Growing up in the classroom, I learned to always put guest’s needs above my own. I consider parents — as well as anyone in our classroom who doesn’t use the space on a daily basis — as guests and I work hard to make them feel welcome during conference
Body of Student Work:
Having the child’s portfolio available is a great tool, but I also keep other artifacts out to highlight the creative work the child does. Our students publish work digitally, so I often have our iPad close by so that I can pull up a piece of work that the child was working on either independently or with a friend.
Parent Letters:
Children love coming in the day after conferences and seeing notes their parents left for them. I leave a variety of stationery and cards out on the table along with colorful markers and stickers. I invite parents to write a note to their child that I will place on their desk the following morning. Their faces light up seeing their special letters from their loved ones.
Setting the Table:
When setting up the display table in the hall, I add fresh flowers or a plant from my classroom. I include a digital picture frame sharing photos of the children on an automatic loop that repeats. Keeping this table organized allows parents to easily find and use the information the way you intended.
Interactive Bulletin Boards:
I wanted the parents to have an interactive activity to do while waiting. This was certainly a hit! The children were so inspired to develop a creative story to go along with their character. This made for a lively and beautiful display outside of our room.
Bottles of Water:
Because everyone tends to talk a lot at conferences, I have a mini bottle of water set out for each parent.
Peppermints:
I keep a small basket of mints on the table for parents. At first, I just thought it was a nice gesture that seemed like a good idea.
Notepads:
I learned quickly to have paper available for note taking. Of course, I always kept paper available for my own use, but I never thought to have it out for parents.
When parents feel welcomed, they are more at ease. So, I always go the extra step to show them how much we appreciate their support in the classroom. Conferences are one opportunity to connect and strengthen that partnership.
