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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Conferences And Conference And/Or Assessment Forms
melilley 10:01 AM 07-09-2013
Do any of you hold conferences for your fcc? If you do, what are some things that you discuss. Do you think that they are beneficial?
Honestly I talk to the parents everyday and let them know what is going on with their children and what we need to work on (I know I should use an official assessment form, but I've just been observing them) or things to watch for so I haven't had any conferences yet and didn't really think about holding any "official" conferences until I found out that I have to for points for the Stars program in my state. I wouldn't mind doing them, I just don't know what to talk about with parents when I talk to them everyday.
Would anyone mind sharing their conference form with me and/or an assessment form that you use. I did conferences at the center that I worked at in the past, but we had to go on the company's own assessment and conference forms and I can't remember one thing on them.
I found assessment forms on the CDC website. Does anyone use the forms from them?
Thank You
Honestly I talk to the parents everyday and let them know what is going on with their children and what we need to work on (I know I should use an official assessment form, but I've just been observing them) or things to watch for so I haven't had any conferences yet and didn't really think about holding any "official" conferences until I found out that I have to for points for the Stars program in my state. I wouldn't mind doing them, I just don't know what to talk about with parents when I talk to them everyday.
Would anyone mind sharing their conference form with me and/or an assessment form that you use. I did conferences at the center that I worked at in the past, but we had to go on the company's own assessment and conference forms and I can't remember one thing on them.
I found assessment forms on the CDC website. Does anyone use the forms from them?
Thank You
kendallina 10:26 AM 07-09-2013
I do conferences. Technically, I run a morning preschool, so the parents expect them, but really, I find them incredibly helpful, so I would do them regardless.
For me, the conferences take about 20-40 minutes and I usually will jot down a few notes beforehand. We talk about their development, socially and emotionally. We talk about kindergarten readiness stuff (colors, numbers, letters, following directions, etc). I also go over the state's preschool guidelines a little with them and talk about how we meet these while they're in preschool with me. It's pretty relaxed and I try to keep it informal and just a chat. I also make sure that I share something cute/funny/smart that their kid has done recently and something that we're working on. I ask for help from mom and dad if needed and also make sure I answer any questions for them. It's also a time that I try and get feedback from them, "were there any themes that Johnny liked in particular this year? Do you have any suggestions for..." That's basically it. I do have a portfolio that I do for each child, so some of this conversation happens while they're looking at pictures of their kiddo.
I have to say, that I sometimes kind of dread conferences (you know, it's just more people in my house/have to make sure the house is clean/ etc etc etc), but I always feel energized and so good about our conversations. It helps keep communication open and helps us feel so much more comfortable with each other. I always do a conference in Oct or Nov and sometimes do one in the spring for the parents that want one.
Not sure if that helps much, but that's how I do it.
For me, the conferences take about 20-40 minutes and I usually will jot down a few notes beforehand. We talk about their development, socially and emotionally. We talk about kindergarten readiness stuff (colors, numbers, letters, following directions, etc). I also go over the state's preschool guidelines a little with them and talk about how we meet these while they're in preschool with me. It's pretty relaxed and I try to keep it informal and just a chat. I also make sure that I share something cute/funny/smart that their kid has done recently and something that we're working on. I ask for help from mom and dad if needed and also make sure I answer any questions for them. It's also a time that I try and get feedback from them, "were there any themes that Johnny liked in particular this year? Do you have any suggestions for..." That's basically it. I do have a portfolio that I do for each child, so some of this conversation happens while they're looking at pictures of their kiddo.
I have to say, that I sometimes kind of dread conferences (you know, it's just more people in my house/have to make sure the house is clean/ etc etc etc), but I always feel energized and so good about our conversations. It helps keep communication open and helps us feel so much more comfortable with each other. I always do a conference in Oct or Nov and sometimes do one in the spring for the parents that want one.
Not sure if that helps much, but that's how I do it.
EntropyControlSpecialist 10:30 AM 07-09-2013
I do not do conferences (I have only done 1 when I wanted a child to be evaluated), but I do send home assessments in December, March, and May for the year. I have all preschool aged children here and the parents like to see their child's progress documented.
daycarediva 11:02 AM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
I do not do conferences (I have only done 1 when I wanted a child to be evaluated), but I do send home assessments in December, March, and May for the year. I have all preschool aged children here and the parents like to see their child's progress documented.
this, right down to the months the reports are sent home. I do not do conferences (I have only done 1 when I wanted a child to be evaluated), but I do send home assessments in December, March, and May for the year. I have all preschool aged children here and the parents like to see their child's progress documented.
melilley 11:14 AM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
I do not do conferences (I have only done 1 when I wanted a child to be evaluated), but I do send home assessments in December, March, and May for the year. I have all preschool aged children here and the parents like to see their child's progress documented.
If you don't mind, what assessment tool(s) do you use or do you make your own?I do not do conferences (I have only done 1 when I wanted a child to be evaluated), but I do send home assessments in December, March, and May for the year. I have all preschool aged children here and the parents like to see their child's progress documented.
EntropyControlSpecialist 12:17 PM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by melilley:
If you don't mind, what assessment tool(s) do you use or do you make your own?
If you PM me your e-mail address I will attach the exact assessment I use to an e-mail and send it off to you. If you don't mind, what assessment tool(s) do you use or do you make your own?
melilley 10:35 AM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by kendallina:
I do conferences. Technically, I run a morning preschool, so the parents expect them, but really, I find them incredibly helpful, so I would do them regardless.
For me, the conferences take about 20-40 minutes and I usually will jot down a few notes beforehand. We talk about their development, socially and emotionally. We talk about kindergarten readiness stuff (colors, numbers, letters, following directions, etc). I also go over the state's preschool guidelines a little with them and talk about how we meet these while they're in preschool with me. It's pretty relaxed and I try to keep it informal and just a chat. I also make sure that I share something cute/funny/smart that their kid has done recently and something that we're working on. I ask for help from mom and dad if needed and also make sure I answer any questions for them. It's also a time that I try and get feedback from them, "were there any themes that Johnny liked in particular this year? Do you have any suggestions for..." That's basically it. I do have a portfolio that I do for each child, so some of this conversation happens while they're looking at pictures of their kiddo.
I have to say, that I sometimes kind of dread conferences (you know, it's just more people in my house/have to make sure the house is clean/ etc etc etc), but I always feel energized and so good about our conversations. It helps keep communication open and helps us feel so much more comfortable with each other. I always do a conference in Oct or Nov and sometimes do one in the spring for the parents that want one.
Not sure if that helps much, but that's how I do it.
Do you know where to find the state's preschool guidelines?I do conferences. Technically, I run a morning preschool, so the parents expect them, but really, I find them incredibly helpful, so I would do them regardless.
For me, the conferences take about 20-40 minutes and I usually will jot down a few notes beforehand. We talk about their development, socially and emotionally. We talk about kindergarten readiness stuff (colors, numbers, letters, following directions, etc). I also go over the state's preschool guidelines a little with them and talk about how we meet these while they're in preschool with me. It's pretty relaxed and I try to keep it informal and just a chat. I also make sure that I share something cute/funny/smart that their kid has done recently and something that we're working on. I ask for help from mom and dad if needed and also make sure I answer any questions for them. It's also a time that I try and get feedback from them, "were there any themes that Johnny liked in particular this year? Do you have any suggestions for..." That's basically it. I do have a portfolio that I do for each child, so some of this conversation happens while they're looking at pictures of their kiddo.
I have to say, that I sometimes kind of dread conferences (you know, it's just more people in my house/have to make sure the house is clean/ etc etc etc), but I always feel energized and so good about our conversations. It helps keep communication open and helps us feel so much more comfortable with each other. I always do a conference in Oct or Nov and sometimes do one in the spring for the parents that want one.
Not sure if that helps much, but that's how I do it.
Blackcat31 10:43 AM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by melilley:
Do you know where to find the state's preschool guidelines?
Is this what you are looking for? Do you know where to find the state's preschool guidelines?
http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7...3343--,00.html
or maybe this http://www.teachingstrategies.com/co..._ALIGNMENT.pdf
Sorry, I am probably way off base but that's all I've got...
melilley 10:50 AM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
Is this what you are looking for?
http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7...3343--,00.html
or maybe this http://www.teachingstrategies.com/co..._ALIGNMENT.pdf
Sorry, I am probably way off base but that's all I've got...
Sounds like it, but their site is messed up and the link doesn't work. Honestly, I have no idea what to look for. I have to do assessments on the kids and have conferences for the Stars program and all of my children are 2.5 and under so I'm not quite sure what to look for or what to use to assess them. It just says to show proof of an assessment tool used. I'm so confused! Is this what you are looking for?
http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7...3343--,00.html
or maybe this http://www.teachingstrategies.com/co..._ALIGNMENT.pdf
Sorry, I am probably way off base but that's all I've got...
Thank you though!
Blackcat31 12:13 PM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by melilley:
Sounds like it, but their site is messed up and the link doesn't work. Honestly, I have no idea what to look for. I have to do assessments on the kids and have conferences for the Stars program and all of my children are 2.5 and under so I'm not quite sure what to look for or what to use to assess them. It just says to show proof of an assessment tool used. I'm so confused!
Thank you though!
Our state's Star rating system HIGHLY recommends that we use Teaching Strategies Gold for early childhood as one of the aligned curricula....they have an extensive (but easy) assessment method...Sounds like it, but their site is messed up and the link doesn't work. Honestly, I have no idea what to look for. I have to do assessments on the kids and have conferences for the Stars program and all of my children are 2.5 and under so I'm not quite sure what to look for or what to use to assess them. It just says to show proof of an assessment tool used. I'm so confused!
Thank you though!
It might be worth looking into. http://www.teachingstrategies.com/pa...d-overview.cfm