Teach Primary Issue 19.6

When nerves abound, remember that three key steps can turn your dreaded appointments into productive meetings... A s a newly qualified teacher, I was fairly nervous before my first ever parents’ night… and I didn’t get nervous about much. But I was aware that all the parents were older than me, and I feared that they would see through my thin veneer of newly- qualified confidence. This isn’t an unusual feeling – even if you’ve been teaching for a while. But there are some simple steps you can take to quash the anxiety a bit, and make sure you’re as ready as you can be. Before you start Like most things, pulling off a successful parents’ night begins long before the evening itself. Preparation is key. I would suggest that you take time to prepare for each child in turn. Make sure that you have all the important information at hand, including key attainment data, pastoral issues and additional needs considerations. A chat with the previous teacher/s may give you some helpful background, too. In particular, find out about any issues that have cropped up in previous years, and how they were addressed. For example, if the parent previously raised concerns about their child’s reading level, what support was put in place, and what is the child’s current level? Similarly, if there were friendship issues last year, are they still in the same class as the children who were involved, and how are things going now? Whilst it is important to be well prepared and have a clear idea of what points you want to get across, on the night itself it will be vital to remember that it is called ‘parents’ night’ for a reason. It is a chance for families to ask questions that they may have, to raise any worries that may be troubling them and, importantly, spend some time with you. You are, after all, the person who cares for, and educates, their child every day. On the night Given my extensive experience of parents’ evening as both a teacher and a dad of six, I think I can be forgiven for admitting that lots of those conversations have merged into one in my mind, and it’s fair to say that it is probably some of the more challenging chats that stick. I remember the mother in tears about her daughter’s reading difficulties; the parent who was convinced that I had a deep dislike for her child; and my own experience of cutting a forlorn figure at my eldest daughter’s parents’ night when she had ‘crashed and burned’ in her mock exams. There is no doubt that you will find yourself in the middle of some difficult conversations, too, and there are few important thoughts to hold on to. First, try and 3 stages of a perfect PARENTS’ EVENING ALAN SH I ELDS www.teachwire.net | 27 F EATURE S PA S TORA L