Parent Teacher Conference Mindset

After attending parent teacher conferences at both a Jr. high and elementary setting, it was heartbreaking to see the shift in mindset.  A student goes to their elementary conferences with their head held high as they skip through the front doors ready to show off what they have accomplished to their parent/guardian.  Fast forward a few years and the student comes into the secondary school with their head down while they follow their parent/guardian, who holds a look of disappointment and anger, from class to class.  I was saddened to think that at some point during this difficult transition time in our student's lives we go from being positive, motivating educators to negative and impersonal.  

The elementary school where I was interning was creating an amazing experience for the parents as well as the students who came to conferences.  While teachers, parents, and students discussed the student's challenges, it was done in a manner that the parents understood the concerns but were also shown positive contributions their student had in the class.  The teachers had students as young as 3rd grade creating their own PowerPoint that they would then stand up and present to their parents just as a teacher.  Each PowerPoint would have scores, sample work, and then on the last slide the student would state the goals that they had made for themselves.  I was so impressed that teachers took the time to teach these young students technology skills that they would use for the rest of their lives.  Teachers were also building their confidence when they had the students present their slide show.  It was very powerful for them to create their own goals and explain to their parent/guardian why they chose that goal.  

Unfortunately when these students reach secondary school we tend to go away from the uplifting and supportive model and turn to lecture as a means for communication.  Students walk into the classroom with their parent/guardian with their head down, ready for the reason their parents will be upset with them as soon as they leave.  I am concerned that students are not reminded of all of the great things they offer the class.  Feedback on such things as attendance, missing work, and behavior, is a piece of the the pie that parents should be eating at conferences but they are all to often missing the most delicious part that makes one come back for more, the positive attributes the student offers.

Perhaps if we can make secondary parent teacher conferences an uplifting experience we would get the attendance of an elementary conference.  The atmosphere at parent teacher conferences contributes to the way the parents feel about the school.  It is important to a school's climate and parental involvement to make every experience at the school as positive as possible.  I am left asking myself, what is the purpose and goal of parent teacher conference and are we accomplishing it?

Nichole