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5 Must Knows for Successful Parent Teacher Conferences

Is it just me or do when you see parent teacher conferences scheduled on the calendar your stomach drops a little bit? They can be a really overwhelming and stressful time of the year. Let’s face it, between working 12 hour days, prepping for 25+ individual conferences, and talking nonstop for 20 minutes back to back to back on those days, it’s A LOT. But don’t worry! I’m here to make this time of the year less stressful and more fun. So sit back and get ready for 5 easy tips that will help make conferences a BREEZE for you, while also giving your families a memorable experience. 

5 must knows for successful parent teacher conferences

Prep ALL the Things

When I say all the things, I mean ALL the things. Make sure you have everything printed, copied, organized, and in order so when parents come in, you know exactly what you want to discuss and cover during your time together. Some things to think about having prepped are forms you’ve previously filled out with things their child is doing well in academically, behaviorally, and socially, data to share from classroom and district assessments, goal setting sheets, and some student work to show off. Other things that help parents feel more connected to their learning process are handouts on how to help support learning at home, things we’re working on in class, upcoming events and skills we’ll encounter in the future few weeks, and book lists with fun reading ideas to encourage families to read as much as possible.  

I like to use a folder for each student to organize all of their important documents to share with families. I also like to send home THESE forms in advance to give families space for things THEY want to discuss in the conference. It’s a lot of prep up front but makes the actual conference much easier because we are all on the same page and they feel valued and heard. Assemble them yourself OR have students get involved!

parent teacher conference student folders

Example Student Led Conference Folder

Check out THESE easy to use folders and some of the things I put inside them. These are also folders that can be kept all year and shared again during spring conferences! 

Create a WELCOMING Environment

The vibes you create when your parents walk through the door can help or hinder the future relationship with them. When I think about setting up for a conference, I like to focus on creating a relaxing, stress free environment. I make sure the room is very clean, things are organized, and it feels cozy inside. Tons of student work should be displayed to show off all the fun learning we’ve done during our time together. You want parents to feel proud of their child when they walk into the room, as well as at ease. 

Parent Teacher Conference Bundle

Parent Teacher Conference Bundle

I might have low calming music playing, sprayed a fresh linen aroma, and placed out some individually wrapped snacks and water. I want to make it feel good to be there. This is a great way to start on a positive note with families. Get up and shake their hand and greet them. Thank them for coming and let them know that they are your biggest partners in their child’s journey. It’s these little things that can help shift mindsets and help everyone feel more welcome, comfortable and involved. 

Keep it Positive

Have you heard of the positive sandwich? I like to use this analogy because it makes the tougher parts of the conference easier to digest. It’s just a sweet way to remember to stack on a piece of positivity with any feedback that may be seen as a negative. It’s nice to start off on the right foot by sharing something that is going well and easing families into something that is a challenge for their child. If all they hear is negative, they might not listen or feel successful. It’s important to always stay focused on the positive and HELP parents help their child. Using this positive sandwich analogy goes perfect with these Glow and Grows feedback conference sheets. They are a wonderful way to share information with families in a productive way. Check out the easy to use sheet below that you can grab FREE by subscribing!

glow and grow conference form freebie

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Something else that can help keep the vibes encouraging is to make sure you’re sitting next to parents, rather than across from them behind a desk. This creates a much more connected feeling and shows that you are there to work with them. Be mindful of body language and non verbal communication, as we know that can come off the wrong way at times. Just remember that you’re there to work together and make them feel just as welcomed in the class as the students! 

Here’s an important reminder just for you that can be a game changer for your own mindset. Even if parents are negative, don’t take it personally and always maintain a professional demeanor. Don’t be afraid to have someone there with you if you know parents are walking in with something big that is bothering them. Whether it’s a coach, SPED partner, or principal, you don’t have to take on that big responsibility alone. Remember what YOU want out of this conference as well. You want your parents to work with you. They are your FRIEND and together you both want their child to succeed. No matter what you’ve heard, always have an open and positive mindset when working with them. Ask yourself what you’d like to communicate to them and what outcome you would like to have when they leave the conference. If you need assistance from them with a problem in the classroom, offer solutions you’ve tried, while asking if they see the same behavior at home and if they have ideas on how to solve it. Work together and the school year will run smoother! 

Make Follow Up Easy for Families

After conferences, families can leave feeling overwhelmed and stuck. Especially if in 20 minutes they have shown tons of assessments, data they don’t understand, student work, and handouts. They too may have gotten off of work late and might now feel burdened by their own ‘homework’ from the conference. In order to make this experience easier for them, share a few helpful, SIMPLE ideas that they can do at home. Make a list with a few strategies and walk them through it before sending it home with them. 

One go-to activity for any family is to encourage reading every night with their children. It’s a great bonding activity that doesn’t take a lot of time, and it has HUGE benefits for students. I always tell parents, if you aren’t doing ANYTHING else with your child at home, just make sure you read with them. It often makes them feel good and know that they will be successful because that is something they CAN do. 

Keep Lines of Communication Open

After conferences are over, there can still be questions or concerns. Leave those lines of communication open with families so they know that you are there to support them and their child. Be sure to keep in touch as much as you can in between formal conferences so that you have several opportunities to build your relationships and stay up to date with happenings at home. This helps your relationship with your students, as well as getting you support to help them thrive. 

Keep in touch about the goals you’ve set and talk about how their child is doing to reach them and/or what they can do to help at home. You can use apps such as Class Dojo to keep parents informed about any and everything that goes on in the classroom!  The biggest thing with families is not to surprise them. If there’s an issue, don’t wait until conferences to bring it up with them. They are going to feel blindsided and not included. Conferences should be a time to discuss the positive things happening, clarify, and make new goals to help their child thrive. 

If you stick to those tips, everyone will feel successful after conferences and not overwhelmed or burdened. I really hope you enjoyed learning 5 easy tips for successful parent teacher conferences! I’m here to help make conferences a BREEZE with the jam packed parent teacher conference bundle. Check out these easy to use editable forms to help alleviate stress for YOU and help families understand that conferences can be a great experience. Learn 10 more parent teacher conference tips HERE!

Check out what teachers are saying below!

“Being a first year teacher, this resource for parent teacher conferences was a breeze to use and customize to my needs! Can’t wait to have this prepared for the next one!”

“I loved this resource and so did my parents.  I loved that I got to sit with my students and talk with them and then the parents were able to see what they said.  I loved that I could also have the parents write about their kids and share with them.  I feel like sometimes we forget to have these times with our kids. They all loved the popcorn and this really helped organize my conferences.”  

“I am so thankful for this product! Parent teacher conferences are incredibly stressful regardless of the behavior of your students (for me anyway). They fall right after grades are due and RIMPS need to be completed and with 26 students it is a lot of prep, but this resource made it so much easier.” 

editable parent teacher conferences forms

Parent Teacher Conference Bundle

Don’t forget to subscribe to my email list! Not only will you get the most up to date tips, tricks, and classroom projects… and of course more fun FREEBIES including the Glow and Grow FREEBIE! You will also have exclusive access to tons of digital how-to videos! If you would like to learn about this and other things happening in my classroom follow me  @sweetnsauerfirsties on Instagram.

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A fun place to be apart of the educational journey. Full of all things teaching! The good, the bad, and even the ugly. Join my experiences and subscribe to my email list to get the most up to date tips and tricks.

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This is one of my absolute favorite back to school activities that I hand out at our meet the teacher event.

It’s a super simple easy activity to get to know your students even better. Students put three things that represent them in the bag and bring it back to school during the first week of school.

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After spending a LOT of time setting up classrooms…. I’ve learned a few tricks along the way. Here are a few of my favorites! 🤩

🌟 Hot glue is a great way to attach laminated sheets to concrete, brick, and other types of walls. 

🌟 Line up all your pages to be hung up and count until you find the middle. Start hanging from the middle and work your way outside to make sure it’s even.

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Lindsay Sauer

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It’s time for a G*I*V*E*A*W*A*Y! 🥳All week I’ve been sharing about how to totally rock your first week of school with tons of ideas and tips. Now it’s time to celebrate and help kickstart your year by giving away one of these mega kits!With this kit, you will have your ENTIRE first week of school planned for you. We’re talking detailed lesson plans, anchor chart headers, daily classroom slides, editable procedure posters, engaging activities, and of course tons of team building!Entering is EASY! 1️⃣ Make sure you’re following me2️⃣ Tell us your favorite part of this kit 3️⃣ Tag some friends who would love to win too!🌟 For BONUS entries…. Share this post to your stories and don’t forget to tag me! I’ll choose one lucky winner Monday morning! Good luck! 🤩••••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers#teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #tptfreebie #tptsale #igconnect4edu #firstyearteacher #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #teacherinspiration #teachershare #classroommanagement #backtoschool #classroomcommunity #makelearningfun ... See MoreSee Less

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Lindsay Sauer

1 day ago

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Let’s have some fun! If you had to choose one, which would be your IDEAL classroom?! This is a hard choice for me but if I had to pick only one I would choose classroom 4!!Which would you choose? Let us know below! ⬇️Image credit @educationtothecore ••••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers#teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #iteachfirst #iteachtoo #igconnect4edu #tftpickme #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #teacherweekend #primaryteacher #teachershare #backtoschool #teacherquotes #teacherfun ... See MoreSee Less

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Lindsay Sauer

2 days ago

Lindsay Sauer
It’s time for #tptfreebie Friday! 🥳This is one of my absolute favorite back to school activities that I hand out at our meet the teacher event.It’s a super simple easy activity to get to know your students even better. Students put three things that represent them in the bag and bring it back to school during the first week of school.They bring the most THOUGHTFUL things in. I have definitely shed some tears at the sweet stuff they bring in. 😭With this EXCLUSIVE freebie, you will have everything you need for this great community building activity. Grab yours now! Happy Friday! 🎉{🔗 on profile}••••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers#teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #iteachfirst #iteachtoo #igconnect4edu #ilovemystudents #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #classroomcommunity #teacherinspiration #backtoschool #meettheteacher #backtoschoolnight ... See MoreSee Less

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Lindsay Sauer

3 days ago

Lindsay Sauer
Help students get to know their space with a scavenger hunt!This is one of my favorite first week activities because not only does it help students but it is also a great way to get them up and moving around for those much needed movement breaks! Learn more fun first week activities now! 🥳{🔗 on profile}••••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers#teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #iteachfirst #iteachtoo #igconnect4edu #teacherinspiration #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #makelearningfun #primaryteacher #clasroomcommunity #backtoschool #classroommanagement #firstweekofschool ... See MoreSee Less

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Lindsay Sauer

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Lindsay Sauer
Let’s talk about back to school stress for a minute. This is the time of year that is so exciting and of course so stressful. The back to school nightmares began, the to-do list starts to fill up, and of course the work emails start back up. Which of these has you the most stressed right now?It’s A LOT. But don’t worry… I CAN HELP!Drop a comment with something that’s stressing you out the most and I’ll help by sending you some of my favorite tips and tricks for the beginning of the year. ❤️••••#elementaryteacher #teaching #classroom #teachingideas #classroomideas #education #handsonlearning #teachertribe #teacher #teachers#teacherlife #teacherproblems #firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach #iteachfirst #iteachtoo #igconnect4edu #teacherspayteachers #weareteachers #teacherquotes #backtoschool #firstyearteacher #classroommanagement #classroomcommunity #firstweekofschool #firstyearteachers ... See MoreSee Less

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  • What do you envision when you think of your writing classroom setup? Writers workshop for 1st grade is a great way for all students to work on the writing process, no matter what their age is or developmental skills are. Today, I will talk about how to get started with writers workshops for your elementary classroom. I include ideas for writing workshop organization, a list of read aloud books for kids that are great to use for teaching about the writing process, and other writing resources.
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  • Are you looking for some faBOOlous Halloween activities? Activities that will be engaging during October? I have planned some wonderful Halloween themed activities for my students. I have included Halloween science experiments, Halloween reading activities, Halloween writing activities, and math lessons. Find Halloween books for kids, a reading comprehension activity using the book Crankenstein, and a STEM activity.
  • Fall in the classroom is right around the corner and you are probably looking for seasonal classroom activities. Check out this blog post for 5 fun and engaging fall activities for kids. Some of my fall activities that you can read about here include sensory bins with acorns, handwriting activities with leaves, and a writing activity that you can use as a fall bulletin board in your 1st grade classroom. Learn about all of these fall activities for kids elementary today.
  • Are you using math workshop for 1st grade? Today, I talk about why you should use math workshop, or what is also known as guided math in the classroom. Math workshop model combines hands-on learning activities with direct instruction so that your elementary students can increase their math skills. In this blog post, you will see some of the math resources I use, including some engaging math center activities and math rotation slides to help guide students during their work time.
  • Are you looking for fall literacy activities that you can use during fall centers? Today, I am sharing some of my favorite fall activities for kids including sight word task cards, upper and lowercase sensory bins and a beginning sound activity. I also share a digraphs activity and a fun fall rhyming words activity. These fall activities are great for literacy centers, morning work, or early finishers.
  • Does your elementary classroom have a centers setup that helps facilitate independent learning with small group learning? This blog post gives you everything you need on how to set up centers in a classroom that will help your 1st graders be successful. See my list on how you can start preparing your classroom for successful centers like anchor charts, practice centers for literacy and math, and more. You can even check out my ideas for center organization and my center rotation display here.
  • Fall in the classroom is right around the corner and you are probably looking for seasonal classroom activities. Check out this blog post for 5 fun and engaging fall activities for kids. Some of my fall activities that you can read about here include sensory bins with acorns, handwriting activities with leaves, and a writing activity that you can use as a fall bulletin board in your 1st grade classroom. Learn about all of these fall activities for kids elementary today.
  • Parent Teacher Conferences can be extremely stressful but it doesn’t have to be! It’s so important to be organized and know everything you want to discuss during the conference. Today, I am sharing my top teaching tips for parent teacher conferences that will help build those parent teacher relationships. Do you want to know more ways for a successful parent-teacher conference? Find all of my parent teacher conference ideas now!

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