I was a good student growing up and the only reason I didn't outright refuse to go to parent-teacher conferences with my mother was that I knew I would get some serious props from my elders on that night! It was also a chance for my mom to see my classrooms, meet my teachers, and embarrass me in front of my peers.
At Mountain Ridge Junior High we don't do parent-teacher conferences, we do "student-led conferences". Like the change of name is really going to change the frame of mind of parents coming to this thing, right? Anyway, once each semester students put together a portfolio to show their parents when they come to this special night. Students gather a grade printout from each of their 8 teachers, an assignment from each of their teachers, and fill out some paper work which deals with their goals and gratitude to their parents. They use class time to do this the week of the conferences, and their parents set up a time to attend the conference between 3:00 and 9:00pm. When students and parents come students are to take their parents to a designated classroom and show them their portfolio. They can then visit all the teachers they want.
Here are my thoughts. Now, with the available technology, parents can and should be checking their students grades online with programs like powerschool, which our school uses. Parents can be in tune with what their students are doing through using teacher websites. Parents can communicate with teachers easily and conveniently through email. And what will ultimately become of the student portfolio...it will go in the trash, of course.
Why do we persist in such an archaic practice? In a way, by holding these conferences, aren't we communicating to parents that it is okay that they only have contact with their child's education only once a semester? Instead of these conferences, why don't we have a night where parents can come to the school to meet the teacher if we need an organized parent-teacher activity. On this night teachers can teach parents about the technology that is available to them to check on their students learning.
Out with the old and in with the new!
Totally agree, except for one thing. The "learn how to keep up with your child's grade" night should be done either before school starts, or at the very least within the first two weeks. With online gradebooks, teacher websites, and email, there is no reason for parents to not know how their child is at all times. The old "I had no idea he was failing" excuse doesn't cut it anymore. No internet at home? That's what the public library is for.
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