A couple of days before I plan to meet with the parents, I send home a note asking parents to write down the main things they want to discuss at our conference. I emphasize the fact that conferences only last for a short fifteen minutes, and their feedback prior to our meeting will ensure that our time together is most productive. This is very helpful for me so that I can tailor each conference to meet the needs of the parents while also addressing my own observations and/or concerns.

Download a copy of the note I send home.

Another reason I like to get feedback prior to the conference is so that I can be prepared for any parent questions that might be best addressed with specific examples of student work or writing samples. Having the parent questions ahead of time gives me time to copy any necessary student work.