Abby Wright

Mock Parents Teacher Conference

Spring 2016

Agenda: Ms. Rave Parent Conference Meeting (May 5th, 2016 @ 9:15)
1. Pick up Ms. Raven/Introduce self
o Positive: Jays curiosity, success in science
2. Set goal for todays meeting
o My goal for this meeting is to find ways to improve Jays behavior at school and help
him have a better second term.
3. Let Ms. Raven know that Jays behavior has become an issue.
o He has become disruptive in class.
o Becoming aggressive, even physical with his classmates
Punched/kicked classmates for no apparent reasons.
4. Explain to Ms. Raven how Jays behavior has been affecting his school work.
o He seems to be avoiding his work and completing assignments.
o He blurts out during class and has problems following directions.
o He becomes frustrated very easily when he is not understanding a new concept.
o He does even worse when he is put in a group to work on an assignment.
o Seems to be uninterested, disengaged
5. Explain to Ms. Raven how Jays behavior has been affecting his relationships.
o
o
o
o

Jay seems to have a very hard time expressing his feelings.

He gets physical with students, punches & kicks
He tries to bully other students, which usually results in him getting bullied
Talk about how Jay believes he has no friends (writing assignment), and is becoming
increasingly isolated from his classmates

6. Ask Ms. Raven for her opinion

What do you think is causing Jays behavior at school?
Do you notice any changes at home?
Can you tell me about how Jay is at home? Does he sleep well at night?
What do you think I can do to help Jay have a better second term?
What do you think is something that would be possible for you to do at home with
Jay?
o What are your goals for Jay?
o
o
o
o
o

7. Talk about plans for the future/Resources

o Ive tried rewards, but Im thinking of a better system.
o Positive Reinforcement
8. Conclude the conference

o Let Ms. Raven know your goal has Jays best interest in mind.
o Let Ms. Raven know that you need her help
o I have other time commitments, but if you feel like youd like to talk about Jay some
more. We can set another conference time. We can even try to do a phone conference,
if that would work better for you.

My Plan for Jay:

What I would like to do is sit down with Jay and have a conversation with him about his
behavior. If you would like to be there, I would love to have your support! I have tried the
rewards/punishment technique, but I want to take it a step deeper. I want to create a type
of contract with Jay. This is a contract that both you, me, and Jay would work together to
create. Each day Jay would be given this chart to monitor how hes doing! If he has a
good day, he will earn a punch on his card! Once he earns a certain amount of punches,
hell get a bigger reward that I think he will enjoy more! If he has a bad day, there will be
certain consequences that you and I can set up through the contract. I think that this well
help keep Jay accountable.

Emails:

Reflection:

Parent teacher communication is a key component to a students academic success. I

believe that it is the teachers job to reach out to parents and involve them in their childs
educational experiences. Parents should be aware of what is going on in the classroom. Teachers
need the parents support, particularly when a problem arises. In this case, the teacher was unable
to explain the students behavior and falling grades. The parent was able to provide insight that
the teacher might not have had otherwise. Communication can make the year more enjoyable
and smooth for all those involved.
The process of conducting a parent-teacher conference was quite tedious. Before the
conference I spent time going over the students records, anecdotal notes, work samples, and
other provided documents. I choose one single issue to focus on, behavior. Then, I did research
on the practices for handling student behavior in the classroom. I gathered resources that would
help me deal with the issue and provide support for the students mother. During the conference I
made sure to start on a positive note. I feel that it is important to let the parent know that you
have the childs best interest at heart. Many times, teachers may come off like they are attacking
the child and the parent. I wanted Ms. Raven to feel comfortable. After the introduction, I
stated the goal of the conference. I wanted to let the parent know that I was focused and ready to
solve the situation. Before suggesting anything, I asked the parent to provide me with her
opinion of why the student was acting out. At first she was hesitant, but through questioning I
was able to get this issue out of her. Once I knew the situation, I was able to provide the parent
with the resources I had gathered. I let her have options between the resources. I involved her in
the decisions that would be made for the student. Even though I let her decide what would be

best for Jay, I was still in control because I was the one providing the options and making
suggestions. I let the parent know that I had the students best interest at heart and was looking
forward to correcting the problems. If I could go back and redo the conference I would have
provided more resources for the parent to use at home. I was uncomfortable suggesting too
much, because it was such sensitive subject. I was worried about offending the parent and her
parenting styles. I would also make sure to set up a follow up conference with the parent. I think
that most of the feedback that I received was very positive. She said that I handled the situation
very well. She did give me some great tips for any future conferences that I may have. I will be
sure to use these during my career. Overall, the experience was very helpful. I believe that this
assignment will be one that better prepares me for my first year of teaching.

Feedback Form:

Resources:

Subject
Morning Routine

Whole Group

Centers

Writing

Calendar

Behavior

Notes

Lunch

Math

Related Arts

Recess

Dismissal

Other
(restroom,
hallway)

My Contract:

Name:
Date:

These are my goals:

1.

2.

3.

These are my consequences if I dont meet my goals:

These are my rewards if I meet my goals:

My contract will be reviewed on______________________________

Signatures: