We can agree: parent-teacher conferences are exhausting, right? You might have endless energy for teaching kids all day, but something about meeting their parents leaves you drained. And it’s even worse after a parent-teacher conference.
You feel exhausted. Your feet hurt. You’ve lost your voice…or possibly just your will to speak, ever again.
But the work isn’t done. You still have to make notes and follow up with parents, other teachers, and sometimes the students themselves.
It’s a lot to keep track of.
That’s why I’ve created this three-part series about parent-teacher conferences:
- Part 1: How to prepare before the conference
- Part 2: What to say and do during the conference
- Part 3: How to follow up after the conference (this post)
Ready to wrap things up? Let’s talk about how to handle things after a parent-teacher conference, so you can finally get some rest!
What if a parent misses their scheduled time and arrives late?
If your school has a policy on this, follow it. Otherwise, here are some tips:
- Set a timer at the start of each conference. This is especially important if the parent tends to arrive late or if you have another conference immediately afterward.
- End the conference when the timer runs out. Even if a parent shows up with one minute to spare, it’s ok to close the meeting. Offer to reschedule at a time that doesn’t conflict with your other conferences, or arrange to connect with the parent via phone or email.
- Protect your time, but stay flexible. Your schedule matters, whether it’s the next conference, a break, or prep time. At the same time, it’s important to connect with parents, even if they’re late.
- Avoid shaming or judging the parent. You don’t know their situation or what they had to go through to be here at all, so don’t make assumptions or make them feel guilty.
What if a parent doesn’t show up?
If a parent misses their scheduled conference, reach out afterward with an email or phone call to check in. Don’t assume you know why they missed the conference. Life happens.
Sometimes parents forget, get caught up at work or in traffic, or face a family emergency.
Whatever the reason, approach the conversation with the belief that the parent had the best of intentions.
Hold the conference via email or phone call just as you would an in-person event. Most parents genuinely care about their child’s progress and will appreciate the follow-up.
What follow-up do I need to do after a conference?
It’s a nice gesture to send a thank-you message (via app or email) after a parent-teacher conference. This can be as general as “Thank you for taking the time to come and discuss [student]’s progress” or you can list out a summary of what you discussed.
If you covered systems or promises for the student, remind the families of these things, such as:
- Promises to get missing work turned in next week
- Weekly check-in emails between teacher and family
- Behavior plans to help the student make good choices
Keeping a physical (or digital) record of these points ensures everyone stays on the same page.
What notes should I make for myself after a conference?
After a parent-teacher conference, write down:
- Promises students or parents made (like turning in missing work)
- Any data you promised to collect
- Systems or strategies everyone agreed to
For example, I once had a student who kept shouting out in class. During the conference, we agreed that the student would have a sticky note on his desk to write down comments and share them at the appropriate time.
I needed to make a note to myself so I remembered to put a sticky note on his desk on Monday morning.
You might also need to gather test scores or behavior data from other classes that you didn’t have access to during the conference or any insight you received about why a student keeps misbehaving.
These are the notes you should write down after a parent-teacher conference. Don’t rely solely on your memory, foggy as it is at the end of the night.
How can I keep my energy up even during long conference days?
Oof. I feel you, teacher-friend. Staying energized really depends on knowing yourself.
- If you’re energized by people, arrange to meet colleagues for lunch or dinner to recharge.
- If you’re more of an introvert, carve out quiet time in a corner of your room. Turn off the lights, close the door, and just chill.
(Pro tip: If your desk is visible from the door, sit somewhere else. If parents see you, they might still knock, even during your scheduled break!)
If possible, try to schedule group conferences if you can, so you’re not doing all the talking.
I once taught a full school day, then held conference until 8pm, only to return the next morning for an 8AM-8PM conference marathon.
That was rough.
But because I scheduled personal downtime and communicated with my coworkers, I was able to rest, recover, and get through it.
Want an all-purpose conference tool that can help?
This one-page conference template helps you keep track of notes and follow-up points after a parent-teacher conference.
I’ve used this exact template for years. It has spaces for parent notes and follow-up items, so you don’t have to rely on memory (or cover your desk in sticky notes).
When you take notes after a parent-teacher conference with this template:
- You’re less likely to forget any details or agreed-upon systems
- Parents see your dedication as you record notes during the meeting
And really, that’s what every parent wants: to know you care about their child as much as they do.
Download the free template here and be ready for your next conference by tomorrow!
(P.S. The template works no matter what grade you teach!)
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