Are parent teacher conferences once a school year in MCPS?

[Anonymous]

They used to have written comments before the new grading system. They don't have any now, or at least I haven't seen any for my two kids in elementary.

[Anonymous]

I kind of wish conference were in the Spring, or maybe mid-year when registration for next year is done. I feel like when I talk to the teachers in the Spring they have a much better sense of my kid and it's more helpful for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I kind of wish conference were in the Spring, or maybe mid-year when registration for next year is done. I feel like when I talk to the teachers in the Spring they have a much better sense of my kid and it's more helpful for me.

I really wish they did both. I understand doing them in Nov to let parents that might be clueless know what is going on, how we grade, the curriculum, how your child is doing and what we need to work on. But I really think they need an update. How your child is progressing and what they need to do to move on and succeed in the next grade. That is extremely important and I think it will help parents who are just counting down to summer, feel a little more interested in school and their child's education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I kind of wish conference were in the Spring, or maybe mid-year when registration for next year is done. I feel like when I talk to the teachers in the Spring they have a much better sense of my kid and it's more helpful for me.

I really wish they did both. I understand doing them in Nov to let parents that might be clueless know what is going on, how we grade, the curriculum, how your child is doing and what we need to work on. But I really think they need an update. How your child is progressing and what they need to do to move on and succeed in the next grade. That is extremely important and I think it will help parents who are just counting down to summer, feel a little more interested in school and their child's education.

One more thing. And I don't believe the ole "YOU can call and make an appointment" I think they need to hand out 3rd semester report cards with conferences. Because sometimes the people that need them the most won't have the parents that will willingly make an appointment and come in.

[Anonymous]

I teach for MCPS. I'd gladly do a second parent-teacher conference day if it was scheduled like the November ones. But I think parents would complain about another two half-days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I teach for MCPS. I'd gladly do a second parent-teacher conference day if it was scheduled like the November ones. But I think parents would complain about another two half-days.

Exactly. You can't win. If we have another conference day in the spring, people will complain that there is no school. And it's ridiculous to think that just by having another conference day people will come in who wouldn't call or email to make an appointment. Sadly, not even "incentives" will get many parents to come in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is holding parents back from making appointments with teachers to meet? I'm a teacher and nobody ever comes to PT conferences. I send out emails that I am available after school and before school on certain days. If you want to talk more in depth, why not ask for a meeting? I can even do phone conferences although it isn't as easy to share student work but at least it is a conversation.

Why should I bother to meet with you? To hear more lies? I asked for certain assessment results and you gave me such a crap of b...s*t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach for MCPS. I'd gladly do a second parent-teacher conference day if it was scheduled like the November ones. But I think parents would complain about another two half-days.

Exactly. You can't win. If we have another conference day in the spring, people will complain that there is no school. And it's ridiculous to think that just by having another conference day people will come in who wouldn't call or email to make an appointment. Sadly, not even "incentives" will get many parents to come in.

I disagree. I think if a poll was posted the majority would want conferences and 2 more days added to the school year. I think who wouldn't want it is the teacher's union.

[Anonymous]

While I know you could request additional conferences, I always felt like it was an imposition on the teacher and I needed a good reason to do so-- not just because I wanted to hear whatever the teacher had to say.

Plus, the one time we did have an issue we wanted to discuss/address, it was our worst teacher ever and she basically refused to do anything (told us she the only think she could do was refer us to a specialist and didn't even do that).

[Anonymous]

I would like another conference, just to get a better handle on what my son is up to, but as far as I can tell, he's doing just fine, so I feel a bit silly requesting one. Wish we got comments or something though!

[Anonymous]

You all are not thinking about this correctly. MCPS views everything thing through the lens of what does this mean for the achievement gap not what is the best thing to do from educational perspective for all kids.

At high SES schools, parent teacher conferences have very high attendance. Parents want more and want to know how they kid who is already meeting the basics can do more. Since the kids have already met the basic bar these conferences have no value to MCPS at all. Any energy spent on high performing students is a waste of resources and makes the achievement gap worse. Teacher availability is subject the individual teacher's preference.

At low SES schools, very few parents come to the parent teacher conferences. MCPS desperately wants these parents to come so they can work with their kids at home more and catch up because it isn't happening in the classroom. Offering more conferences doesn't solve this problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I teach for MCPS. I'd gladly do a second parent-teacher conference day if it was scheduled like the November ones. But I think parents would complain about another two half-days.

Exactly. You can't win. If we have another conference day in the spring, people will complain that there is no school. And it's ridiculous to think that just by having another conference day people will come in who wouldn't call or email to make an appointment. Sadly, not even "incentives" will get many parents to come in.

I disagree. I think if a poll was posted the majority would want conferences and 2 more days added to the school year. I think who wouldn't want it is the teacher's union.

I disagree. Having Spring conferences for 4 hours within the context of a duty day would not be an issue for the Union. And if lunch is served, it counts as a full day if school so no need to add two days to the calendar. However, parents would have to secure child care for two half days and they fume at the existing ones we have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You all are not thinking about this correctly. MCPS views everything thing through the lens of what does this mean for the achievement gap not what is the best thing to do from educational perspective for all kids.

At high SES schools, parent teacher conferences have very high attendance. Parents want more and want to know how they kid who is already meeting the basics can do more. Since the kids have already met the basic bar these conferences have no value to MCPS at all. Any energy spent on high performing students is a waste of resources and makes the achievement gap worse. Teacher availability is subject the individual teacher's preference.

At low SES schools, very few parents come to the parent teacher conferences. MCPS desperately wants these parents to come so they can work with their kids at home more and catch up because it isn't happening in the classroom. Offering more conferences doesn't solve this problem.

My kids go to a low SES school, and I always request for a spring meeting with the teacher. Never had a teacher deny me of one. It amazes me that very few parents ask for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You all are not thinking about this correctly. MCPS views everything thing through the lens of what does this mean for the achievement gap not what is the best thing to do from educational perspective for all kids.

At high SES schools, parent teacher conferences have very high attendance. Parents want more and want to know how they kid who is already meeting the basics can do more. Since the kids have already met the basic bar these conferences have no value to MCPS at all. Any energy spent on high performing students is a waste of resources and makes the achievement gap worse. Teacher availability is subject the individual teacher's preference.

At low SES schools, very few parents come to the parent teacher conferences. MCPS desperately wants these parents to come so they can work with their kids at home more and catch up because it isn't happening in the classroom. Offering more conferences doesn't solve this problem.

Don't give the report cards to the families until they show up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all are not thinking about this correctly. MCPS views everything thing through the lens of what does this mean for the achievement gap not what is the best thing to do from educational perspective for all kids.

At high SES schools, parent teacher conferences have very high attendance. Parents want more and want to know how they kid who is already meeting the basics can do more. Since the kids have already met the basic bar these conferences have no value to MCPS at all. Any energy spent on high performing students is a waste of resources and makes the achievement gap worse. Teacher availability is subject the individual teacher's preference.

At low SES schools, very few parents come to the parent teacher conferences. MCPS desperately wants these parents to come so they can work with their kids at home more and catch up because it isn't happening in the classroom. Offering more conferences doesn't solve this problem.

My kids go to a low SES school, and I always request for a spring meeting with the teacher. Never had a teacher deny me of one. It amazes me that very few parents ask for it.

They don't do it because they are pissed that it isn't being offered to them. Our principal reviews our BTS Night handouts to make sure we clearly state that we are available for conferences when parents request them.