Can e Talk?Effective Parent Teacher

Conferences at Every Grade

PAWS-itively Ready for Student Led Parent Teacher

ConferencesA no-nonsense guide to Parent/Teacher PAWS

Conferences at L.G.E.!

October 1, 2013 6-7pm

Locust Grove Elementary

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Student- Parent-teacher PAWS conferencesStudent- Parent-teacher PAWS conferenceshappen twice a year, in the Fall and happen twice a year, in the Fall and

again in late Winter.again in late Winter.

Don’t take this opportunity for granted! Don’t take this opportunity for granted! This is one of the most importantThis is one of the most important

things you can do to help yourthings you can do to help yourstudent achieve!student achieve!

Locust Grove Elementary

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Locust Grove Elementary

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Did you know school and home Did you know school and home

are two of the most important areas of are two of the most important areas of influence in a child’s life?influence in a child’s life?

What happens in either What happens in either place can impact a place can impact a student’s ability to student’s ability to achieve.achieve.

Locust Grove Elementary

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Locust Grove Elementary

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Communication Communication between home between home and school can be and school can be hard to manage… hard to manage… but you have to but you have to try!try!

Don’t Forget!

PAWS Conferences

Oct. 15-24th

Thanks for coming to LGE Title I Night!Project

Due Oct. 18th!

LGE FALL FESTIVAL Oct. 25th !

Pick up Bread & Milk

There may be things happening at There may be things happening at school that only the teacher can tell school that only the teacher can tell you..you..

Locust Grove Elementary

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Locust Grove Elementary

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And there may be And there may be things happening things happening at home that only at home that only you can share.you can share.

Locust Grove Elementary

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The PAWS Conference is the place to The PAWS Conference is the place to share this information.share this information.

Locust Grove Elementary

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•If your child is working on grade level.If your child is working on grade level.

•Your child’s strengths and weaknesses in class.Your child’s strengths and weaknesses in class.

•If your child is behaving and adjusting socially. If your child is behaving and adjusting socially.

•The upcoming important assignmentsThe upcoming important assignments

•The best way for you to communicate with The best way for you to communicate with him/her.him/her.

Locust Grove Elementary

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•The difficulties your child

The difficulties your child

may be experiencing in

may be experiencing in

school.school.

•Your child’s special

Your child’s special

medical needs.

medical needs.

•The best way for the

The best way for the

school to contact you.

school to contact you.

Parents know…Parents know…

Locust Grove Elementary

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Students Know…

Their reading goals

Areas where they struggle

What they need to work on to reach their goals

“The dog ate my conference paper”

and other common myths that keep parents from attending PAWS Conferences at L.G.E.

Locust Grove Elementary

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Locust Grove Elementary

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“I didn’t like school. I’m sure I won’t get along with my child’s teacher. And what if we don’t have anything to talk about or I don’t understand?”

#1

DON’T WORRY – You will have lots DON’T WORRY – You will have lots to talk about. to talk about.

No matter how hard teachers and No matter how hard teachers and parents work towards partnership, parents work towards partnership, occasional problems are occasional problems are unavoidable.unavoidable.

Remember that your job is to be your Remember that your job is to be your child’s strongest advocate. child’s strongest advocate.

If you don’t understand – ASK questions If you don’t understand – ASK questions until you do. until you do.

““My child gets good grades in school. His/her My child gets good grades in school. His/her progress report was great! Do I need still need to progress report was great! Do I need still need to go to a parent-teacher conference?” go to a parent-teacher conference?”

#2

YES, YOU STILL NEED TO GO! YES, YOU STILL NEED TO GO!

The progress report is just a The progress report is just a snapshot of how a child is snapshot of how a child is progressing in school, the parent-progressing in school, the parent-teacher conference is like a full color teacher conference is like a full color DVD.DVD.

By talking face-to-face, By talking face-to-face, families can get more in- depth families can get more in- depth knowledge of how well their child is knowledge of how well their child is progressing. progressing.

At a conference, parents can At a conference, parents can see work samples and hear see work samples and hear descriptions of their child’s academic, descriptions of their child’s academic, social, emotional and behavioral social, emotional and behavioral development. This is your chance to development. This is your chance to ASK QUESTIONS – GET ANSWERS. ASK QUESTIONS – GET ANSWERS.

Parents can share firsthand Parents can share firsthand what they have experienced at home.what they have experienced at home.

Tips for a Good PAWS Conference!•Start the conference on a positive note.Start the conference on a positive note.

•Before you arrive, write down the items you want to discuss during the Before you arrive, write down the items you want to discuss during the conference.conference.

•During the conference, take notes so you won’t forget what was said.During the conference, take notes so you won’t forget what was said.

•Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Keep asking until you understand.Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Keep asking until you understand.

•At the end of the conference, recap what was talked about. Pay special At the end of the conference, recap what was talked about. Pay special attention to those things each of you said you would do and the deadlines.attention to those things each of you said you would do and the deadlines.

•Commit to listening with an open mind. Even if there are problems to Commit to listening with an open mind. Even if there are problems to discuss.discuss.

Locust Grove Elementary

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ARE YOU READY?The conference will be more productive if you do a little preparation beforehand.

Here are a few more tips to help you be prepared before your child’s conference:

Talk with your child – ask them what their strongest/weakest subjects are and which ones they like the most.

Make a list of topics you want to talk about with the teacher. Be sure to share things that you think the teacher should know like concerns at school, major changes in family, home life, etc.

Ask for explanation of anything you don’t understand (such as an educational term or policy). Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.

Create an Action Plan – ask what you can do to help at home with homework, reading math etc. Stop by the Parent Resource Room for activities and resources to use at home.

Remember, you are your Remember, you are your child’s child’s bestbest and most and most important advocate. Don’t important advocate. Don’t miss this chance to miss this chance to connect with the school.connect with the school.