Running head: FAMILY TEACHER CONFERENCE PORTFOLIO

Family Teacher Conference Portfolio

Katy DeBroux
Family & Community Relationships
April 30, 2013
Instructor: Julie Baumann

FAMILY TEACHER CONFERENCE PORTFOLIO

Family Teacher Conference Portfolio

Part 1
Tools of the Trade

FAMILY TEACHER CONFERENCE PORTFOLIO

Conference Preparation
Time scheduled
Classroom coverage arranged
Conference room reserved
Portfolio and records completed
Parent preparation handout sent
Parent observation appointment made
Questions completed
Topics Outline completed
Opening Examples

Groundwork For a Successful Conference

1.
2.
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Teacher and parent understanding of the purpose and their roles

Planning for uninterrupted time, agreeable to teacher and parent
A relaxed and private physical environment
Planning of goals and organization of materials

Ten Hints to Facilitate Communication

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Stop talking. You cannot listen if you are talking.

Put the person talking at ease. Help the person feel free to talk.
Indicate your willingness to listennonverbally.
Remove distractions. Do not doodle or fidget.
Empathize with the person talking. See the other persons viewpoint.
Be patient. Allow plenty of time. Do not interrupt.
Hold your temper. You are the professional.
Go easy on argument and criticism, which would make the other clam up.
Ask questions. This shows you are listening and helps develop points.
Stop talking. This is first and last because everything depends on it.

FAMILY TEACHER CONFERENCE PORTFOLIO

Strategies For A Successful Conference

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Teacher taking initiative in putting parents at ease

A positive beginning and ending
Give-and-take in conversation, facilitated by a teachers questions and
reflective listening
A summarizing of areas discussed and action to be taken

4.

Pitfalls To Avoid For A Successful Conference

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6.

Overly technical terminology or jargon

Playing the role of an expert
Negative or destructive evaluations about a childs capabilities
Unprofessional conversation: about others, too personal, or taking sides
Giving adviceeither invited or not
Trying to solve all problems on the spot or trying to force agreement

Tips For Successful Conferences

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Prepare carefully before the conference by considering the individual

childs progress and documentation.
Ensure privacy.
Provide an informal setting.
Be mindful of parents time.
Establish rapport.
Begin on a positive note.
Encourage the parents to talk.
Listen attentively.
Develop an attitude of mutual cooperation.
Delay making suggestions yourself.
Encourage suggestions from the parents.
Summarize points covered.
Make plans together for future actions.
End on a note of continuing cooperation.
Make notes about the conference after the parents leave.

FAMILY TEACHER CONFERENCE PORTFOLIO

Conference Outline
1.

Thanks for trusting me to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for
your child to learn and grow.

2.

Purpose of the Meeting: To share information with each other to help us work
together to meet the needs of your child.

3.

Information Exchange:
*General attitude about school:
*Temperament and personality:
*Favorites:
*Influential friends and family members:
*Behavior and discipline:
*Strengths and weaknesses:
*Examples of child's work.

4.

Questions and concerns:

5.

Goals:

FAMILY TEACHER CONFERENCE PORTFOLIO

Parent/Teacher Conference Letter

Dear Parents,
As the day of our scheduled parent-teacher conference draws near, we need
to collect our thoughts about your child so our time can be put to good use. The
following questionnaire is designed to assist me in covering all areas of concern you may have.
Please take a few minutes to complete and return it to me prior to our
conference.
Thank you.
Child's Name:________________________________________________________________________________
My child's favorite thing about school is:________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
My child's least favorite thing about school is:___________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
My child communicates the following things to me about school:
a. Relationships with children and adults: ______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
b. Favorite activities:_________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
My child's strengths are:_______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
I feel my child needs to develop skills in:________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
I would like to discuss the following:____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

FAMILY TEACHER CONFERENCE PORTFOLIO

Parent Conference Report Form

Name of child: _______________________________________________________________________________
Participants in conference:____________________________________________________________________
Date: ________________________________________________________________________________________
Childs strengths observed in classroom by teacher _____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Childs needs observed in classroom by teacher: _______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Childs strengths observed at home by parent: _________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Childs needs observed at home by parent:_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Suggestions for action at school: _______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Suggestions for action at home:________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Follow-up plan:______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Other:______________________________________________________________________________________
Teachers signature:_________________________________________________________________________
Parents signature:___________________________________________________________________________

FAMILY TEACHER CONFERENCE PORTFOLIO

List of Possible Barriers

To Teacher/Family Relationship

1.

Differences in Backgrounds/Culture

2.

Different Values

3.

Stress for both Teacher and Family

4.

Differences in experience

5.

Discomfort in Communication

6.

Differences in the views of the roles of the school for a child

7.

Parent/Teacher's need to feel valued

8.

Difference in viewing a child's needs

FAMILY TEACHER CONFERENCE PORTFOLIO

Strategies For Conflict

Resolution

1.

Identify the problem, including to agree there is a problem.

2.

Identify options to possible solutions.

3.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each option

4.

Agree on a solution to try first.

5.

Discuss a plan to help implement ideas.

6.

Agree to meet again to evaluate progress.

FAMILY TEACHER CONFERENCE PORTFOLIO

Part 2

The Child's Portfolio

10

FAMILY TEACHER CONFERENCE PORTFOLIO

Overview Sheet

11

FAMILY TEACHER CONFERENCE PORTFOLIO

Artwork

Cole's Ladybug 4/12/13

12

FAMILY TEACHER CONFERENCE PORTFOLIO

Cole's Self Portrait

13

FAMILY TEACHER CONFERENCE PORTFOLIO

Cole's Paper Plate Face 4/10/13

14

FAMILY TEACHER CONFERENCE PORTFOLIO

Cole's Writing Sample

15

FAMILY TEACHER CONFERENCE PORTFOLIO

Picture of Cole and Friends

(Cole is the red-head)

16

FAMILY TEACHER CONFERENCE PORTFOLIO

Scoring Guide Criteria

17

Self-Score

Instructor
Score

PART 1
Page 1-2 of part 1 includes the following items:
1. The Conference Preparation List. Use some or all 10 items and
add more if you feel the need to.

No 0 Yes 1 2

No 0 Yes 1 2

2. The Groundwork For a Successful Conference List.

No 0 Yes 1 2

No 0 Yes 1 2

3. Ten Hints to Facilitate Communication.

No 0 Yes 1 2

No 0 Yes 1 2

4. Strategies for a Successful Conference

No 0 Yes 1 2

No 0 Yes 1 2

5. Pitfalls to Avoid for Successful Conferences

No 0 Yes 1 2

No 0 Yes 1 2

6. Tips for Successful Conferences

No 0 Yes 1 2

No 0 Yes 1 2

Part 1 Page 3 of your portfolio includes an outline to follow during a family

teacher conference.

Part 1 Page 4 of the Portfolio includes Parent Teacher Conference Letter

as indicated on page 268 in text. Type out and make your own letter in a
Word document.

Part 1 Page 5 of the Portfolio includes a Parent/Family Conference Report

Form as indicated on page 286.

Part 1 Page 6 of the Portfolio includes list of possible barriers to teacherfamily relationship. (Through readings)

Part 1 Page 6 of the Portfolio includes strategies to implement for possible

conflict resolution.

Each item has a heading with a title so it is easy to know what the item is.
For example:

Conference Preparation List

Each item included in Part 1 is in a separate folder labeled Teacher/Family
Conference Preparation.

No 0 Yes 1 2

No 0 Yes 1 2

PART 2
Portfolio includes an Overview Sheet attached to this learning plan
section.

Portfolio includes four anecdotal records. (Can be included on above

document)

Portfolio includes two pieces of child's artwork, preferably a self portrait

drawn by the child, labeled with the date and childs name. One other
drawing or writing sample from the child with the childs name and date.

Each item in the childs portfolio is dated with the childs name.

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Portfolio includes a photo of the child preferably playing in their favorite

area or doing something enjoyable.

Portfolio applies standard rules of language structure including

grammar, spelling and punctuation.

Work is professionally presented, neat, clean, well organized and

complete.

Scoring guide and self-assessment is included with submission of

assessment. (Copy and paste this scoring guide or save it and
type in this document. Highlight, bold, or type in the number you
think you have earned in the next column).

No 0 Yes 1 2

No 0 Yes 1 2

Assessment was submitted on time. Additional points may be

deducted for late work as indicated in the syllabus.

No 0 Yes 1 2

No 0 Yes 1 2

Total Points and Comments if necessary:

____65____/70

________/70