1. Working with Parents

2. Parents and guardians are the most important
and influential adults in students’ lives.

3.  Early Contact
◦ Familiarize parents with:
 Instructional goals (academics)
 Classroom Methods (behavioral expectations)
◦ When the home and school communicate effectively there is
a positive impact on behavior and achievement
 Obtaining Parental Support
◦ Introductory Letter (See example page 141)
◦ Introductory Phone Calls
◦ Home Visits
◦ The Initial Meeting (Open House – Outline page 144)
◦ Follow-up (Involve parents within a week or two, contact parents
who did not attend)
◦ Continuing Teacher-Parent Communication
 Weekly Planner (Example page 149)
 Friday Envelopes (Work from the week)
 Newsletters
 Progress Reports
 Additional Methods (e.g., email, teacher’s web site, Twitter,
informal letters, positive notes home, phone calls,
extracurricular activities, classroom volunteers)

4.  Preparing for a Conference
◦ Preparing Students
 Discuss the goals of the conference
 Provide students with an opportunity to evaluate their
work (clarification – See page 153-154)
◦ Preparing Parents
 Have prior contact
 Send a reminder notice
◦ Teacher Preparation
 Prepare the students and parents (See above)
 Acquire and clearly organize important information
about the student (See pages 156 – 157)
 Create a comfortable, relaxed environment (page 155)

5.  Conducting an Effective Conference
◦ Suggestions for an Effective Conference*
 Warmly greet parents
 Share positive qualities relative to the student
 Have the parent read the student’s self-evaluation
report card
 Discuss the actual report card, beginning with the
positive
 Focus on the student’s behavior and peer relationships
 Encourage parents to ask questions and make
suggestions
 Summarize the student’s academic and behavioral
strengths and goals (See pages 160-161)

6.  Conducting an Effective Conference
Student Led Conferences
◦ Student shares and analyzes (i.e., strengths,
weaknesses) his work
◦ Student, parents and teacher develop a plan for
improvement (i.e., goals)

7. ◦ Meet in a physically safe setting
◦ Establish a positive climate
◦ Use active listening to defuse emotions
◦ Look genuinely interested
◦ Present a calm, professional manner
◦ Establish the goal of the meeting
◦ Set a time limit, if necessary.
◦ Ask the parent if the student is aware of the problem.
◦ Be honest
◦ Emphasize specific information
◦ Tell the parent what you plan to do to deal with the
problem

8. Chapter 5 Assignment: Parent Communication Chart
Develop an organizational chart for working with parents. For each
topic, write at least one activity that can be utilized to accomplish
your goals in the area.
Beginning Open Learning in Continual Learning Culmination
the Year House School Communication at Home

9. Jones, V. and Jones, L. (2010). Comprehensive
Classroom Management (Ninth Edition).
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall,
Inc. (ISBN:9780205625482).