Building Strong Partnerships: Making the Most of Parent-Caregiver Conferences

Leaves are changing, and the air has a bite to it, which can only mean one thing — the season of teacher-caregiver conferences is upon us. Last week, high schools and middle schools hosted their fall conferences; this Thursday, the remainder of our schools will.

At this point in the school year, caregivers and teachers are beginning to form a strong sense of what’s going well and where extra collaboration is needed. It’s time to start addressing academic, behavioral, or well-being concerns as a team to ensure a successful year.

For older students, this means cultivating a strong relationship even as students get more independent. And for younger students, it’s about building a strong foundation for all future years. Kayla Diallo, the Kindergarten grade-level chair at Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary School, sees the school-home relationship and the first caregiver conference as the cornerstone of everything that’s to come in RPS. Successful kindergarteners, as she says, become successful graduates.

“Having strong relationships with parents leads to you having strong relationships with students,” she explains. “If the students know you, if the parents know you, everyone sees themselves as part of the same team. That builds a trust for future years.” As she’s working with many parents at the start of their own school journeys, she makes sure to point them to the resources available to them, including her favorite: the interpretation hotline, which helps answer any questions regardless of a family’s home language.  

For any parent new to a school or considering participating in conferences for the first time, she encourages them to do so, and bring all their questions with them. “A lot of my conferences are just listening. I let parents talk if they’re nervous or have any concerns. If they have a question I can’t answer, I follow up with someone else in the school — they’ll get an answer.”

In addition to Ms. Diallo’s guidance, experienced teachers across RPS shared the below tips, as well.

Be prepared!

• Justin Baber at Richmond Virtual Academy advises speaking with your scholar ahead of time to see what they’re learning, what they’re struggling with, and what they’re enjoying.

• Marquette Turner at Henry L. Marsh III Elementary adds that it’s all about the academics, so be prepared to discuss what your academic goals are for your child.

Be engaged!

• This is your time to check for understanding about what’s happening in class. Noah White at Richmond Virtual Academy advises that this is the time to understand how the class flows and what is expected on a daily basis.

• Ask many questions. Patricia Kent at Huguenot High School uses the following to guide her conferences:

  • 1. How is my child performing in each subject compared to grade-level expectations?

  • 2. What are my child’s strengths academically?

  • 3. Are there specific areas where my child struggles?

  • 4. How do you assess my child’s progress in reading, writing, and math?

  • 5. What skills or topics will be focused on for the remainder of the year?

  • 6. Are there any noticeable trends in my child’s grades over time?

  • 7. How does my child’s classwork and test performance compare to homework performance?

  • 8. What resources or strategies do you suggest for us to work on at home?

  • 9. How often are grades updated, and how can I best stay informed about progress?

  • 10. Are there any upcoming assessments or projects that might impact their grades?

  • 11. What types of assignments or activities seem to be the most challenging for my child?

  • 12. How is my child’s participation and engagement during lessons?

  • 13. Are there any tutoring resources or support programs offered by the school?

  • 14. Is there a way to communicate regularly if I have questions about grades throughout the year?

• Listen for growth. John Marshall High School’s Elijah Freemanemphasizes that teachers should be sharing the positives as well as the opportunities, so use this time to see where the teacher sees your scholar shining.

• Understand that school looks different now. Particularly with technology and social media, distractions and engagement can look very different than when parents and caregivers were in school. This is your time to understand new policies around student safety and engagement, such as our shift to cell phone-free environments, Mr. Freeman advises.

Be partners!

• Every teacher surveyed emphasized that this is just one part of the home-school relationship. Tia Carver at Boushall Middle Schoolsuggests that the conference is the time to come up with a clear progress plan for your student. To do that, be sure to ask about additional resources or support, such as tutoring, after-school programs, or behavioral support, if needed.

• Expect follow-up communications, and ask for it if need be: Dr.Milondra Coleman at John Marshall stresses that teachers are available not just at conferences but through phone, text, and email, and may have their own social media or newsletters to keep an eye out for.