Tips for French teachers preparing for parent-teacher interviews

Tips for French teachers preparing for parent-teacher interviews

Are you a French teacher looking for tips on how you can prepare for parent-teacher interviews? I’ve complied a list of my favourite tips and things I’ve learned since I began teaching French. As the French Teacher, you may not see your students every day or be the main point of contact between school and home. So, it is especially important that you keep accurate records and observation notes for each student as part of your professional practices. This will help you both at report card time and during the follow-up interview with parents.

Here are some tips to help you prepare for parent-teacher interviews:

1. Preparation is key: Review the students' records, including their academic performance, attendance, and behaviour. Familiarize yourself with the students' strengths, weaknesses, and any areas where they need improvement.
2. Set clear goals: Determine what you want to achieve during the parent-teacher interview and plan your approach accordingly. You may want to discuss the students' progress, offer suggestions for improvement, or address any concerns the parents may have.
3. Be organized: Prepare a list of key points to cover during the interview and have any relevant documents or materials at hand. This can include report cards, test scores, class notes, and other relevant information.
4. Be open and approachable: Parents want to feel heard and understood. Try to create an atmosphere of collaboration and mutual respect, and avoid being defensive or confrontational.
5. Encourage questions: Allow the parents to ask questions and express their concerns. Be prepared to listen actively, offer constructive feedback, and provide specific examples to support your observations.
6. Emphasize the positive: Highlight the students' strengths and achievements, as well as any positive changes you've seen in their behaviour or academic performance.
7. Follow up: After the interview, follow up with any action items or decisions that were made. You may also want to send a summary of the meeting to the parents, reiterating the key points discussed and any next steps.
8. Stay professional: Remember that the parent-teacher interview is a professional meeting and maintain appropriate behaviour and language. Your conduct can have a lasting impact on the relationship between the school, the teacher, and the parent.

If you would like to learn more about how parents can help support their child’s learning in the FSL classroom, be sure to check out my blog post. Also, parents often ask for helpful websites or materials to help support their child at home. You can find my suggestions here as well. 

Finally, consider this French home activity calendar. It will help you bridge the home and school connection. 

FSL home activities

This resource comes with a calendar filled with authentic French learning experiences. Parents and students can pick and choose specific activities to complete. Included is a parent letter so that you can just print-and-go!