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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…
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Preschool Conference Resources
It’s conference time – can you believe it?! I’ve been a part of parent/teacher conferences as both a teacher and a parent, and I can confidently say that I don’t particularly enjoy it from either role. Conferences can be so tricky, the conversations themselves can be intimidating – especially if you don’t know the families well at this point in the school year. There are also opportunities for really positive conversations! The number one tip that I have when having heading into conference season is to take the time to be prepared. Here are all of the resources that I use to help make sure that I’m prepared before sitting…
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Google Drive Student Portfolios
I originally shared this post a couple of years ago, and it has been the most popular post that I’ve ever written. I can understand why – we all want easy solutions to conferences and documentation, but no one wants to pay for the expensive platforms that curriculum companies have available. This system is my DIY version of that kind of system. Since most parents are a lot more comfortable with google drive and PDF documents it’s been the best way to share information! Here’s the rest of that original post: I’ve always used three-ring binders to compile my students’ portfolios, but this year my classroom did not have the…
