Parent - Teacher Conference

So every year, at the end of the first nine weeks, we have the dreaded parent - teacher conferences. Our administration pushes us to receive 100% participation from parents, meaning attempt to meet with all parents. This makes administration look great to their bosses downtown, and makes my life a little easier if I meet their goals.

So for the past three years, (pat my back) I have strived and succeeded to conference with every parent of every student in my class. But it hasn't come very easy, I must say, but I get my conferences by any means necessary.

My first year at my school, I had a student who had a twin in another class. We tried desparately to schedule one conference for this parent. Working with my colleague, we scheduled a time that we could meet together. The parent would come in ONE TIME and we would meet together to discuss both children. The parent, of course, didn't want to visit the school at all, but since we had trouble with both students, it was more than a necessary.
So on the day and time of the perspective meeting, the other teacher and I met and waited for the parent to show. And waited, and waited, and waited. The parent was (wait for it) a no show. I'm sorry, I didn't realize that your child's education was so trivial to you, that you can't come in for a SIMPLE MEETING, to which two teachers worked hard to find a convenient time FOR YOU!

We then tried to do a phone conference (yes, this does count in 100% goal, but a face to face is encouraged). We had about 6 contact numbers for these two students, you would think that at least one number would work. Negative. All 6 numbers were either disconnected or not available. Another road block. We stopped there. But I wasn't giving up.

The next week, we had our annual "Fall Family Fling". In which students would come to school, dressed in Halloween costumes and play games for prizes. Families also received free pizza and drinks. Wouldn't you know, free is the key word, and this family. including the mother, (whom I had tried desparately to come to school, but who couldn't be bothered with a conference) free food and games, and she was in! When I saw her in line for pizza, and gingerly walked right up and said, "Ms. Blah-Blah, I'm so glad you could come tonight. After you get your dinner, why don't you come to my classroom before the festivites start and let's have a quick conference about Baby blah-blah's performance in class." BAM! She couldn't say no. She was caught like a animal in a trap. I escorted her up to my classroom and had my conference while she ate her free pizza.

Lesson learned: A child's education is not as important as free Papa John's and a coke.