What's your thought on students attending the p/t conferences?

We have our conferences on Tuesday.

Last year most of my students came.... many even with all their siblings! I didn't really have an opinion on it, being new and all.. .but this year, for most of my students, I wish they would NOT come to the conferences. I just feel like it's much easier for me to give negative feedback with the kid not sitting RIGHT there!


Anyone else have any thoughts? I have 7th graders....

Re: What's your thought on students attending the p/t conferences?

Yeah I have hs kids and most of them come with their parents. The worst though is when the kid does the translating of what I'm saying to their parents... yeah like they're going to tell their parents exactly what I'm say especially when it's bad UGH that is annoying. Also I have seen parents get REALLY ****** at their kids right in front of me & that can be a little uncomfortable... especially if the kid cries or whatever (not over their grades, since most at my school don't care, but if the mother takes their cell phone away, which happened last year, the kid FLIPPED OUT). Usually I don't mind the kid being there... if it's a good kid especially, which are mainly whose parents attend to begin with.

Re: What's your thought on students attending the p/t conferences?

I don't think that the kids should be there. It's not appropriate. Is there a way you can politely ask the child to wait in a different area?

Re: What's your thought on students attending the p/t conferences?

When I taught HS, I had a few students join in and I didn't mind, since you can confront the student right there. Have you done your homework? Have you been participating.

Maybe 7th grade is old enough to do this. It cuts down on the middle man when mom/dad go home and ask Johnny if they have done their HW. It's not as easy to lie in front of the teacher.

When i was in the city, I had a parent tell me to call him if the student wasn't doing his work and he would beat him. Maybe it was just a show to get the kid working, but it was good that it made me realize how important positive feedback was no matter which student is being discussed.

Re: What's your thought on students attending the p/t conferences?

I dont think the students should be there... id rather talk to the parents alone. My parents NEVER let me come in for parent teacher conference although I alwats wanted to!

Re: What's your thought on students attending the p/t conferences?

I've had a few students show up with their parents to the P/T conferences. I dont think its the right place for them. It's meant to be an adult conversation. Although, I tell the parents everything the student should know anyway- its just not the student's place to be there.

Re: What's your thought on students attending the p/t conferences?

Thanks for the replies ladies I decided that I am NOT going to send the kids outside of the room tomorrow if/when they come with their parents... I think they should hear the things I say....

One thing I am going to do different from last year is I will be totally honest with the parents! Last year was my first year and I felt awkward saying things that were too negative. I sugar-coated the conferences way more than the kid deserved.... This year I am staying strong and saying what I think! I told the students I am going to be VERY honest so some of them may want to get their parents prepared (and those students know who they are)

I actually completely lost my patience with a kid today and in SEVENTH GRADE gave him a time out Seriously, how humiliating! But, he was acting like a 5yr old while I was teaching. I'm sure he has enough common sense to know especially meant HIM in the 'warn your parents, you know who you are" speech..

Re: What's your thought on students attending the p/t conferences?

I don't think it's appropriate. If they come to ours, they must sit outside...I don't invite them in...

Re: What's your thought on students attending the p/t conferences?

I am sort of surprised to be in the minority- I always prefer when the kids are there. Especially in the cases of difficult kids- it can be easy for kids to downplay situations when they are alone with their parents but when it's me, the student and the parent it's a lot easier to really address the issues. And more than once we've caught kids in lies.

Re: What's your thought on students attending the p/t conferences?

I prefer for the students to be there. I teach on a Middle School team (6th-8th graders) and it's easier to get to the bottom of issues when they are there. It often also resolves any parent "issues" we have had as well, as the student is usually the one who has done the damage to take the heat off of them.

Our school also has a large ELL population so having both the parent and child there with our team helps settle any translating issues we have had in the past. Luckily our team is filled with bilingual personnel.

Re: What's your thought on students attending the p/t conferences?

Posted by MrsProfessor

I am sort of surprised to be in the minority- I always prefer when the kids are there. Especially in the cases of difficult kids- it can be easy for kids to downplay situations when they are alone with their parents but when it's me, the student and the parent it's a lot easier to really address the issues. And more than once we've caught kids in lies.

Re: What's your thought on students attending the p/t conferences?

I think it is completly inappropriate and it makes me so mad that myschool doesnt ask parents not to bring them or have some alternate place for them to be.

I teach 1st grade. Most of the time I have the student sit on the carpet and read or color while i talk to his or her parents.

But when the child is there, i feel terrible. If you have a very low student, who is a good kid and tries, it is hard to sit there and speak with the parent trying to explain why their child is getting all 1s and how much they are struggling while the kid is there starting to cry because you are saying these things about him or her.

so i would prefer they not come at all!!!

Re: What's your thought on students attending the p/t conferences?

I think it's nice to have a conference with just parents and no kids being present. Kids being present are very distracting.

Re: What's your thought on students attending the p/t conferences?

I work in a Elementary school and often times if a student comes in with their parents we let them choose a book from the classroom and sit outside the room and wait for the conference to be over. Sometimes we let them stay for all of the meeting or part of it. It depends on the individual circumstances.

Re: What's your thought on students attending the p/t conferences?

Posted by MrsProfessor

I am sort of surprised to be in the minority- I always prefer when the kids are there. Especially in the cases of difficult kids- it can be easy for kids to downplay situations when they are alone with their parents but when it's me, the student and the parent it's a lot easier to really address the issues. And more than once we've caught kids in lies.

Message edited 11/20/2009 11:00:38 AM.