Goal Setting Conferences

In Manteca Unified, parent and teacher conferences are known as Goal-Setting Conferences. These conferences take place two times per year for families of students in TK-8 grade and are dedicated to building relationships, setting learning goals, and celebrating growth.

WHen are Goal-Setting Conferences?

Goal-Setting Conferences will take place from September 9-13, 2024 and January 27-31, 2025.

Why Goal-Setting Conferences?

Manteca Unified has reimagined the way we meet with parents to discuss student academic performance and progress. In a traditional parent-and-teacher conference, report cards are presented only after the students have received their official grades. Goal-setting conferences differ significantly: the conversation shifts from a pass/fail discussion to an individual learning plan that is achievable, involves parent partnership, and celebrates student growth!

Teachers share important information about your child such as their testing data, participation, work samples, and more. The conversation focuses on what your child knows now and what they are ready to learn next!

The goal-setting aspect is important as it helps students take ownership of their learning by helping them understand how their learning is measured. When students own their learning goals, with the support of their teacher, it encourages them to be lifelong learners. 

How to Prepare for Your Goal-Setting Conference

Before the Goal-Setting Conference

• Make sure you have a scheduled conference time. If you need to cancel the scheduled time, contact the teacher to schedule a different time.
• Review your child’s work.
• Talk with your child about their progress in school.
• Think about your child’s strengths and challenges.
• Make a list of questions about your child’s development and ways you and the teacher can help your child with some of their challenges. (See examples below)
• Think about ways you would like to be involved in your child’s learning, so you can discuss them with the teacher.

At the Goal-Setting Conference

• Be prepared for a two-way conversation to learn about your child’s social and emotional and academic progress at school. This is also an opportunity for the teacher to learn about what your child is like at home. When you tell the teacher about your child’s skills, interests, needs and dreams, the teacher can help your child more.
• Ask to see information about your child’s attendance and academic progress at school.
• Make a goal and a plan with your child's teacher to ensure your child's success.
• Schedule another time to talk if you need to continue the conversation past the allotted amount of time.
• Ask your child's teacher how best to communicate with them.

After the Goal-Setting Conference

• Talk with your child about what you learned.
• Follow up with the teacher about your child's development and the plan created during the conference.

Questions to Ask Your Child's Teacher

Here are some questions that might kick-start a great conversation about your child's education:

• Can you explain what MAP testing is and how it tracks my child's progress?
• Can you share my child's strengths and areas where they might need additional support?
• How can my child's learning needs be supported if they aren't making progress (or growth)? Such as Exact Path!
• Are there any improvements or achievements my child has made since school has started?
• Are there any subjects or topics that my child particularly enjoys or excels in?
• How can I best communicate with you (the teacher) throughout the school year to stay updated on my child's progress?
• Is my child learning at a rate that they should be at this point in the school year?
• How is my child’s attendance?
• How can I support my child's learning at home?