Parent-teacher conferences (PTCs) bring teachers and parents together, typically once a year—and in some schools, twice a year. They have been a long-standing method in the U.S. for connecting parents and teachers, dating back to the 1930s. PTCs are widely regarded as an effective way to connect parents and teachers, exchange information, and build bridges between home and school.
I’ve participated in over 20 conferences so far, and I’ve experienced many types of conference styles. I’ve had meetings where I sat and listened to a teacher reading a paper-based assessment about my child in a one-way “ritualized” approach. I’ve also had more engaging conferences where I’ve been able to contribute information and insight as a parent and felt heard.
I’m not alone in the range of my experiences, yet the parent-teacher experience is often undiscussed. As both a parent and school software product designer, I set out to explore scientific research on PTCs from both parents’ and teachers’ perspectives. Here are some key takeaways that the research has pinned down so far.
#1 Parents Take on Many Roles During the Conference
In a study Parents’, teachers’, and students’ roles in parent-teacher conferences; a systematic review and meta-synthesis, Elaine Munthe and Elsa Westergård identify nine positive roles parents take on during parent-teacher conferences:
- Supportive Partner
- Information Provider
- Advocate
- Collaborator
- Feedback Receiver
- Goal Setter
- Resource Provider
- Engagement in School Activities
- Cultural Informant
The long list indicates that parents actively listen to the teacher’s feedback, desire to provide more information and their perspective and collaborate to improve social and learning outcomes. As a parent or teacher, do you recognize parents taking any of the these roles to contribute to their child’s learning outcomes positively?
#2 Conferences Are Dynamic Sessions Where the Teacher’s Statements and Assessments are Questioned, Defended, and Accepted
Munthe and Westergård examine fascinatingly how multiple exchanges of statements and assessments create the conference experience that parents may question or approve of. When a teacher makes a statement, parents often bring up their perspective. A typical role a parent takes is defender of their child, whereas the teacher takes on the role of defender of the school’s position. This gridlock may lead to negative conference experiences, teachers feeling that their authority is questioned, and parents feeling unheard.
#3 Parents Have a Specific Way to Challenge Teacher’s Authority
Letizia Caronia has studied ways parents may challenge the teacher’s authority during the parent-teacher conference. The most common way of challenging authority is by referring to experts or other external sources to support the parents’ take. During the meeting, parents may end up negotiating with the teacher regarding the decision-making authority regarding their child. Caronia recommends that teacher training focus on this complex dynamic to recognize this pattern of parent-teacher interaction better.
#4 Both Teachers and Parents May Express a Fear of Being Criticized
The fear of being criticized runs on both sides, parents and teachers. The unpredictability of the conference events may cause anxiety for new teachers. On the other hand, parents may feel a lack of power during the conference experience—having to sit in child-size chairs and at child-size tables is both uncomfortable and symbolic.
#5 Teachers Don’t Always Cover All Subjects or Topics Equally
In 2022, Dajung Diana Oh and Eva M. Pomerantz studied 431 parent-teacher conferences in the USA, where the students in discussion were 7-8-year-olds. The researchers found that the conferences mainly covered academics, primarily focusing on literacy and less on math. When learning strategies and motivation were discussed with parents, parents reported more engagement and involvement later with the school.
#6 Parent Satisfaction Depends on Parents’ Education Level
While parents are mostly satisfied with the conference model and experience, less educated parents report higher satisfaction rates during Parent-Teacher conferences than more educated parents. Researcher Peter Seagreaves, who studied the Pennsylvania school district, recommends that the conferences be tailored to consider parents’ education levels.
#7 Communication Training Helps
Many teachers (some research says up to 50%) express that they don’t feel prepared to hold conferences. Teachers acknowledge that conferences can go rogue with unwanted outcomes. Teacher communication and listening skills training can improve the PTC experience, shifting it from a ritualized, patterned experience to two-way school-home partnership.
Conclusion
Parent-teacher conferences are not always easy experiences for either party, but when conducted in a respectful framework, they can be highly beneficial in building bridges between home and school. Teacher training can be designed to train new teachers to embrace the partnership model. As parents, we can show up with grace, patience, and respect and be positive advocates and collaborators.
As my school software team is developing the next-generation parent-teacher conference (PTC) signup software and app system, I’ve wanted to dig deeper to understand the importance of these conferences and how we, as a software technology provider, can help make the entire process easier for everyone. It’s become clear that the conference signup and management system should foster communication and allow dialogue.
A vital feature of the School Signals Parent-Conference Signup system is that school districts and teachers can create custom online forms and integrate them into the conference signup process flows. Enabling schools to hear parents before the conference can foster better dialogue and increase preparedness. Easy cancellations and rescheduling within the agreed-upon time frame before the PTC should lessen administrative burden.
Additionally, why not collect feedback and poll parents – and teachers – about their experiences after the conference? This information can be valuable in building positive school cultures and can be utilized on district and school levels. A more open dialog about the experience will likely improve the PTC experience for all.
- Unlocking Parent Feedback: Best Practices for School Feedback Forms - November 6, 2024
- Time of Change? Reaching Buy-In by Communicating Proactively - September 12, 2024
- 7 Key Takeaways from Research on the Parent-Teacher Conference Experience - September 7, 2024
