Working With Parents & Guardians: Asset-Based Communication + Conference Simulation (4-Day Sequence)
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Description
This four‑day instructional sequence prepares teacher candidates to communicate with parents and guardians using an asset‑based, professional, and ethically grounded approach. The unit emphasizes prioritizing student strengths, shared goals, and contextual understanding while avoiding deficit‑focused language. Candidates begin by engaging in a Socratic Seminar grounded in research on effective family communication, allowing them to surface key themes, misconceptions, and questions. They then learn a structured conference script, analyze communication tips embedded within it, and practice applying the format through peer role‑play. Subsequent sessions focus on selecting and presenting data in family‑friendly ways, reframing challenges into needs and supports, and using open‑ended questions to foster partnership. Candidates compare multiple data sources, anticipate potential defensiveness, and practice conference strategies with partners and AI‑supported simulations. The unit culminates in a full parent–teacher conference simulation in which candidates conduct co‑taught and individual conferences with trained volunteers and receive feedback using the sandwich method. Post‑simulation assignments reinforce reflective practice, professional communication, and continuous improvement. Collectively, the sequence builds candidates’ confidence, communication skills, and readiness for high‑stakes family interactions.
Publication Date
2026
City
Pittsburg
Keywords
Asset-based communication, Parent–teacher conferences, Teacher candidates, Family engagement, Data presentation, Socratic Seminar, Professional communication, AI-supported practice, Feedback (sandwich method), Simulation training
Disciplines
Education | Educational Methods | Elementary Education | Secondary Education
Recommended Citation
Gober, Carissa State, "Working With Parents & Guardians: Asset-Based Communication + Conference Simulation (4-Day Sequence)" (2026). Open Educational Resources - Teaching and Learning. 28.
https://digitalcommons.pittstate.edu/oer-teaching/28
