! September 2013 - Primary Teachspiration
If you're feeling a little overwhelmed about upcoming Parent-Teacher conferences, I've got you covered!

This little Parent-Teacher Conference Kit is editable, and it has all the essential forms you need to glide right through your parent meetings. You can sample this awesome kit, with the Free Conference Schedule Form below.

The complete kit, however, covers every step of the way from early parent communication and pre-planning to a Conference Notes Page for during the conference.  It includes forms for both 1-day and 2-day conferences.  

Let's take a closer look at every step of the way to stress-free Parent-Teacher Conferences.

Parent Teacher Conference Forms to Get Organized

How to Get Organized for Parent-Teacher Conferences

When you're organized ahead of time, conferences are a cinch. To guarantee less stressful parent-teacher conferences, just follow these 6 easy steps.

Get Organized for Parent-Teacher Conferences: Step 1

Send out a letter to parents to request a conference time.  It's a good idea to create a form letter that allows for editing of the date and time so you can reuse it in the future.   

Here you can see examples of such form letters for both one-day and two-day conferences.  Notice the red arrows that point to the editable sections.
Parent-Teacher Conferences Letter to Parents to Request a Conference Tiem

Get Organized for Parent-Teacher Conferences: Step 2

Create a Pre-scheduling Planning Sheet.  The planning sheet should have a column for student names. 

Then beside each name should be check-off columns for "Form Returned" and and "Time" requested.  Also, if you have two-day conferences, make sure to add a column for "Day" requested.

It's important to have columns for "Siblings," sibling "Teacher," and their "Times Requested."  This information will remind you to check with the teachers of any siblings your students have and coordinate with them on the times you will assign. 
Parent Teacher Conferences Pre-scheduling Planning Sheet

Get Organized for Parent-Teacher Conferences: Step 3

Prepare your Conference Schedule Planning Sheet.  Leave an editable place for "Day and Date," again for future use.

Use this sheet for preliminary scheduling whereby you can move names and times around until it is finalized to your satisfaction.

Type in your times in order and the name of each student for that time.
Parent-Teacher Conference Schedule Planning Sheet


Get Organized for Parent-Teacher Conferences: Step 4

Design a Parent Note to Confirm Conference Times.  Make dates, times, etc. editable for future use.  You can make them two to a page and send home a half-sheet note.
Parent-Teacher Conferences Parent Note to Confirm Times

Get Organized for Parent-Teacher Conferences: Step 5

Prepare a Conference Notes Page.  This page should contain the important information about each student to guide you through the conference. 

It should include editable places for student name, grades for each subject, reading levels, and assessment scores.  

Make two copies, one for you and one for the parent, on each student.

There should be a section for Teacher Comments/Concerns/Questions and a section for
Parent Comments/ConcernsQuestions.  This will allow for you and the parent to make notes as needed throughout the conference.

The final section should be for Notes/Plans/Interventions.
Parent-Teacher Conferences Conference Notes Page

Get Organized for Parent-Teacher Conferences: Step 6

Post a Conference Schedule Poster outside your classroom door for parents to see.  Also, make a second copy to keep with you to stay on top of your scheduled times and be prepared for who is next.

I leave you with the FREE Conference Schedule Form from the conference kit.  Everything is editable except the graphics and the words "Conference Schedule."    Enjoy!

Parent-Teacher Conferences Editable Schedule
FREE Editable Parent Teacher Conference Schedule


Have a great Conference! :)


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Parent-Teacher Conference Kit




Hey All! 

Hope you're having a glorious weekend and catching up on some much-needed rest!  It's absolutely gorgeous weather here in Missouri! 

I was thinking about fall conferences coming up soon and decided to make an editable schedule to post outside the classroom during conferences.  This is handy for both the teacher and the parent. I have always posted one outside the classroom door and made another copy to keep with me so I knew who would be next.  

This Conference Schedule is FREE for you now as a small sample of my comprehensive Parent-Teacher Conference Kit.  

For further info, go to my post, "Get Organized for Parent-Teacher Conferences Now!"  There you will see how the Complete Parent-Teacher Conference Kit covers every step of the way from early parent communication and pre-planning to a Conference Notes Page for during the conference.


Click on the image below for your Freebie.  Everything is editable except for the graphics and the words "Conference Schedule."  I hope it comes in handy!

Click on the image to download.



Happy Conferencing!



Teaching Addition and Subtraction with differentiation

Teaching addition and subtraction facts and getting EVERY student in your class to learn them can sometimes be a challenge!  We all know it's much easier for some than others, so we must have a plan to help every student become successful.  This can be accomplished by allowing your students to learn the facts at their own pace - Ah-ha, differentiation!  Realizing this years ago, I came up with a simple methodical format for making every individual in my class successful at memorizing addition and subtraction facts.  And it has never failed me; it works beautifully!  Most of you probably already do something similar, but I'm in a mood to share. So here it goes! 

I've always taught at a second-grade level, so my plan centers around second grade, but can easily be adapted to other grades.  At my school, there are 4 nine-week quarters.  So, my schedule for teaching addition and subtraction facts is divided between those four quarters as such: 

1st Quarter  - Addition facts within 10
2nd Quarter -Subtraction facts within 10
3rd Quarter - Addition facts within 20
4th Quarter - Subtraction facts within 20.

My Plan for Differentiated Math Facts Mastery

I begin 1st Quarter with every student practicing with flashcards, games, centers, paper & pencil (and also include practice as part of homework).  For the first week of addition facts practice, we begin with +0,+1.  Every day students will practice in all the various ways, and then take a daily "mad minute" quiz to assess mastery. Those who pass the quiz 100% will continue to practice +0,+1 for the week, but they will also move on to practicing +2 facts.  

Those who don't pass right off will have the opportunity to do so by quizzing each day until mastery is achieved.  It usually only takes that first week for most everyone to master +0,+1, so I usually only give about a week before moving on to the first +2 quizzes (given at the same time as any +0,+1 quizzes if needed).

For the 2nd week, we practice +2 (along with +0,+1 review) and usually another week before most everyone has mastered +2 (+2's are much harder).  

Then we move on to +3 in the same way, and so on with the goal of everyone passing all levels by the end of the first quarter. 

2nd Quarter I follow the same format with subtraction facts within 10: 1st week -0, -1,  2nd week -2, etc.  The 3rd and 4th quarters follow suit.

Essential Materials 

And finally!  I have had the time to organize my plan with 5 Addition Facts Practice and Assessment packets. Plus, I've put them together into my 1st Quarter Bundle, Addition Facts Within 10.

Update: Also, now available are 5 Subtraction Facts within 10 packets, plus the Subtraction Facts Within 10 Bundle. And, best of all, both bundles are together in the Mega Math Facts Bundle.

Let me tell you, these packets have made all the difference in my kiddos successfully learning their math facts. And that makes them feel good. I'm so proud of them!

You can see how I use them all year in the classroom in THIS POST.


                                                                     PIN IT!
Teaching Addition and Subtraction Facts with differentiation

If you're interested, you can find the math facts resources here. Addition Facts Within 10, Subtraction Within 10, and the Mega Math Facts Bundle that has both the addition facts and subtraction facts within 10 bundles.

Have a Happy Day :)

 
Grab this freebie for your Writer's Workshop!  When I taught writing to my second graders, this poster was my go-to writing tool for teaching the editing portion of the writing process.  I would post it, but I also had students keep an individual copy in their writing folders as a reference when it came time for them to edit their writings.  Aah, yes, their writing folders.  More on that another day :)

Have a great weekend!

Click on the image. 

 
Here is a FREEBIE packet for my 2nd Grade First Week Common Core Morning Work!    It's the perfect way to start your class off with morning routines while mega-learning at the same time.  Click the image to download.   



I have also created Units 1 - 6 to take your second graders through the year with ELA and Math Common Core learning!  Take a look at Unit 1.


Enjoy your freebie!

 



Dear Teacher Friends,

You MUST download a copy of this Classroom Décor eBook.  It is a collaborative effort from various TpT Sellers.  This FREE ebook includes links to products, freebies, tips and advice for organizing and arranging your classroom, thanks to the organizational efforts of Roseanne at Mizell Multiage.     
                                               
Classroom Decor eBook
Click on picture.


Hello Friends!

I hope your Labor Day weekend was fun and relaxing!  I know many of you are already back in school, and this nice long weekend was welcome.  We had a nice one.  Got to spend time with both daughters and families, as well as my sister and husband.  They just moved here from Texas.  We haven't lived close to one another since childhood, let alone in the same town.  Nice to have family close!

I can't believe it's already September!  Where did summer go?  I'm linking up with Farley's Oh Boy, Fourth Grade for her monthly Currently. Love reading these, so decided to join myself for the first time!




Here is a FREE Back to School "Rules for Learning" poster for my followers.  You may want to use it on a bulletin board, centers, collaborative groups, or any way you choose.  It will work best to copy it unto poster board and laminate for durability.   Click on the image to access it.  Hope you enjoy!



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