Förskolans utvecklingssamtal – ett komplex av aktiviteter i tid och rum

Abstract

This article highlights the construction of parent-teacher conferences in the Swedish preschool and activities related to them. Drawing on an ethnographic study the analysis focuses on the actors´ contributions to the conference and what resources are used. The empirical material consists of audio taped parent-teacher conferences and observations of everyday activities related to them. The results show that children, parents and preschool teachers are all involved in parent-teacher conferences. It is argued that different activities are initiated and governed by the institutional framework of the parent-teacher conference, and that it is almost an imperative for all the actors to be active in this process: to fill in forms, have talks in preschool or at home and then report and use these activities in the conference. In addition, the different activities that construct the parent-teacher conference have pedagogical implications by influencing the children and parents to become self-reflective in specific ways.