What is the relationship between the stages of parent–teacher conferences to the overall success of building collaborative relationships.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Ans: Answers to this question will vary but should include elements of the following: There are three stages in the parent–teacher conference process. The preconference stage has six steps, the conference stage has eight steps, and the postconference stage has two steps. The preconference stage involves family notification, primary language communication, flexibility on times, review of assessment data, gathering of student work, development of an agenda, asking for family input, creation of an environment that is welcoming, identification of other professionals who may need to attend the meeting, and arrangement of an interpreter if needed. The conference stage involves creating a welcoming atmosphere and greeting visitors, the presentation of the agenda, time to answer parent questions as soon as possible, room to talk about progress, hand-outs that provide tips for home, discussion regarding classroom concerns, reminder to be aware of nonverbal cues, importance of keeping notes, staying on a high level of importance, and ending on a positive note. The postconference stage is a time to review notes, stick to any agreements made, create a follow-up plan, and schedule additional conferences or phone calls.