The week of the PTMs
Each afternoon, plan a low maintenance activity for the last half an hour before the pupils go home, e.g. play, card games, DEAR time etc. This will give you a chance to gather your notes and set up the room for the PTMs.
Make sure there are chairs outside for parents to sit on while they are waiting. It can be helpful to put the PTM timetable up outside your door. You can also put a sign on your door to encourage parents to knock at their appointed time. This will help if you risk running over time!
It’s go time!
You should position your chair facing the door and with a clock in your eyeline too!
It can be helpful to arrange the chairs for both yourself and the parent(s) in a triangle shape. If possible, don’t sit behind a desk. Sitting together helps to establish a collaborative approach.
You can begin the meeting by asking the parents how they feel their child is getting on. This can put everyone at ease and give the parents an opportunity to feel heard. You can then speak through your notes. You can share the self-assessment sheet with the parents. You can conclude your piece by showing the parents some work samples. Try to keep it positive, using the sandwich approach!
‘To conclude, Mark has made great strides in his literacy and numeracy. Although, he still needs support in terms of starting his work independently, he has shown some improvement in this regard.’
Try not to bring any major surprises to the meeting. Similarly, if a parent brings something to your attention that you feel warrants further discussion, make a note of it and arrange another time to check in on it. It’s important to focus on the positives and that keep the happiness and attainment of the child at the centre of the discussion.
When you have reached the end of your parent teacher meeting week, treat yourself! Book a massage, a cinema ticket, or something that suits you and helps you to switch off.
You deserve it!
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