The Preschool Parent-Teacher Conference Checklist for Teachers

Send a personal letter or note to each parent to confirm the day, time, and place of the conference or have a parent sign up in class

Inform parents ahead of time about the purpose of the conference. Make sure they have a few weeks to review child's school assessment

Gather file folders, portfolios, journals of each student's work and make sure child has some type of artwork displayed in the classroom for parents to view

Be sure your schedule is coordinated with other teachers in the school. Many parents will have more than one child in school and need sufficient time with each teacher

Review child's assessment or notes regarding student's behavior, academic progress, and interactions with peers.

Establish no more than two or three concerns or issues. Buffer with a positive statements in between

Clarify ahead of time who, exactly, will be attending each conference.

Invite parents to bring a list of questions, issues, or concerns

Establish a waiting area outside your classroom for confidentiality reasons

Find a comfortable area to meet with parents, not behind a teacher's desk

Greet parents in a positive manner with a smile and a handshake

Provide parents with specific academic information

Invite and obtain additional information from parents

Listen carefully to parents. If you're nervous, you will tend to “take over” the conversation—by as much as 90 percent. Try for a 50-50 balance

When talking to parents, always remember: show, don't tell. Provide specific examples of a student's work or behavior rather than labels or adjectives

Combine your perceptions and their observations into a workable plan of action. Ask for parent ideas, and use those ideas in addressing challenging situation

Let parents know that you are always available for follow-up (phone calls, personal meetings, etc.)

Save a few minutes after each conference to jot down a couple notes

Plan for some “decompression time” between conferences. You need time to gather your thoughts, regroup, and get ready for the next conference