How To Keep To Schedule On Parent-Teacher Nights
ByWhile we deal every day with children, their parents are also our ‘clients’. We shouldn’t forget that they may receive a curiously filtered view of our school and our teaching. It is up to us to make sure that parents know what’s going on — and hear our point of view.
I always seem to overrun at parents evenings. How can I give everyone a fair hearing and keep to schedule?
Description
Parents’ consultations (not necessarily in the evening) need a series of time slots.
It’s up to you to ensure that you give adequate time to each set of parents, allowing for any problems the child may have, how frequently you see the parents and whether the parents of the child are coming together or separately.
Cause
Parents naturally like to discuss their child at length, while teachers naturally want to make use of limited time and to be fair to all parents. The solution lies in the time allocation.
If you are a secondary-school teacher teaching 100 pupils in a year group, you should be able to deter parents from coming and to some extent select the parents you need to see. Make this clear to pupils well in advance.
If you are a primary teacher most parents will want to see you – indeed any who don’t show interest may be the most important ones to contact.
Action
The time slots will normally be agreed by the school, with a beginning and end time and each slot long enough to give time to each child. No time is ever long enough for some parents, so be firm though courteous and work within your 5-15 minute slot.
If, from experience, you find that you consistently overrun or need a breathing space, build in buffers to your time slots.
If you intend to show pupils’ work have it methodically laid out in order beforehand. Use it to make a definite educational point rather than simply as window dressing (though that can be worthwhile too).
Priorities
Be courteous and efficient. Don’t use being warm and friendly as an excuse for dragging out the time.
Deal with important concerns.
Demonstrate that you know the child and that you care. Developing a good relationship with parents takes time but you may only have minutes.
Alternatives
If it is clear there are too many parents to see in the time available, contact parents explaining why it isn’t possible to see everyone. Say you will invite those whose children you are concerned about and suggest to others that where there are real concerns you will speak with them on the phone.
Real concerns need not wait for a formal parents evening and should be dealt with quickly. This is also true of concerns which emerge as a result of the consultation. Note these and act on them.
Avoid
Spending too long with verbose parents at the expense of parents who have real concerns.
Sighing with relief that it’s over and ignoring the real concerns which emerge from the meet
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