13 Tips for Successful Parent Teacher Interviews (No. 10 is a Must!)

Inside: Read for 13 helpful tips for teachers to plan and implement successful parent-teacher interviews. Check out tip No. 10!

Have you ever talked so long at your parent teacher interviews that before you realised it, it was dark outside and you’re the only one left at school?

Well, I have.

Not a good scenario for your safety!

Maybe you feel totally overwhelmed about interviews – the planning for them or even the meeting itself.

If you’ve ever asked the question, “How do you make a successful parent-teacher conference?” then…

This is for you!

In this article, I’ll discuss how to be successful in your interview, as well as what parent-teacher meeting format to have, as well as how teachers prepare for parent interviews.

Hopefully, I can help to take the stress out of this time of year for you.

Don’t make the silly mistakes that I’ve made at parent interviews, with these practical tips for a successful meeting.

How do teachers prepare for parent teacher interviews?

I spend approximately a week or two planning for this all-important time with parents.

I gather all of the data that I have collected on each child and collate it into specific subject areas – specifically Literacy and Numeracy. Then I look at the students working habits, as well as homework, behaviour and their socialisation.

This means you will need to make sure you are up-to-date with your marking.

Then, I transfer all of this data into my planning template and parent-teacher checklist ready to easily offer all of this information to each parent.

Using a checklist or template makes it very quick to recount how each student is performing, but it also gives me an overall picture of how each child is progressing.

I then collect specific work samples of each student in the areas of Maths and English and file these into student folios. In maths, I will have a sample of their current maths assessment. In English, I like to have a marked writing sample.

I’ll also have my marking book ready to share the number-facts and spelling tests scores as other pieces of evidence for parents.

Preparation before the interview

• send out written invites to parents calling for a request for an interview. Make sure to give plenty of notice for these times.
• offer the days and time blocks you are available. I usually offer two days after school, two times per year.
• Interviews are for approximately 10 minutes each with a change over time of 5 minutes

Preparation on the day of the meeting

• prepare the interview space. You can do this in your classroom using a table, a chair for yourself and chairs for the parents. I like to conduct my interviews in a public space like the school hall.
• ensure there is an area with chairs for the parents to wait outside for their time slot
• Collate all your interview data sheets alphabetically in a folder (make sure the parent & child names are on each form
• Sort all the student portfolios in the order of interview time
• have your interview timetable visible, so you know the order of each parent
• Set a timer for 10 mins

Parent teacher interview format

I follow a format for all of my parent-teacher interviews and it is exactly the same for each meeting.

In a 10 minute timeframe you need to be brief and to the point.

I follow this format:

• welcome
• ask parents if they have any questions or concerns – address these quickly
• go over the student’s data in Literacy and Numeracy and discuss progress, using the work samples
• offer strategies for individual students
• take notes for any followup that you are needing to complete
• get the parent to sign the parent interview proforma

How do you make a successful-parent teacher interview?

I believe success comes from the following 13 things:

1. be thoroughly prepared before your interviews – see above
2. follow a prescribed format for your meeting – see above for details
3. be brief – allocate approximately 10 – 15 mins per meeting
4. Make a formal booked time – this shows the importance of your time as a professional
5. use a timetable to track your appointments
6. Take notes at the meeting – this will remind you of thing to follow up on
7. use a prepared meeting template – see above for more details
8. be polite and professional
9. be welcoming and listen carefully – this helps build positive connections and show you are open for discussion
10. don’t conduct the interview on your own -Always have another teacher next door or conduct your interviews in a public place. If this is not possible advise your administration of the meeting time and place, in case you need backup and support
11. discuss strategies for student improvement and areas that parents can help at home
12. Finish with a positive – this ends the interview on a good note
13. Stand up when the interview time is over – this is an easy way to signal to the parent that their time is finished, plus it will also stop you rambling (if this is a problem for you, as it is me!)

Why parent teacher interviews are important?

Parent-teacher interviews are a very important time of the year.

I make sure to use my preparation time wisely and also the time in discussion with each parent.

The parent-teacher meeting conversation offers a chance to make closer connections with the family and build strong working relationships which are necessary to support the individual child.

It’s ultimately such a valuable connection to make for the success in a child’s school life. Plus, obviously, you get a chance to discuss their progress and identify strategies that may help them to move ahead.

I see these times as imperative to work in a positive collaborative team, for the support of each student, which makes your life as a teacher much easier too!

Parents are such important stakeholders in education and building this positive team with them can only benefit their child for the better.

I hope these tips help you prepare for very successful parent-teacher interview times and reduce the overwhelm you might have felt previously.

Good luck!

Michelle x

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