The Breakfast Club – #BFC530 – is a 15 minute, 1 question Twitter chat every weekday. We chat in 4 timezones Mon-Fri – 5:30am Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Times. The mission of BFC is to empower participants to make a difference in education by engaging in consistent reflective practice in a supportive community that inspires and challenges one another.
Good Morning #bfc530 Kevin, 7th grade history teacher from NW NJ tweeting from the diner this morning so it must be Friday! Need to finish the week strong.
Our parent teacher student interview starts with the student introducing their parents. We then discuss how the student feels the year is going, cover any issues and end with a future plan. #bfc530
A: We meet as a team, we discuss positives first and then hit areas of concern. We end the meeting with strategies to improve student achievement. Short and direct is best. #bfc530
At conferences, we start with strengths and then move to concerns, students do Report Card Reflections a few days before, so we use that to guide the short conversation. #bfc530
Morning #bfc530
I rarely have parent teacher conferences. I do get invited to IEP meetings more ofter with parents. I spend my few minutes telling parents ALL GOOD things their kids do. #Positivity
Good morning, #bfc530. Tracy from MA here. Interested in reading responses to today's Q. In my 4th yr of MS & we're having them for 1st time this yr. (I did them 15+ @ elem lvl.)
I start with a summary of how I see their child in their class, academic performance and behavior. Always say something positive b/c each kid has positives. Then I ask the parent for their concerns & questions. #bfc530
At our HS, all Ts summoned to a table with parent (sometimes S present). Takes turns discussing academic and behavioral strengths, areas of growth, parent/student voice thoughts, make a plan of improvement and follow-up communication.
#bfc530
Two nights of P-T conference. First come, first served.
Survey parents a few years back to change format ==> told me to change nothing about it.
Transparency in grading software helps keep HS stakeholders informed all year, not just one night.
#bfc530
We have 20 min parent teacher conferences. No classes on that day & parents meet with one of the grade level teachers. During 2nd trimester Ss will lead the conference focused mostly on SEL. 3rd trimester S-led focused on portfolios #bfc530
@CoachKCullen definite breakfast envy here! We have run Student-Led Conferences for the past three years at our middle school grades 5 -8 and the feedback has been very positive. #bfc530
My main goal in P/T conferences is to ensure P leaves knowing how much I care for their child. If they leave knowing this, we will work together well all year long. We have an empathetic, productive conversation and they leave feeling heard and valued. #bfc530
Gm. Thet are rarely typical and should be renamed to welcome more of the Ss’ governing board of his life And to remove the connotation of deficit if they are parentless as many are. Maybe one day #BFC530
Sorry to hear that. Diners are In the words of the Greatest Showman "Its everything you ever want, its everything you ever need, and its (food) there right in front of you." #bfc530
Sometimes I feel having ALL teachers present is overwhelming. Definitely shows a united front and support from the team, but as a parent as well, I appreciate just a few teachers that really know my son! #bfc530
In reply to
@MyEmpoweredCR, @BFC_530, @MrTravisDrake
Yes Debbi! And, in IEP meetings in particular, it's important for parents to hear the good things that are happening-progress-successes. All too often these meeting turn into telling the parent what their child is deficient in.
#bfc530
Yes Debbi! And, in IEP meetings in particular, it's important for parents to hear the good things that are happening-progress-successes. All too often these meeting turn into telling the parent what their child is deficient in.
#bfc530
Wouldn't mind them in MS John. Had bad exp w/my own daughter last year in 1st gr w/student led. Not knowing where the quality of work compared to her class I was surprised when we needed mtg in June for deficiencies. Teacher should have voiced her concern during SLC #bfc530
I agree. Intimidating for anyone- but for those parents who haven't had great school experiences themselves- could be reinforcing all those negative associations #bfc530
In reply to
@JohnFritzky, @bridget_adam, @MyEmpoweredCR, @BFC_530, @MrTravisDrake
I recently saw something (FB maybe?) where the students led the conference - sharing with their parents a portfolio (of sorts) of their work - describing their strengths, areas they've grown and areas of growth that were goals for them. Very cool!
#bfc530
Hey Connie we have done this at our middle school for the past few years. We love our Student - Led Conferences, but don't let the name fool you, they are a lot of work for the teachers. #bfc530
Have the students create a portfolio and send an invitation to the parents. If I received an invite from my daughter to come to her conference, I know I would be there. #bfc530
I like Ss to be present and part of the conversation . I do start off with the positive and go from there. I also encourage Ss to take ownership, and especially if it was a difficult conference, point out to Ps where the opportunity lies and how to achieve more. #bfc530
I think the educators at these meetings sometimes forget that this is a human being-a real live child we're talking about. Believe me, their P's know about the majority of their S's struggles. Why is it so hard for some people to find nice things to say about students?
#bfc530
Is their a "template" of sorts teachers can use - at least to get them started? I'm all about providing tools for T's - especially when a new initiative/idea/suggestion is placed on them!
#bfc530
Let me know if our school can help, you can learn from our experiences. Our Student-Led Conferences aren't perfect, but better than traditional conferences and they are getting better every year. #bfc530
I'm thinking we DO get along great:)
I am going to NJ Teacher's convention for the first time since 1998 & that was 1st year teaching. Hoping to meet FTF with some of you #Bfc530 Tweeps:)
I do like Student Led Conferences in middle school. We should try them here. It allows all interested parties a seat at the table for addressing concerns & confirming strengths. #bfc530
In reply to
@JohnFritzky, @TracyMailloux, @crockow8
Hi #bfc530! I’m Kelsey’s principal so I can answer a few questions. Extremely time-consuming; no release time provided; most parents don’t read it. I hope to be on the revision committee! #changemakers
Yikes! My times run out this morning. TIme for me to check out.
Thanks for the great conversations this am. Lots of food for thought!
Have great weekends my #bfc530 peeps!
