Locust Grove Elementary WILDCAT WORKSHOP PAWSitively Ready for

Locust Grove Elementary WILDCAT WORKSHOP PAWS-itively Ready for Student Led Parent Teacher Conferences Can e Talk? A no-nonsense guide to Parent/Teacher PAWS Conferences at L. G. E. ! Effective Parent Teacher October 1, 2013 6 -7 pm Conferences at Every Grade

Locust Grove Elementary WILDCAT WORKSHOP Student- Parent-teacher PAWS conferences happen twice a year, in the Fall and again in late Winter. Don’t take this opportunity for granted! This is one of the most important things you can do to help your student achieve!

Locust Grove Elementary WILDCAT WORKSHOP Did you know school and home are two of the most important areas of influence in a child’s life?

Locust Grove Elementary WILDCAT WORKSHOP What happens in either place can impact a student’s ability to achieve.

Locust Grove Elementary WILDCAT WORKSHOP Communication between home and school can be hard to manage… but you have to try!

Don’t Forget! PAWS Conferences Oct. 15 -24 th Project Due Oct. 18 th! Thanks for coming to LGE Title I Night! Pick up Bread & Milk LGE FALL FESTIVAL Oct. 25 th !

Locust Grove Elementary WILDCAT WORKSHOP There may be things happening at school that only the teacher can tell you. .

Locust Grove Elementary WILDCAT WORKSHOP And there may be things happening at home that only you can share.

Locust Grove Elementary WILDCAT WORKSHOP The PAWS Conference is the place to share this information.

Locust Grove Elementary WILDCAT WORKSHOP The Teacher knows. . . • If your child is working on grade level. • Your child’s strengths and weaknesses in class. • If your child is behaving and adjusting socially. • The upcoming important assignments • The best way for you to communicate with him/her.

Locust Grove Elementary WILDCAT WORKSHOPYou. You … w o n k s t n e r Pa ild h c l. o our o y h s sc ie t n l i u c g fi in f c i n d e i • The e exper al c i d b me l may a i c e p s ild’s h c r • You. ol o h c s s e h t need for y a w t s e b. • The tact you n o c o t

Locust Grove Elementary WILDCAT WORKSHOP Students Know… üTheir reading goals üAreas where they struggle üWhat they need to work on to reach their goals

Locust Grove Elementary WILDCAT WORKSHOP “The dog ate my conference paper” and other common myths that keep parents from attending PAWS Conferences at L. G. E.

Locust Grove Elementary WILDCAT WORKSHOP #1 “I didn’t like school. I’m sure I won’t get along with my child’s teacher. And what if we don’t have anything to talk about or I don’t understand? ”

DON’T WORRY – You will have lots to talk about. No matter how hard teachers and parents work towards partnership, occasional problems are unavoidable. Remember that your job is to be your child’s strongest advocate. If you don’t understand – ASK questions until you do.

#2 “My child gets good grades in school. His/her progress report was great! Do I need still need to go to a parent-teacher conference? ”

YES, YOU STILL NEED TO GO! The progress report is just a snapshot of how a child is progressing in school, the parent-teacher conference is like a full color DVD. By talking face-to-face, families can get more in- depth knowledge of how well their child is progressing. At a conference, parents can see work samples and hear descriptions of their child’s academic, social, emotional and behavioral development. This is your chance to ASK QUESTIONS – GET ANSWERS. Parents can share firsthand what they have experienced at home.

Locust Grove Elementary WILDCAT WORKSHOP Tips for a Good PAWS Conference! • Start the conference on a positive note. • Before you arrive, write down the items you want to discuss during the conference. • During the conference, take notes so you won’t forget what was said. • Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Keep asking until you understand. • At the end of the conference, recap what was talked about. Pay special attention to those things each of you said you would do and the deadlines. • Commit to listening with an open mind. Even if there are problems to discuss.

ARE YOU READY? The conference will be more productive if you do a little preparation beforehand. Here a few more tips to help you be prepared before your child’s conference: ü Talk with your child – ask them what their strongest/weakest subjects are and which ones they like the most. ü Make a list of topics you want to talk about with the teacher. Be sure to share things that you think the teacher should know like concerns at school, major changes in family, home life, etc. ü Ask for explanation of anything you don’t understand (such as an educational term or policy). Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. ü Create an Action Plan – ask what you can do to help at home with homework, reading math etc. Stop by the Parent Resource Room for activities and resources to use at home.

Remember, you are your child’s best and most important advocate. Don’t miss this chance to connect with the school.