How to survive the parents’ evening

I’m a teacher, get me out of here! Yes, there are certain dates a teacher has indelibly marked on the calendar: the end of the summer holidays, the deadline for finishing school reports and the parents’ evening.

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It’s the last one teachers least look forward to.

Parents’ evenings can stress out even the most experienced and capable. A bit like taking a long-haul flight, they can be tiring, time consuming, tedious, and sometimes bumpy.

There’s not even a cheeky G&T to perk things up half way through.

The race against the clock to fit in all your appointments, the hours cramped behind the desk desperate for the loo, all that handshaking and smiling.

And did we mention the parents?

The teacher-bashers, the magic bullet parents, the divorced squabblers, the couldn’t- care-less couples: they’re all out in force.

So to make parents’ evenings less of a turbulent ride and more of a first-class experience, s1jobs has put together some top tips for survival!

 

Keep an eye on the clock

Running over your allocated time can make you rush and slip up. It also irritates waiting parents, which is never a good thing. Use your phone as a timer to keep you on track.

 

Don’t tackle big issues

Parents hate surprises being landed on them, especially in a public arena. Anything that needs tackling sensitively should be kept for a one-to-one session in school.

 

You’re not alone

It’s worth remembering many parents don’t find these sessions easy either. They can be just as nervous as you. Try to put them at their ease by starting with the positives then move on to more challenging topics.

 

Do your homework

Make sure you know which child you’re talking about. If after several months you still can’t tell Jessica from Julia, use some memory-jogging mnemonics. Also have all recent exam results and progress data to hand.

 

Dress the part

You want to have an air of authority, especially if you’re young enough to be the offspring of some of the parents, so dress accordingly. Male teachers note: no low-slung trews that show your undercrackers. And, ladies, keep the distracting bodycon dresses for nights out.

 

Make notes

Follow up on anything you promise, such as a change of seating plan or sending links to homework sites. In the heat of the consultation it’s easy to forget what you’ve pledged to do so draw up a list of actions to be completed.

 

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