Testing Conference

This is a very tricky topic just because there are so may angles that the parent, student, and teacher could debate. The one thing I would try to do as early as possible is to schedule a parent meeting with both the child and the parent(s) to see if all three or four of us can get a clear understanding of my expectations, the test itself, and a solution. One thing that I would assure the parents before the conference is that it is nobody's fault why the student failed the test, all of this would be discussed during the meeting. Once we figure out all of the factors which may contribute to the low grade, then we can start discussing what happened. One reason why I would want the student to be present is that if the student really struggled during the test, I would want his or her opinion of how the test could've been written differently so that the student can understand future tests better. Something that may happen that could be unexpected is that a child may have a learning disability to comprehend certain types of assessments and that might require further testing. In my opinion it's a win-win situation for everyone that is involved. The final thing I would do in this parent teacher conference is I would ask the parents if they understood the test as well. If the parents see the test, then they can get a better understanding of the structure of the test and what is expected. The bottom line is, I don't want to play the blame game, I want to come to a solution so that everyone involved is happy. I feel that there is too much blame going on now, and no solutions being offered. I believe having a face-to-face conference is the best way to come to a solution.