Before the school year started, GFW Elementary School hosted meet and greet conferences for families. Unlike a traditional open house format, these are scheduled appointments where students and families can connect directly with their classroom teachers before the school year begins. Families and students had amazing reactions to the new space as they walked into the building with students especially excited about the new playground, motor room, flex spaces, and classrooms.
As a parent, it can be daunting sending your child off into the world of education. Whether it’s their first child, or their last, it can be a roller-coaster of emotions.
By hosting these conferences, teachers are able to focus on one family at a time and walk them through the process for the year, have them fill out paperwork, and provide some information about what to expect. While families talked with the teacher, students were able to explore the classroom before having a relaxed one-on-one conversation with their teacher.
“What I really appreciated about conferencing was that parents felt more comfortable sharing information about learning needs, preferential seating needs, medical concerns, and any other information about their child's unique learning needs,” said Fifth Grade Teacher Jennifer Lauinger. “I was able to connect with families, they were able to share insights and important information about their child, and families also had the opportunity to learn a bit about me.”
For the students, having a conference allows them to explore their learning space in a one-on-one setting. They are able to find their lockers, learn about where they get to sit/store their supplies, but most importantly, it allows them to see their teacher so they know who to look for on the first day of school.
"Students may not remember my name right away, but chances are they will remember my face and their learning space," said Kindergarten Teacher Shelby Hartmann. "It also eases a lot of the anxieties for parents that come with letting go of their children on the first day of school. Conferences also allow families the opportunity to share important information, preview our routines, schedules, and policies so there are no unexpected surprises. As the teacher, I love getting to connect with each child and family face-to-face. These conferences set the tone for the year that open communication with each other is the key to success!"
Amy Bastian is a Reading Interventionist at our school and is also a parent of students, so she was able to experience the conference from the parent perspective.
“I really like being able to have a set time to meet with the teacher because it makes the process a lot quicker and also allows me to be able to have a private conversation with the teacher about the specific needs of my child,” said Bastian. “As a parent, I like knowing that my child's teacher cares about them as a person and these meetings give me an opportunity to fill the teacher in on any concerns or things that might be going on with my child before they even start class!”
Because these conferences are for Elementary students, there are also some pretty adorable and fun questions and situations that do come up. We had to ask our teacher experts to share a fe.
"One of the families that I have worked with for years sent their last kiddo off to kindergarten this year and when they came in for open house conferences, the parents shared that their daughter wondered WHY she had to come into school for a conference to meet me," said Hartmann. "She stated that she’s already known me for years and that her sisters told her all about kindergarten already. She stated 'I don’t need to meet her! I already know her!' That’s what open house is all about, making sure our students are confident starting the year and building relationships that last beyond the classroom for years to come."
"I had a good one with a student and family this year," added Lauinger. "Students are encouraged to bring a pair of socks in case they get wet during recess in the winter. Much to the parent's surprise, one student brought 12 pairs of socks! We were able to convince this student that two pairs was sufficient."
By starting the year with a one-on-one opportunity to connect, GFW Elementary is setting students up for an incredible school year