February is conference season for many classrooms — and it’s also Black History Month! It’s a  great time to add some fun and engaging activities that  honor Black voices, experiences, and contributions. Be sure to read my blog on honoring Black History Month for ideas to do with your kiddos!

This month, we’ll be preparing for Parent-Teacher conferences. Parent-teacher conferences aren’t just about sharing grades — they’re an opportunity to reflect on progress, celebrate growth, and strengthen the home-school connection. With a little intentional preparation, conferences can feel productive and meaningful for everyone involved — including your students.

Before conferences, students benefit from clear opportunities to:

• reflect on their learning and progress
• understand their strengths and areas for growth
• practice talking about their work with confidence

Preparing students ahead of time not only eases conference stress, but it also helps conversations stay focused, positive, and student-centered.

You don’t need to overcomplicate it. Instead:

• give students time to review their work and set goals
• model how to talk about learning successes and challenges
• encourage ownership by letting students share their learning

These small steps help shift conferences from teacher-led updates to meaningful conversations — and they empower students to take pride in their progress.

To make conference prep easier, be sure to check out my student-led conference resources in my TPT store or visit my blog posts to read about the power of student-led conferences! 

Happy conferencing — and happy Black History Month!