parent teacher conferences & partnerships
DESCRIPTION
Parent Teacher Conferences: What's new, fresh ideas and best practices from education thought leaders and technology specialists. Sponsored by McGraw-Hill Education and VolunteerSpot, the leading FREE, easy online parent-teacher conference scheduling tool.TRANSCRIPT
Parent-Teacher Conferences:Best Practices & Building
Partnerships
Karen BantuverisFounder & CEO
@VolunteerSpot
Lisa Dabbs#ntchat, Edu Consultant
@Teachingwthsoul
Joe MazzaPrincipal, #PTChat
@Joe_Mazza
Pernille Ripp5th Grade Teacher
@Pernille Ripp
Glenn Yetter6th Grade teacher
@CoachYetter
Greg GarnerEducational Technologist
@Classroom_Tech
Agenda Welcome & Why We’re Here Recent Survey Results – Karen Conference Game Plan and Tips – Lisa Student Led Conferences – Glenn Documenting Learning with New Tech – Greg Building Ongoing Parent-Teacher-Student Relationships –
Joe Q& A – All Resources & VolunteerSpot Demo: Free Parent-Teacher
Conference Scheduler – Karen
Parenting Magazine / NEA Survey April 2012
45% parents gave their teachers an “A” for parent relationships
88 percent of parents consider their child’s teacher a partner BUT…Only 54 percent of teachers feel that parents do their part at home to ensure kids the most out of classroom learning
93% of teachers believe parents are given the opportunity to offer input into and participate in school events and activities, HOWEVER…25% parents say they feel shut out of the collaboration process
Recent Survey Results
Parent Engagement JourneyThanks to Chris Jarvis, @RealizedWorth
VolunteerSpot Survey Results
Parents rate last conference: 85% Excellent or Good
Teachers rate last round of conferences: 92% Excellent or Good
What %Pre-conference questions for parents
24%
Student Portfolios (paper) 73%Student Portfolios (electronic) 18%Student-Led Conferences 14%Use an Agenda 55%Prepare Action Plans for Students 60%Prepare Action Plans for Parents 35%Parent Resource List 65%Virtual Parent Meetings 7%
What Are Our Teachers Doing?
Lisa Michelle Dabbs M.Ed@TeachingwthSoul
Educational Consultant & Speaker, Los Angeles, CA#ntchat Founder , Edutopia Core Blogger,
Edupad Representative
Communicate with Parents right away
Ask parents for the best way to reach them
Use a variety of communication tools
Begin on a Positive Note
Take time to setup appointments and follow up TIP: VolunteerSpot Makes it easy! Keep data base with parent
contacts Include a map of the campus
Set expectations for discussions Hold a phone or Skype
conference if parents can’t attend
Establish your Conference Calendar
Establish a method to share
Consider Electronic tools (DropBox, wikis, Google Drive, etc.)
Capture work samples each week
If Student-Led, set clear guidelines and deadlines
Create Student Portfolios
Start and end on time! TIP: Set a timer!
Share an agenda to guide discussion
Ask questions, take notes, LISTEN Stop and re-schedule if
conference becomes unproductive
Have a Conference Day Plan
Focus on strengths and share several
Include 1 or 2 opportunities for improvement
Share social observations with peers and adults
Let parents know they can share their concerns with you anytime
Focus on Whole Child
Ask how they would like to participate
Have volunteer opportunities planned and make it easy for parents to signup
Do they have a special talent?
Share Web2.0 tools for home-school collaboration
Invite Parents to your Team
Remember! Parents need to feel valued and DO, when you include them!
Welcome to My Student-Led Conference
Glenn Yetter@CoachYetter
Hatfield, PA
What are they?Students are trained in the specific skills necessary to engage their parents in a discussion about their academic progress
Hey Mom & Dad…look at my success!
Goals- Students will:1. Learn to set goals2. Evaluate their own work3. Improve communication and organization
skills4. Take an active role in their learning
Portfolios:The Centerpiece of the Conference
Portfolios are…a purposeful collection of student work that tells a story of academic progress. It reveals the child’s knowledge, skills, interests, and attitudes towards learning.
Student Script
Student Report Card Review
Presentation Highlights
Reflection sheets for each subject – guides discussion
Create a slide for each subject Review Successful Learner segment of report card PRACTICE!! Hold chair for parents, establishes tone of meeting Use TECH! PowerPoint, Prezi, Slide Share This is a conference…NOT a reading
Greg Garner@Classroom_Tech
West Ridge Middle School, Austin, TX
Technology Provides Options
CommunicationFlexibilityChanging Learning
Paradigms
Video conference File and screen
sharing (show exactly what you see on your screen)
Shareable, multimedia portfolios from any device/machine
Organized by tags, notebooks, and search
Deep integration with variety of tools/apps
OCR, indexed PDFs, audio and text notes
Resources: http://evernote.com/schools/resources/topics/k12/
Student learning community
Parent access on-going, just-
in-time, asynchronous learning and assessment
SpEd and 504 Use portfolios to show progress in learning
and impact of accommodations on the learning process
Documentation can be tied to and stored with student work samples
Example: Evernote with audio records and feedback plus student assignments, shared with the parents via Edmodo or Skype
Set the stage for your next ARD or 504 meeting during Conferences - Introduce digital tools!
Joe Mazza@Joe_Mazza
Lead Learner @knappelementary, Philadelphia, PA ~ @penngse student studying home-school
partnerships 2.0 ~ Host of (Parent-Teacher) #PTchat Weds 9EDT
A chance to show your investment in face to face communication, relationship building.
Building Parent-Teacher Relationships going FORWARD
What is the best means of 2 way communication for you?
http://bit.ly/PTChat2Way
How you will differentiate for varying home tech environments?
ASK - "What access to online resources does your child have at home?"
10 Websites to Bookmark on your student’s home computer: http://bit.ly/HomeComputerBookmarks
Before the meeting ends, reinforce collaboration
ASK: "how can "we" better meet the needs of your child?"
Demonstrate Partnership
Small gestures show the extra care and commitment you will deliver to child throughout the school year.
When possible, walk the parent out.
Questions & Comments?
Link to recorded webinar Articles, check-sheets and templates for
Teachers Articles & Links to share with Parents Tech Guides for Teachers & Parents
Resources to Share
http://vols.pt/4r (caps matter)
Karen BantuverisFounder & CEO@VolunteerSpot@VSpotMom
Lisa Dabbs#ntchat, Edu Consultant
@Teachingwthsoul
Joe MazzaPrincipal, #PTChat
@Joe_Mazza
Pernille Ripp5th Grade Teacher
@Pernille Ripp
Glenn Yetter6th Grade teacher
@CoachYetter
Greg GarnerEducational Technologist
@Classroom_Tech
FREE, Easy Parent Conference Scheduling & Reminders
VolunteerSpot.com
Please stay for a quick DEMO (< 5 min)
VolunteerSpot Demo
Parent Experience Organizer Setup Manage Your Activity
Parents Get Invited
Parents Click to Sign UpNO PASSWORDS
Choose Their Spot
Choose Their Spot
Confirm Their Spot
Stay Connected
Organizer Setup
How VolunteerSpot Works
Register or Sign In
Launch Planning Wizard
Choose your Activity Type
Enter Activity Info
Add Extra Info. Fields Premium Version Only
Up to 5 Fields
Enter Organizer Info.
Select First Conference Day
Plan the Day
Add ‘Spots’: Jobs, Shifts & Things to Bring
Add ‘Spot’ Details
Add More ‘Spots’
Add ‘Spot’ Info.
Conference Time List
Review Spots
Status Calendar
Copy Day
Copy Day
Wa – La!
Send Draft to Review
Invite Parents to Sign up
Invite Parents to Sign up
Copy Entire Sign up
Give Activity a New Name
Continue for Each Teacher
Manage Your Activity
How VolunteerSpot Works
Activity Status View
More Assistance