In MS and HS if you have a question for a teacher just reach out and ask. Or if a conversation would be better just ask for a call. Teachers are often reaching out to parents with student feedback. The speed dating formats aren’t really that great but there truly isn’t a good way for many parents to meet many teachers over the course of two 2 hour early release days.

I think this model of "parent engagement" is performative and a waste of time. MCPS needs to reimagine parent-teacher conferences to build true and lasting relationships.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the past several years at Westland MS and BCC HS the PT conferences are reserved for families of students who are failing or near-failing. I understand how exhausting it is for teachers to see too many parents, but I do miss having conversations with my children's teachers.

That's not true exactly. The wording is "Conference spots are limited, and we encourage families of students who are in need of additional support to sign up for a time."

How you define additional support is up to you. My kid isn't failing or near failing anything but is having trouble following the "organizational style" to put it gently of one particular teacher. I made an appt and listen to the teacher's feedback and see if my kid can have a better experience in that class. I see plenty of other parents of kids I know who I would strongly doubt are failing doing the same.

At Westland? Maybe. At BCC, it's anyone who's getting a D. My kid isn't getting Ds.

Does it literally say, unless your kid is failing, do not ask for a PT conference--that's pretty extreme. Kids can be struggling in a lot of ways even if they're not getting a D or F.

And yes, I have a kid at Westland, and that's exactly what it says....it does NOT say only parents of kids who are failling should request a meeting.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the past several years at Westland MS and BCC HS the PT conferences are reserved for families of students who are failing or near-failing. I understand how exhausting it is for teachers to see too many parents, but I do miss having conversations with my children's teachers.

That's not true exactly. The wording is "Conference spots are limited, and we encourage families of students who are in need of additional support to sign up for a time."

How you define additional support is up to you. My kid isn't failing or near failing anything but is having trouble following the "organizational style" to put it gently of one particular teacher. I made an appt and listen to the teacher's feedback and see if my kid can have a better experience in that class. I see plenty of other parents of kids I know who I would strongly doubt are failing doing the same.

At Westland? Maybe. At BCC, it's anyone who's getting a D. My kid isn't getting Ds.

Does it literally say, unless your kid is failing, do not ask for a PT conference--that's pretty extreme. Kids can be struggling in a lot of ways even if they're not getting a D or F.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the past several years at Westland MS and BCC HS the PT conferences are reserved for families of students who are failing or near-failing. I understand how exhausting it is for teachers to see too many parents, but I do miss having conversations with my children's teachers.

That's not true exactly. The wording is "Conference spots are limited, and we encourage families of students who are in need of additional support to sign up for a time."

How you define additional support is up to you. My kid isn't failing or near failing anything but is having trouble following the "organizational style" to put it gently of one particular teacher. I made an appt and listen to the teacher's feedback and see if my kid can have a better experience in that class. I see plenty of other parents of kids I know who I would strongly doubt are failing doing the same.

At Westland? Maybe. At BCC, it's anyone who's getting a D. My kid isn't getting Ds.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the past several years at Westland MS and BCC HS the PT conferences are reserved for families of students who are failing or near-failing. I understand how exhausting it is for teachers to see too many parents, but I do miss having conversations with my children's teachers.

That's not true exactly. The wording is "Conference spots are limited, and we encourage families of students who are in need of additional support to sign up for a time."

How you define additional support is up to you. My kid isn't failing or near failing anything but is having trouble following the "organizational style" to put it gently of one particular teacher. I made an appt and listen to the teacher's feedback and see if my kid can have a better experience in that class. I see plenty of other parents of kids I know who I would strongly doubt are failing doing the same.

+1 It's unfortunate that teachers have such heavy student loads that these PT conferences can be a burden, but parents can help their kids do better if they know what is going on in class.

Anonymous wrote:For the past several years at Westland MS and BCC HS the PT conferences are reserved for families of students who are failing or near-failing. I understand how exhausting it is for teachers to see too many parents, but I do miss having conversations with my children's teachers.

That's not true exactly. The wording is "Conference spots are limited, and we encourage families of students who are in need of additional support to sign up for a time."

How you define additional support is up to you. My kid isn't failing or near failing anything but is having trouble following the "organizational style" to put it gently of one particular teacher. I made an appt and listen to the teacher's feedback and see if my kid can have a better experience in that class. I see plenty of other parents of kids I know who I would strongly doubt are failing doing the same.

Our HS has a hybrid system on Monday, 10 min Zoom conferences first, and 5 min in-person cafeteria "speed dating" conferences later in the afternoon.

For the past several years at Westland MS and BCC HS the PT conferences are reserved for families of students who are failing or near-failing. I understand how exhausting it is for teachers to see too many parents, but I do miss having conversations with my children's teachers.

We can choose to sign up for 10-minute Zooms at our MS, but each teacher only has about 10 slots (which is totally understandable - on top of this they also do in-person speed-dating earlier in the day!). You have to be on top of the signup release time (which is circulated in advance) to get what you want, but I've always been able to build a rotating Zoom schedule with the teachers I want to see. Thst having been said, I have the time and the knowledge to land those appointments. I worry for the folks who don't and wonder what other systems and opportunities are already in place - or should be.

Anonymous wrote:MS - flyer says it is going to be like "speed-dating"

All teachers at a table, all throughout a few areas, and you stand in line to talk to them and have 5 min to talk with each

This is how it is at ours. I don't find it helpful.

MS - flyer says it is going to be like "speed-dating"

All teachers at a table, all throughout a few areas, and you stand in line to talk to them and have 5 min to talk with each

My MS does not do conferences unless the kid is in trouble.

For MS-yes we have them Monday and Tuesday PM, in person or zoom depending on preference of parent.
For my kids’ ES, PT conferences started this week continuing to next week.

Curious if other schools have their conferences next week/Thanksgiving week, and what format the conferences are in? Asking primarily for middle and high school where students have multiple teachers.