ED364352 PS021965
Title: School and Family Conferences in the Middle Grades. School
and Family Partnership Series.
Author(s): Bernick, Rivian; And Others
Author Affiliation: RMC Research Corp., Hampton, NH.(BBB19924)
Pages: 20
Publication Date: 1991
Sponsoring Agency: Office of Educational Research and Improvement
(ED), Washington, DC. Office of Research. (EDD00067)
Contract No: RR91-1720.08
Available from: EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
Language: English
Document Type: Guides--Non-classroom (055)
Geographic Source: U.S.; New Hampshire
Journal Announcement: RIEAPR1994
Target Audience: Teachers; Administrators; Practitioners
Intended to
help middle grade teachers and school leaders explore conferences
as a communication strategy for school family partnerships, this
booklet provides guidelines for designing or refining a conference
format to meet the needs of teachers, students, parents, and families.
Following an introduction, the first section examines scenarios
that illustrate how four schools designed conference formats for
their particular needs. The four formats considered are: (1) the
advisory conference, which involves principals, counselors, and
teachers in leading advisory groups of approximately 18 students
in grades 6 through 8; (2) the student-led conference, during which
students in grades 5 through 9 present to parents and teachers a
portfolio of assignments and self-assessments; (3) the arena conference,
which offers parents an opportunity to meet with each of their children's
teachers on a one-on-one basis; and (4) the team conference, which
involves teams of teachers, support personnel, and administrators
meeting with parents and families in three different types of conferences.
The second section discusses elements for effective conferences,
including school policies that promote best practices and strategies
found to work well in actual conference settings. A comparison chart
that breaks down conference elements for the four scenario schools
is also included in this section. The booklet concludes with an
annotated list of seven resources. (AC)
Descriptors: Educational Planning; Elementary School Teachers; Intermediate
Grades; Junior High Schools; *Middle Schools; *Parent Teacher Conferences;
Program Descriptions; Secondary School Teachers; *Student Educational
Objectives; Student Evaluation; *Student Role; *Teacher Behavior
