies I would use while sharing assessment information first explaining what their looking at giving them a sheet of scores, showing them where they should be and if there not possible why and what we can do to fix them and get them at the right score. Another thing I would do is remind the families that this test is not label it just something that help me as the teacher see where their child is at and how to improve him his goals and skills. I would also give them a tip sheet on things they can do with the child at home. I would explain everything step by step and if I had any concerns what I want to do to help the child and if they have anything for me or questions. I choose these strategies because I will as a teacher it shows how much we care about the relationship that the families and teacher and we want what best for the child, and also that there understanding me, and they see I’m doing everything I can as a teacher for their child. 

• What method can you use to summarize the student’s progress?

I think I would use a detailed checklist and having two anecdotal record that show their progress and a work sample of their cutting and name. I would do this, so the families can see first-hand how there doing and then they can also tell me their thoughts and if they have any concerns and I could do the same. 

• What role do the parents/teachers/administrators have in the conference?

I feel that everyone plays an important role. As the parent it their role to get see their child work, ask questions, see what they can do to better the child, see what their learning and keeping in contact with the teacher. As the teachers it’s their role show the child progress, from start to know, things they can do at home to help the child, share the child strengths and showing the families wat their learning and including them in the classroom. As administrators making sure everything running smoothly answering questions the teacher don’t know and telling the families events that are going on in the school. 

• How could you share results that may be perceived by the parents as negative?

I feel that the tone of how you are addressing the child could be perceived as negative. Another way where it might be perceived as negative is if all your saying is bad things like your child is low in is and in that. Only telling them about the child weakness. I think the biggest one is not fully explaining what their scores means and providing more insight for them and what happen next. 

QUESTION

 What other method could you use to share individual assessment results?