Comet Times
L.O. Donald Staff Newsletter
Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences
Make it a two-way conversation.
The parent–teacher conference is not only an opportunity for parents to learn from you, but for you to learn from them. Nobody knows your students better than their families. Their insights into their child’s learning style, strengths, and needs can help you improve your instructional methods. While your efforts to better understand their aspirations and perspectives make parents feel respected and build trust.
Emphasis on learning.
You can make the most of parent–teacher conferences by “linking them to learning” through a discussion of strategies to support student learning. You can arm parents with knowledge and suggestions for how to help their children learn.
Opportunities and challenges.
We all need praise and constructive criticism to grow. All parents are proud of their children and need to hear about their strengths as well as their challenges from you. This helps show parents that you value the unique strengths of their children and have high expectations for their ability to succeed in school and in life.
Before the Conference
- Review student work - Be prepared to go over student data, assignments, and assessments during the conferences. Think of what more you would like to learn about your students from their parents.
- Prepare thoughts and materials - Create an agenda or list of key issues you want to discuss about each student’s progress and growth. Also consider creating a portfolio of student work to walk through with families during the conferences.
- Create a welcoming environment - Make your classroom comfortable for families by displaying student work, arranging seating in circles (with adult chairs, if possible), and making a private space for the conferences.
During the Conference
- Discuss progress and growth - Starting with the positive, let families know about their child’s ability level in different subjects and in relationship to his or her peers. Help families understand student data to demonstrate progress against learning goals and to identify areas that need to be addressed.
- Use examples - Walk parents through the assignments and assessments that are particularly demonstrative of the student’s progress and abilities.
- Seek solutions collaboratively - Avoid judgments about what “they” should do and instead emphasize how “we” can work together to resolve any problems.
- Make an action plan - Spend the last few minutes discussing how you and the family will support the student. Be specific about the kinds of things you will do, for how long you will do them, and how you will check in with one another about progress.
- Communicate regularly - Communicate on an ongoing basis with families, with positive news as well as updates on student progress and challenges. Also let families know about other opportunities for them to be involved.
Share your joy and enthusiasm for learning with your students' parents. It's a GREAT year at L.O. Donald!
~ Kathryn
WEEK-AT-A-GLANCE
Monday, October 12, 2015
- 8:00-4:00 Book Fair
- 3:15-4:30 PD: Reasoning Minds in the lab - Math teachers
- 3:15-4:30 PD: Expository Writing in the PLC room - RLA teachers
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
- Welcome our Principal-for-a-Day, Sherna Armstrong
- 8:00-4:00 Book Fair
- 12:00-1:00 Leadership Team Meeting in PLC room - J. Johnson, H. Williams, N. Hagler, V. Davis, K. Carter
- 1:00-1:50 SP ED PLC - M. Cavazos, A. McMillian, E. Tolleson, N. Hagler, V. Davis, K. Carter
- 3:30-5:00 Dallas Chamber of Commerce PFAD Reception - K. Carter & S. Armstrong
- 3:30-5:00 Math Stations in Action Training @ Stemmons ES - All Math Teachers
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
- 8:00-4:00 Book Fair
- 1:00-4:00 Focus School Planning Session w/ Region 10 - K. Carter & V. Davis
- 2:30-4:30 Elementary Inclusion Review 360 Training in room 120 - M. Cavazos
- 3:15-4:30 After-School Tutoring
- 3:15-4:30 Musical Comets - Marshall
Thursday, October 15, 2015
- BRIGHTER BITES
- 8:00-8:00 Book Fair
- 8:15-9:30 Parent Meeting - Fall Festival Planning
- 8:50-9:40 PLC Lesson Plan Feedback - 2nd grade
- 9:45-10:35 PLC Lesson Plan Feedback - Kindergarten
- 10:40-11:30 PLC Lesson Plan Feedback - 1st grade
- 12:05-12:55 PLC Lesson Plan Feedback - 3rd grade
- 1:00-1:50 PLC Lesson Plan Feedback - 4th grade
- 1:55-2:45 PLC Lesson Plan Feedback - 5th grade
- 3:15-4:00 Teacher Dinner (pick up your meal in the cafeteria)
- 4:00-8:00 Elementary Parent-Teacher Conferences
Friday, October 9, 2015
- 8:30-9:30 Cookies with the Principal in the Parent Center - K. Carter & S. Ortiz
UPCOMING EVENTS
- 10/19 - No School for Students - Staff Development Day
- 10/21 - Districtwide Principals' Meeting
- 10/22 - Brighter Bites
- 10/22 - 5th grade field trip - Dallas Symphony Center
- 10/22 - 4th grade PTO Meeting
L.O. Donald 2015-16 Goals
- 80% of students will meet the passing standard on STAAR reading/math in grades 3-5.
- 70% of students will meet the passing standard on STAAR writing in grade 4.
- 85% of students will meet the passing standard on STAAR science in grade 5.
- 80% of students will perform on or above grade level on the Iowa/Logramos K-2
L.O. Donald Elementary
Email: kacarter@dallasisd.org
Website: www.dallasisd.org/donald
Location: 1218 Phinney Avenue, Dallas, TX 75211
Phone: 972-794-5300