I just finished my First Parent-Teacher Conferences of the school year. Even though I know all of my grading is very fair, I can’t help but get a little nervous. You never know how parents are going to react upon seeing their child’s report card. Here are a few things I have found to be very helpful:
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Create a welcoming classroom. Make sure lots of student work is on display. This year I had my kids each decorate a folder and write on the front “Look what I can do!” We filled the folder with current work from each subject.
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Stress that you do not GIVE grades, students EARN their grades.
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If parents do have questions or concerns, have grades at hand and be able to refer to exact totals and percentages
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Have a few handout for parents, such as a sight word list, a list of favorite books to read at home, or an article on study skills.
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Perhaps my best piece of advice – be positive!! For every negative thing you have to tell a parent, make sure you accompany it with at least one positive comment. Start with something the child is doing well, and then move into what needs to be improved.
Good luck!
-Melissa
The best way to learn to read is the tried and true progression:
read to the child from the beginning
keep quality reading materials, especially books in front of him to explore
teach him phonics and then practice reading daily
offer quality reading materials only — garbage in . . .
It’s ultimately the STORY that comprises literature and provides a REASON to read. Then reading becomes a passion as opposed to a skill with which to raise a score.
Thanks for the advice. Those are good tips to pass on to parents!
-Melissa