Family Connection

1. F.A.S.T. Conference Overview (Family And School Team)
2. What to Expect
3. What to Ask
4. Parent Tips- LINKS to various resources
5. Title 1 Handouts
6. Sign in & Evaluation

*please make sure to click the link here or at the end of the newsletter to sign in! I value your input!

Sometimes that phrase makes you want to shudder: "What should I ask? Is my child progressing well? How do I know what to do, I am not a teacher." These questions, along with many more, are sure to go through every parents mind when it is conference time. I am here to say IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THAT WAY! Parent Teacher conferences are a great way to build a partnership to help your child succeed in school. In this guide, I hope to give you some tips to have a thorough and productive conference with your child's teacher. And, hopefully help you to not shudder the next time you hear the phrase "Parent Teacher Conference!"

Kids do better in school when parents get involved! Attending parent–teacher conferences is one way to be involved and help your child succeed.

A parent–teacher conference is a great opportunity to:

• discuss your child's progress
• share your child's strengths and needs
• partner with the teacher to help your child do well in school

Parent–teacher conferences are part of our FAST model and will be scheduled 1-2 times per year. They are brief meetings, lasting about 10–15 minutes each. The conference will focus on academics, although behavior and social concerns can be discussed. The teacher will review your child's progress, including their strengths and areas in need of improvement. The teacher will also provide resources for you use at home to help your child succeed.

Whether it's your first conversation with the teacher, or one of many, it will help if you go prepared. Know ahead of time what you want to discuss. Even if you know all is well, attending conferences shows your kids that you're interested in how they do in school, so make it a point to schedule a time with your teacher! In my opinion, face to face conferences are the best.

Here are some helpful tips as you prepare:

Before the conference:

• ask your child about how they feel they are doing in class and with classwork . Review classwork, report cards, or progress reports.

• plan to take notes during the meeting
• Write down questions or topics you'd like the conference to cover.
  

During the conference:

Teachers usually meet with parents in back-to-back meetings, so be on time for your meeting!

• Ask to see classwork and homework samples, tests, and MAP benchmark data.
• Ask the example questions below and share information about your child.
• Make the most of this time by focusing on your child's learning.
• Be a good listener and do not be afraid to ask for clarification of anything you do not understand.

After the conference:

• Review your notes about what you and the teacher will do to support learning, then make plans about how and when you will help your child at home.
• Check in with the teacher to follow up on your child's progress.
• Implement any at-home activities or vist any learning sites the teacher suggests.
• Review what was discussed at the conference with your child, including any special learning plans, and share the positive comments the teacher made!

Here are some example questions to ask to get the most out of your conference:

Academic Questions:

• Does my child need extra help in any specific area?
• How is my child doing in comparison to grade level expectations?
• What will my child be working on to continue to grow towards mastering the grade level standards?
• How do you measure my child's learning in your classroom?
• When will my child's progress be measured again, and when can I get an update on their growth?

How Can I Help Questions:

• What strategies do you use in the classroom that I can reinforce at home?
• How can I help my child's growth from home?
• What can I do to help support you in the classroom?
• Where can I access resources to help my child at home?

Emotional/Social Questions:

• Is my child generally happy?
• Are there certain times of the day when my child seems stressed or agitated?
  
• Does my child interact with other children well?
• Does my child participate in class discussions?
• Is he/she listening and following directions well?

Come check out the Family Resource Room at RES! It is located in room 203 and is loaded with books, pamphlets, take home activities, and online resources to help you with issues like education, behavior, parenting, and much more!

The Parent Institute Resource Library

KidsHealth.org

Care.com

Title 1 Family Engagement

Email: ccooper.res@catoosa.k12.ga.us
Website: res.catoosa.k12.ga.us/title_i/what_is_title_i
Location: Family Resource Room 203
Phone: 706-935-2912