Deck the hallways and hang the welcome signs! It is Parent Conference season!
This day is filled with mixed emotions for students, parents, and teachers as well. There is little less pitiful than a student begging you not to tell her parents about her homework allergy or that time she "accidentally" mixed together the chemicals you specifically told her not to and created a small stink bomb in the chemistry lab. I have even been offered bribes, to which I simply had to shake my head and point to the sign one of my former students made based on my frequent one-liners.
There is also little that is more rewarding than seeing a parent beam when I tell them I wish I could clone their child and even file for adoption if they were willing. I love delivering that news!
Again, parent conferences are a mixed bag- but there are several ways to use My Big Campus to help make each conference the best it can be!
1- Show examples! Since Schoolwork is stored on MBC, you don't have to worry about collecting work samples or making copies. You can retrieve exemplary examples of student work- and also the less-than desirable samples to come up with strategies for improvement. Using concrete pieces of work helps define where trouble spots are specifically and establish patterns of achievement. And with the Parent Portal enabled, parents can see these for themselves any time they desire!
2- Show them around Campus! By making parts of your Group (or even the entire Group) visible to anyone on the Internet, you can show parents how to access what you are doing in class, see future assignments, and even watch the same videos you are showing in class to help students at home.
3- Sign them up! Show parents how to subscribe to the Group Calendar to view the class from the ease of their own phones. Parents can see any Events and Schoolwork you place on the student calendar automatically!
4- Reach them where they are! Remember that your comfort level with technology may be different than that of the parents you are talking to. Be sure to not assume that all parents understand the MBC lingo and terminology. If you are creating hand-outs, include lots of screen shots and step-by step instructions!
Clip from: Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtIFbCj5ndI
5- Make a presentation! Use MBC to show parents a brief overview of what class looks like for their students. Highlight the increased differentiation, accountability, and safety that MBC offers students. One idea is to make a bundle presentation. Publish it beforehand and share it with parents when confirming their appointments via email—this is not only a time saver, but also allows parents to think of questions ahead of time. “Welcome to Your Child’s Class” bundle can include: What we’re doing in class, What’s next?, How MBC is used, Why MBC is safe, How parents can use MBC, and include how to subscribe to calendar. Show parents how you would recommend they use the site for your class, too!
6- Remember all of the regular Parent Conference Golden Rules! Bookend a negative with two positives. Stick to your time limits to avoid getting behind (schedule follow-up appointments if necessary). Have a comfortable, circular seating arrangement to put parents at ease. Emphasize that you are all on the same team with the objective of making their student the very best he/she can be. And, of course, smile!
Parent conferences are a great way to show off the best side of your class as well as highlight the best in each student. Use this opportunity to help everyone improve, grow, and learn together!
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