Preparing for Conference Conversations

Some people have a real skill for making challenging conversations feel comfortable and productive – I am not one of those people. I will worry about these kinds of conversations for weeks and avoid them at all costs, but I have found a few tricks for making them feel more natural and truly helpful. Here’s what works for me:

Shifting mindset. I really work to look at these types of conversations as an opportunity to HELP. It’s my job to support children’s development. If I don’t share what I’m observing and offer resources, interventions, and support then I’m not doing my job. I’m not trying to make families lives more difficult or shatter their hopes and dreams, I’m trying to give their child the absolute best educational experience possible!

Practice the conversation. I’m notorious for having practice conversations in my car during my commute, and they really help! Letting the words come out naturally helps me identify possible misinterpretations and ensure that I’m using the most appropriate vocabulary so that parents really feel supported and also understand what I’m trying to express.

Invite families into the classroom. One of my all-time favorite tactics is to have families spend time observing the classroom before a conference. This can be so eye-opening! Parents can see how their children interact with other children, observe your teaching methods, and get a better feel for the classroom dynamics. This experience can inspire a lot of questions that really add value to the conference conversations.

Ask for support. If you really feel like there will be conversations that won’t be well received then it’s always fine to ask an administrator or support professional to sit in with you. Ideally this should be someone who isn’t in your classroom on a daily basis, but still has an understanding of what has been happening. Someone who can ask clarifying questions, and help diffuse tension while maintaining that professional atmosphere is so helpful. This person can also help you reflect after the conversation and offer ideas for next steps.

I always lean into my experience and expertise, while reminding myself that I can learn a lot from these families too!