Whether you are discussing student behaviors, work habits, or academic progress, make sure you have student work samples and assessment data to back it up! You might even grab a copy of the previous report card just in case.
One of the best pieces of advice I was ever given was to start and end with a positive. Families need to know that you care about their child and see them in a positive light.
Everyone’s time is valuable! Keep a checklist of all of the items you need to discuss during each conference and use this checklist to keep yourself on track. Save time at the end for questions or concerns. If a family shows up late or there are more concerns than you originally thought, offer to schedule another conference on a different day. If you let one conference run over, it will have a domino effect on the rest of your day!
Happy Teaching!

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