Text/Little Creek School
This is a true story, not fiction. Here's what happened: we had a new math teacher in the same grade level. She came for half a semester, and after the midterm exams, she started to have a parent-teacher conference.
At the parent-teacher meeting, the head teacher who worked with her asked her to also come to the stage to communicate with the parents after she finished speaking. At first, he spoke very well. However, when it came time to talk about how to teach students math, she was a little stuck.
A parent sitting below was very excited, and stood up directly to the podium, and while writing on the blackboard with chalk, he said: "Teacher, let me tell you that mathematics is taught in this way, for example, when talking about the area formula of a rectangle, you can use this method...... In addition to that, you can also use that method. ”
The other parents sitting in the classroom were silent, watching the parent demonstrate on the stage, regardless of whether the parent spoke or the teacher said.
She didn't expect this kind of thing, she was a little caught off guard, and she was very embarrassed, so she could only wait for the parent to finish speaking, and said: "This parent said so well! The teacher remembered it," and then left the classroom in a gloomy manner, and their homeroom teacher finished it.
When the teachers returned to the office, there was a lot of discussion. Some teachers think that this parent is bullying the new teacher, relying on their own skills, in front of so many parents, mercilessly, pointing fingers at the teacher.
There are also teachers who believe that every parent has the right to speak in a parent-teacher conference, and parents can talk as they want, and there is no big deal.
In fact, the math teacher felt that he was ugly and in a bad mood.
So as a new teacher, what should we do when we encounter a parent-teacher conference?
New teachers do need to do these 4 things when holding parent-teacher conferences to ensure that parent-teacher conferences run smoothly and effectively.
1. Be prepared
Before the parent-teacher conference, the new teacher should have an in-depth understanding of each student's situation, including each student's learning progress, interests, personality characteristics, etc.
New teachers prepare relevant materials and materials, such as students' homework, test scores, class performance, etc., to share with parents at parent-teacher conferences.
It is necessary for new teachers to make a list of topics and points to be discussed, and to ensure that the content of the parent-teacher conference is substantial and targeted.
New teachers should also anticipate possible questions and parents' concerns, and think ahead about how to answer and explain.
Once, I had to rush back to school overnight without any preparation, and I had a parent-teacher meeting on one of the days, and the deputy class teacher also had a leave of absence. As you can imagine, that parent-teacher meeting was just a formality and had no effect.
2. Caution dressing
Parent-teacher conferences are important occasions and new teachers should dress formally, neatly, and with a professional and respectful image.
When choosing a dress code, new teachers should avoid clothing that is too casual or too fancy so as not to give parents an unprofessional impression.
Choose appropriate attire according to the school's rules and culture and make sure you dress appropriately with the school's image.
Pay attention to details, such as keeping your clothes clean and tidy to avoid damage or stains.
I've seen some teachers wear miniskirts at parent-teacher conferences, and there are also shawls with long nail stickers, which is really a bit out of image.
If necessary, the new teacher will wear the clothes that he or she wore during the interview, or deliberately wear a new one to make himself look decent.
3. Calm tone
When communicating with parents, new teachers should maintain a calm, friendly tone and avoid being too strict or cold.
Respect parents' opinions and perspectives and listen carefully to their ideas and concerns.
Give positive responses and answers to parents' questions and feedback, showing patience and attention.
When necessary, you can put forward your own suggestions and opinions in a gentle tone to promote good communication between parents and students.
This is very important, do not have conflicts with parents at the parent-teacher conference, and form conflicts.
Really, once something happens, seeing that you can't handle it, you can't hold it down, don't be afraid, don't panic, you immediately call the head of the grade group, or the director of the teaching office to help.
4. Arrange your time reasonably
Indeed, the duration of the parent-teacher conference should not be too long, and it is usually recommended to limit it to one and a half hours. Too long a parent can make parents feel tired and bored, reducing engagement and communication.
When preparing for parent-teacher conferences, teachers should keep their agenda down and discuss only the most important and urgent matters. Avoid putting some minor or trivial issues on the agenda so as not to waste everyone's time.
At the end of the parent-teacher conference, teachers can set aside a period for parents to ask questions and share their opinions. This time should be kept within a certain range to ensure that the parent-teacher conference can be completed on time.
Teachers may also consider ending the meeting early if the parent-teacher conference is going well and the agenda is completed early. This allows parents to leave earlier and reduces their waiting time.
All the parents who have a parent-teacher conference want to solve the problem quickly, and sit in the same classroom with a group of strange parents for an hour or two, isn't it a kind of torment?
So, let's think about it from another perspective, don't talk nonsense, streamline the meeting, end early, parents are happy, and you are happy!
epilogue
There is a first time for everything, and the first time a new teacher may be nervous or overwhelmed, but over time, a new teacher who can listen to the advice of others will be able to do a variety of jobs.
I am a teacher at Little Creek School, and I will continue to share more interesting content in the future, welcome everyone to like and follow!