Co-Plan Family-School Conferences

Raise your hand if you have ever run out of time in a parent-teacher conference. Teachers are busy, families are busy, and too often, both walk away unsatisfied by that 10-minute parent-teacher conference.

As teachers, we can pressure ourselves to do all the talking during a family conference or to have all the answers at our fingertips. But strong family-school partnerships are just that – they are partnerships! In a partnership, both parties come together with different knowledge and skills for a shared purpose (student success!). Read on for how to make the most of family conferences.

As you begin planning family conferences, consider ensuring no one walks away dissatisfied. Invite families into the planning process to ensure that you and your students’ families are on the same page about what’s important to discuss! An invitation for families to help co-create the agenda creates an opportunity for families to share their priorities and goals for the conference. Understanding what’s important to families helps you plan a conversation responsive to each student and family.

Before conferences, send a brief survey or note home to determine your students’ families’ priorities for the conference. Electronic surveys, such as a Google form, can be shared via text, email, or other apps. You can also ask families the survey questions when you see them in the hallway at pick-up/dismissal, or any other time your paths cross!

Download this editable sample family survey, “Pre- & Post-Conference Survey” below!

Tip: If you don’t have the opportunity to send a pre-conference survey, you can begin the conference by asking families What’s the most important thing for us to discuss today and/or what would you like to get out of this conversation?

Be prepared to listen and learn from families during the conference. Make sure you know what’s most important for families to talk about in the conference and differentiate conferences for families by centering their priorities. Create the space for families to share what’s on their minds, ask questions, offer perspective, and discuss their concerns. Allow families to speak without interruption. Ask follow-up questions and affirm you hear and understand what they’re sharing. Reinforce that families are the experts on their children, and you want and need their expertise and partnership.

Be sure to collect family feedback after the conference as well. A post-conference survey will help you to understand how families experienced the conference. A post-conference survey can also provide a real-time snapshot of families’ perspectives on relationships, communication, and access to the information and tools they need to support learning at home. The post-conference survey is designed to give you actionable data points to strengthen your family engagement practice!