The air is getting cooler. The leaves are changing colors and falling from their branches. Pumpkin Spice seems to be taking over the world….All of which indicates that fall has arrived! That means that fall parent-teacher conferences are JUST around the corner. That fact may invoke many different feelings as a classroom teacher and even as a homeschool family or group. In this article, we will explore some different types of conferences and I will share some thoughts and ideas that are aimed at supporting you and your students and children throughout the conference process. So, let’s get started!

First of all, do you even do fall conferences in your classroom, school, or homeschool? Of the people who responded to my survey inquiry, almost all of the schools are doing fall conferences. Amongst the homeschool respondents, it was about half that are doing conferences. Most homeschool groups are doing them. Individual homeschool families’ responses indicated that a little less than half of them do conferences.

As a classroom teacher and also as a homeschool parent, I always did/do conferences in the fall, in the spring, and as needed on an individual basis for any students who need more frequent check-ins. I find it to be an incredibly useful tool for communication between the school/teacher/primary homeschooling parent, the parents/secondary homeschool parent/responsible adult, and the students/children. Each of these parties has a vested interest in the success and learning of each of the students/children. Having all the stakeholders in one spot, at one time, as the school year settles in and really gets underway is a terrific time to make sure everyone is on the same page as the school year progresses. It is the perfect time to communicate with everyone about the procedures and expectations around:

• classroom structure
• learning goals and expectations
• work expectations
• communication practices
• behavioral expectations
• collaboration opportunities
• individual goal setting
• assessments
• observations
• asking and answering questions
• touring the learning space
• lesson demonstrations
• community building
• building and fostering excitement about the school year
• and SO much more!

There are several different ways that conferences can be structured. Here is a chart that outlines several different types:

Depending on how your learning environment is organized, you can choose whichever conference structure and frequency works best for your situation. Many schools have general conference protocols in place for the whole community. Teachers and heads of schools should be discussing those protocols and adjusting them as needed. Private schools and homeschools have more flexibility with when and how they choose to structure and hold conferences.

Some of you may think it’s an unnecessary practice to have conferences in a homeschool setting. I disagree. When we were homeschooling, we did conferences quarterly. My homeschool kiddo was able to showcase the work he had done during the quarter. He prepared and presented reports, slideshows, skits, and, projects on the things he had been working on. This was a terrific way for him to solidify the knowledge in his brain. He also benefited from having the opportunity to do presentations and multi-media projects in front of someone besides just me. In addition to presenting the information to his other parent (the parent who wasn’t homeschooling him daily), we often included his sibling, his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and sometimes neighbors and friends in those presentations as well. We used video calls to be able to include family members who live out of state. For us, homeschool conferences were an integral part of our regular homeschool practice.

Conference time can sometimes bring about feelings of stress and anxiety for all parties involved, but it doesn’t have to be that way. If everyone keeps in mind that the goal of conferences is open communication, information sharing, collaboration, and teamwork, it helps the process feel less intimidating. Obviously, there needs to be an understanding that all parties will communicate information in kind and polite ways. Each participant should feel like they have a voice and the ability to use that voice to give their input in a safe and accepting space.

You can make conference time easier, more predictable, and less stressful for everyone involved by planning ahead. Here are some items to consider when thinking about conferences:

• Having a plan as to which format you plan to use
• a planning form or tool to list out topics and information that needs to be covered
• scheduling enough time to cover all the topics and allow for discussion during the allotted conference time
• making a plan of how to follow up and what the next steps are afterward
• getting feedback from each of the participants after the conference about what went well and what could be done differently in the future
• using feedback to inform your conference practices moving forward

These are all helpful steps to ensure a positive and productive conference for everyone. Remember the goals for conference time listed above and keep those in mind as you work through the process together. It really can be an amazing tool to help students/children learn, grow, and thrive in their education, and for the adults to feel involved, heard, understood, and respected. It’s definitely a win-win for everyone!

If you are interested in getting some support around conferences, please don’t hesitate to reach out! You can email me at education@makiingmontessorimine.com or click the link in my Instagram bio @makingmontessorimine to schedule a quick call to discuss how I can support your information and resource needs as you prepare for and refine your conference process.

I wish you the best as you work to plan and host successful conferences this fall!