How can you effectively follow up with parents after an online parent-teacher conference?

1 Send a summary email

After the conference, send a summary email to the parents that recaps the main points of the discussion, highlights the strengths and areas of improvement of the child, and provides some action steps or resources to support their learning. This email can also include any attachments or links that you want to share with the parents, such as samples of work, assessment results, or online tools. Make sure that your email is clear, concise, and friendly, and that you thank the parents for their time and involvement.

2 Ask for feedback

One of the benefits of online parent-teacher conferences is that you can easily collect feedback from the parents using online surveys or forms. You can create a simple feedback form using tools like Google Forms or SurveyMonkey, and include questions that ask the parents about their satisfaction, expectations, and suggestions for the conference. You can also ask them about their preferred mode and frequency of communication, and their availability for future conferences. This feedback can help you improve your online communication skills and tailor your approach to each parent.

3 Follow up on action steps

If you and the parents agreed on some action steps or goals for the child during the conference, make sure that you follow up on them regularly and update the parents on the progress. You can use email, phone calls, or online platforms like Seesaw or ClassDojo to share the child's achievements, challenges, and feedback. You can also invite the parents to collaborate with you and the child on some activities or projects that reinforce the learning objectives. By following up on action steps, you can show the parents that you are committed to their child's success and that you value their partnership.

4 Share positive news

Another way to follow up with parents after an online parent-teacher conference is to share some positive news or stories about their child. This can help you build rapport and trust with the parents, and also boost the child's confidence and motivation. You can use email, phone calls, or online platforms to share some examples of the child's work, achievements, or behavior that demonstrate their growth, skills, or personality. You can also use this opportunity to praise the parents for their support and involvement in their child's learning.

5 Schedule another conference

Finally, you can follow up with parents after an online parent-teacher conference by scheduling another conference in advance. This can help you maintain a consistent and ongoing communication with the parents, and also give them something to look forward to. You can use online tools like Calendly or Doodle to find a convenient time and date for both parties, and send them a reminder email or message before the conference. You can also ask them if they have any questions or concerns that they want to address in the next conference, and prepare accordingly.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?