1. Forming Partnerships with Parents
FORMINGPARTNERSHIPS WITH PARENTS

2. Forming Partnerships with Parents
James D. Morrow
UNCC
MAED 5040 090
Dr. Adam Harbaugh
April, 2010
3. Forming Partnerships with Parents
Parents
Teachers
Middle School Success
Students
4. Forming Partnerships with Parents
How can Teachers get Parents engaged in their Childs Education?
Initial Letter to Parents
Back to School Night
Open House
Parent Teacher Conference
School and Community Mathematic Clubs
Mathematic Contests
Community Outreach
5. Forming Partnerships with Parents
Community Mathematics Contests
Back to School night
CMS Parent Assistance
Parent Teacher Conference
Parent Teacher Relationship
Mathematic Clubs
Open House
Quarterly Newsletter
Initial Letter to Parents
Electronic Communication (Emails)
Communication sent home with Student
6. Forming Partnerships with Parents
Initial Letter to Parents
1st Impression
A little about yourself and teaching philosophy
Course Description
Class Rules and Expectations
Materials Needed
7. Forming Partnerships with Parents
Initial Letter to Parents (Cont.)
Class Milestones (Projects, Major Tests, etc.)
Grading Policy
Discipline Policy
Contact Information
Reference to NC SCOS
8. Forming Partnerships with Parents
Back to School Night
Parents have seen your letters now they meet you in person.
Parents see the environment where there child is learning
Parents follow students schedule.Teacher gets 8 to 10 to discuss the following:
Describe fun project and activities students will be doing.
Review and participate in students current work Show parents what students are working on.Have displays around the room.
What parents should expect from their child (in line with NC SCOS).
Grading Policy
Contact Information
Emphasize how parents can provide a home environment where homework is a priority.
9. Forming Partnerships with Parents
Open House
Consider Student-Led Open house where student presents their work to their parents.
Have students maintain a math portfolio of all their assignments in including projects.
Display student work including posters, physical models, multimedia presentations, etc.
Make sure classroom is neat and organized.
Will have limited one-on-one with parents.
10. Forming Partnerships with Parents
11. Forming Partnerships with Parents
Parent Teacher Conference:
Questions to be asked by Parents
Is my child performing on grade level?
How well is my child performing on tests?
Is my child behaving in class?
Is my child adjusting socially?
What are the most important assignments
coming up in class?
What is the best way for me to communicate
with you?
12. Forming Partnerships with Parents
Parent Teacher Conference:
Information Teachers need from Parents
Any changes in the home that could affect school performance
Any difficulties your child may be experiencing in school
Your childs special medical needs
Your childs after school activities
Your childs hopes and dreams
The best way for the school to communicate with you
13. Forming Partnerships with Parents
Tips when preparing for Parent Conferences:
Post a conferences schedule by the door to help parents be aware of time.
Keep some chairs outside the door so parents have a place to sit outside the door if conferences are running behind.
Put a desk outside the classroom door by the chairs. On the desk we keep copies of the how to help letters and also testing information. It might be a good idea to keep a basket of books underneath the desk to keep the kids entertained while they wait. Bonus points if the books are class made.
14. Forming Partnerships with Parents
Preparing for Conferences(cont):
Keep a large digital clock in view of both yourself and the parents. It is easier to stay on schedule and on time!
When you are conferencing try you best to face the door so you can see if your next appointment arrives.
Keep all my information for each child parent clipped together. This includes required district paper work, a writing sample, individualized reading list and any other important information.
15. Forming Partnerships with Parents
Compliment the child and parent.Praise goes a long way too setting the tone for a conference
Always stand up and greet the parent. Go up to them, not the other way around. If the parent looks open to it, stick out your my hand for a handshake. Some of the parents may not be comfortable at school and it is area effort for them. Make them comfortable.
Always start out with a compliment or a cute anecdote about their child. Regardless of how involved, every parent loves their child and will be appreciative if they know you appreciate their child.
16. Forming Partnerships with Parents
Show Parents the Documentation
Go over your checklist like district benchmark paperwork on reading and writing levels and a writing sample.
Use oral explanations for progress.Have a running record ready, however, most parents tend to glaze over when explained what all the checks mean on a running record.State everything in layman terms.
Keepexamples of the students math work to show the parents.
17. Forming Partnerships with Parents
If you have Academic concerns with a student's progress
If a child is doing math work at below grade level, have an example of work their child is doing and compare it against the work students at grade level are doing so parents can see the difference. This usually floors most parents and is a pretty good way to illustrate your concern without being negative. If done in a correct tone, it can really demonstrate in a caring way your concern.
18. Forming Partnerships with Parents
If you have Attention concerns with a student...
Is attention issues related to students age?
Is the student disruptive in class?
Is the student finishing their in-class work or taking a long time to finish. Time the assignment and document the time it takes a student to finish a problem.
If you do this on a few assignments, this can be a real eye opener.Use a positive tone.Have a caring tone. Try the lineI wonder how successful he can be when he is focused.
Do not insinuate any medical issues like ADD and ADHD.Be careful what you say.You and the school system might be held financially responsible for indicating a child may have medical issues.
19. Forming Partnerships with Parents
20. Forming Partnerships with Parents
If you have Behavioral concerns with a student:
Try to feel out a parent to see why their child can be disruptive sometimes. Give specific examples of behaviors and ask, "Do you notice these behaviors at home?" If they answer yes ask," How do you handle this at home?" Parents need to be a part of this and feel like they are a part of this.
Maybe ask parents what they say to their child and then try to mimic (if it is appropriate, some parents are a little more rough around the edges than I am comfortable being) it when the child does this at school. If the parents answer no, then I usually give them prompts like "Does he have a hard time getting homework done? What makes it a battle? How long does homework take? Does he sit at the table to eat or is he moving around a lot?" This can sometimes give you a good lead in.
21. Forming Partnerships with Parents
Thank the Parents
Always end with a Thank You and a handshake.
Try to walk the parent to the door (like I would a guest in my house). This is a good way to get rid of the very talkative parent.It also allows you to be ready to greet the next family.
22. Forming Partnerships with Parents
Parent Teacher Conference Links
http://www.educationworld.com/tools_templates/index.shtml
http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr291.shtml
http://www.pre-kpages.com/conferences.html
http://www.nea.org/parents/ptconf.html
http://www.nysut.org/newmember/survival_conferences.html
http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/Tips/Parent_Teacher_Conferences/
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Other Forms of Communication
Weekly Folders
Class Websites and Emails
Positive Phone Calls
Parent Surveys childs adjustment to class
CMS Parent Assistance
24. Forming Partnerships with Parents
Video:Parent Teacher Home Visit Project
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7752830435959282528#
25. Forming Partnerships with Parents
Questions
and
Answers
26. Forming Partnerships with Parents
References
http://www.mandygregory.com/Conferences.htm#Forms and Notices
http://www.educationworld.com/tools_templates/index.shtml
Teaching Mathematics for the 21st Century - Methods and Activities for Grades 6-12, Linda Huetinck and Sara N Munshin, 2008 Pearson Education Inc.
http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/p/parent_teacher_conference.asp
http://newteachersupport.suite101.com/article.cfm/communicating_with_parents
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7752830435959282528#
(Google on Parent Teacher Home Visit Project and select video)