Parent / Teacher Conferences are approaching ...
What should parents expect?
- An emphasis on the collaboratively-designed Ready, Set, Goal targets
- An emphasis on building on a student's strengths
- A deep knowledge of the broad range of academic and social skills that we teach, including:
- The Common Core State Standards (near-national goals for math & literacy)
- Various curricula, where appropriate (Mondo for literacy, Investigations for math, Second Step for social / emotional learning) - many differences apply, based on grade-level and program
- Various assessments (again, based on grade and program), such as
- Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) and Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination (WKCE) for grades 3-5
- Text Reading Level (TRL), Running Records, and AIMSWeb for literacy K-5
- Fact Fluency Assessment (FFI) and Number Development Assessment (all students, depending on developmental level) for math
- Objectivity, an emphasis on data, and a professional demeanor
- Honesty and sensitivity, in identifying areas of concern
How should parents handle conflict?
Conflict is a natural part of working with other people - how it is handled is what makes the difference. Even though we have considerable skill and talent at Sandburg, the staff realize that being in the education profession means a lifelong commitment to learning, and they are willing to learn, adapt, and change to ensure the success of all students. Therefore, here are some key ideas if you feel your child is not being successful:
- Operate with positive assumptions. The staff at Sandburg are good people who want all children to be successful, and they work hard, for long hours and little pay and too little appreciation - nationally - than I believe they deserve. They want your child to succeed.
- Get involved. If you have concerns, you are strongly encouraged to spend time in the classroom. Parents' observations are much more meaningful than hearsay from elementary school-aged students. We are always open and welcoming to visitors and volunteers.
- Offer ideas: Teachers want to meet the needs of all students. If you have an idea for how something can be done differently - or better - to meet the needs of your child, say so.
- Realize that Parent / Teacher Conferences are formal opportunities for sharing, but you are always encouraged to be in touch with your child's teacher - whether there are formal Parent / Teacher Conferences or not.
- If conflict does arise, it should be addressed with the teachers first (in almost all situations). There are few circumstances in which speaking with the principal first is the appropriate choice (Parents - think about your workplace ... Would you prefer to have a complaint delivered to you first, before your supervisor?). As a general rule, concerns should be raised with teachers first to give them a fair chance to respond appropriately. If concerns are not being addressed satisfactorily, please include the principal.
- Do a quick search of the internet to pull up resources for having a successful Parent / Teacher Conference, like this.
I want all students to be successful, and I believe that the success of all students depends on the ability of parents and teachers to work well together, communicate openly, and handle conflicts appropriately when they do arise. I believe we can do this.
Brett
