Parent - Teacher Conferences how can they be more effecitve?

It is that time of year, parent-teacher conferences even though school only started a little over a month ago (my children have only been in school for 25 days and they also had conferences already). Our conferences are at night (from 4-8:15) on three different nights. As I worked in my room on the first night, I wondered how can we as teachers make conference more successful for teachers, parents, and the students. At my school (middle school), the teachers schedule their conferences with the parents. Each conference is 20 minutes; this is good and bad at the same time. Good because you can see more parents in a short amount of time; bad because each conference is rushed and not everything (good or bad) may be addressed. At times, I have felt as a clock watch, knowing that I had parents waiting for me and felt rushed and did not have the full attention of the teacher when I was at my own kids conference. Our students are invited and encouraged to come with their parents. Students will also help the teachers show parents where to go, had them their child's folder, and answer questions that parents might have.

I don't know about the rest of you, I feel that I am the only one doing all the talking at a conference and the parent just sits there. I always will ask if they have any questions or concerns, and 9 out of 10 times, they say 'no'. While I waited between conferences, I noticed this was how other conferences went; the teacher talks while the parent listens and leaves. I want my parents to be more active with our conference and ask me questions about the curriculum, how they child is doing, what they are expected to master. I started to look for tips to give my parents and found this article on five must ask questions parents should ask their children's teacher.

My district, like many others, pushed up fall conference closer to the start of the school year at the request of parents instead of them being closer to the end of the quarter or report card time. The parents requested it so they can be informed sooner how their child is doing, and if they are doing poorly have an opportunity to make a change before the report cards come out. I do agree that it is better to have conferences earlier in the fall instead of closer to the end of the quarter but 35 days into school is ridiculous. We are just starting to get to know our students. Does pushing up conferences earlier make them more successful? With some schools having Power School do we really need to have conferences so early?