Parents’ Evenings by @teach_smith

Name: Daniel Smith
Twitter: @teach_smith
Sector:  Secondary
Subject: English
Position: Teacher
5 Bits of Advice About: Parents’ evenings

1. Chase up appointments as the pupils who don’t set a time are often the ones you need to see the most.
2. Set up your desk so that you have data to hand and perhaps exercise books. Some literature about the structure of the GCSE course may also be relevant.
3. Structure of an appointment: start with a positive statement, discuss reading, writing, speaking & listening, motivation and set one, maybe two specific targets.
4. Be as concise as possible: you will aid the other teachers, avoid a queue and you may get to leave early. You may also be able to ‘grab’ a parent waiting in a long queue.
5. Try to build in toilet breaks between blocks of appointments and try not to leave the most difficult discussions until last.

Being a Form Tutor by @teach_smith

Name: Daniel Smith
Twitter: @teach_smith
Sector:  Secondary
Subject: English
Position: Teacher
5 Bits of Advice About: Being a form tutor

1. Have a seating plan for form time and have high expectations of behaviour in form time in general.
2. There should be a set task for each day of the week, for example Friday can be silent reading.
3. Hold a social event every year for your form, this can be ambitious or just a get together after school.
4. Have regular conversations with members of your form and get to know them early on.
5. Chase up all behaviour issues. This may mean setting your own detentions, meeting subject teachers or calling home.