MS 54 Booker T Washington Middle School

If you have never shopped at Loehman’s during a sale, or watched the running of the bulls in Pamplona, it is difficult to describe to you the middle school parent-teacher conference experience. Parents, especially those of 6^th graders, may recall elementary school conferences as a civilized conversation with their child’s teacher in which they review work, share anecdotes, and discuss goals for the future. In middle school, the demands of time and numbers make that sort of a conversation next to impossible. While this guide does not pretend to offer a solution that will allow a parent to see every teacher in every subject, it may help parents get the most bang for the buck.

In that spirit, the PTA suggests the following:

1.      The Basics. Conferences (in Nov 2006)will be held on Tuesday, November 14^th, from 12:30 to 2:30, and 5:30 to 8. Each conference is 5 minutes. Parents may only enter the building at the start of the session. Each teacher will have a sign-up sheet outside the classroom door, usually broken out into 5-minute time increments. Parents signing up for more than one teacher will need to do so at each teacher’s room.

2.      Prioritize. Some teachers have 150 or more students in their care. Even if every conference lasted only the prescribed 5 minutes (a rarity), it would be impossible for the teacher to see the parents of every child. As a result, after signing up for one teacher, you may well find the next teacher’s time slots nearly or completely booked up. It is thus useful to sign up first for the teacher in the subject which your child finds most difficult or of greatest concern. The report card is expected to go home at least the day before conferences, which may help in deciding for whom to sign up first. You may want to prepare questions in advance. On the other hand, while parents love to hear nice things, if your child is doing well in a subject, you might consider leaving a slot to another family.

3.      Navigate the Building. Your child will be given a list of her/his teachers with the rooms in which the teacher may be found. It is useful to bring that list and the report card with you. The building above the first floor is a big “H”. Room numbers ending with 01-15 or so are on the West or right side as you enter (closer to the Yard); and higher room numbers are on the East (Columbus Avenue) or left side as you enter. The PTA will have copies of a map with room numbers available for conferences.

4.      Prepare for a long day/evening. Given the volume of people to be seen, it is often necessary to come early and stay late. We do not mean to encourage parents to camp out for hours like Shakespeare in the Park, but we do recommend comfortable shoes and a good book.

5.      Schedule Follow-ups. You may find that 5 minutes is just not enough time to discuss your child’s experience. Most teachers will be able to schedule another time to speak, subject to their own professional, personal and home commitments. You may want to ask about a later appointment to speak by phone, in person or e-mail rather than extend the conference.

6.      Visit the Bake Sale. It offers a well-earned reward and a chance to support the school.