Off to Parent/Teacher conference

[KathyFP]

Well we are off to parent/teacher conference for DD (5). They requested a time slot for 10 minutes. I told them I needed more time. They gave me 20.

My goodness, in preschool we had 1/2 hour sessions and you could request a double session.

This is my DD's education - I can't imagine address her, her needs and her performance in 10 minutes. It will take me longer than that just to ask the questions I have and doesn't allow time for her to anwser.

 

[believe]

We have them in December and I think the time slots are also 10-15 minutes.

 

[KimRaye]

We had 15 mins for kindergarten and, we were done in about 10.

 

[CamColt]

Last year for Kindergarten we had 8 minute slots during the actual P/T night, but if anyone needed more time they would set up an individual appointment at another time. We were done in like 6. Im assuming this years will be longer since there are less kids in the class, but we were able to snag the first one of the night. I plan to get there early to be ready right on time.
Today the report card comes home and the meeting is Monday. I think Im more nervous now than when I got my own report cards.

 

[peg2001]

Gee, we had 20 minutes for 1st grade and took 40!

Peggy

 

[buzzlady]

Our regular conferences are 10 mins. also. Not nearly enough time to cover everything. I have already had an 8:00am conference for my DS11 who is not doing very well. That one lasted about 40 mins. So if you really have concerns you can always make an appointment for a longer conference.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Our conferences are 15 minutes, and for my 4th grader that is plenty of time. I don't usually have many questions, but I write down anything that I do have.

If you keep up day to day with your child's education, a formal conference isn't very necessary. It's always good to make contact with your child's teachers, but it's better to do it frequently so you are always on top of the situation.

 

[CEDmom]

For DD (pre-k) we have 20 minutes. I don't think I'll need all of that since I talk to her teacher everyday.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

I usually use the P/T night conferences just to do what they are intended for. I pick up the report cards and results of the Terra Novas and other testing that has been done....is he behaving....does he seem happy and confident yada yada yada.

Then I go home and look it over and come up with my questions. Then I call and request another meeting for after school the next week or so if I feel I need to. The teachers have more time then and they can also prepare much better for an in depth meeting when they aren't trying to get report cards out and schedule 30 other meetings for the same day.

 

[peg2001]

Originally posted by CEDmom
I don't think I'll need all of that since I talk to her teacher everyday.

I agree that this is best and just what we did when DD was in preschool. However, the elementary school is set up to discourage day to day contact with the teacher. Parents are told to drop off their child at the door and NOT to park and walk the child in. Pick-ups are similarly done with parents never leaving the car. If you ignore their request and walk your child in, you can not take them to the classroom but to the gym, where they wait in mass for the starting bell.

Oh well, we don't have to worry about that anymore now that I sleep with her teacher. DH started homeschooling DD 2 weeks ago.

Peggy

 

[Pooh93]

I also could have used longer than 10 minutes. DD did very well, but I still had some questions. I tried to be organized and type up my questions to keep focused and that seemed to help. However, I found myself talking very fast to try and get everything in. The one good thing about our school is that I can pop in on the teacher (after school, of course )and ask a simple question or concern that can be answered in 50 words or less. I try to be considerate of their time also as I know the teacher's have long days and would like to get home too. So far, I have no complaints.

 

[KathyFP]

DD takes a bus in the mronings and DH picks her up in the afternoon.

At the beginning of the year we both took her every day so we could get a feel of the school and get to know her teacher and principle.

There were some issues that had to be addressed then. We had a conference to address them. The primary issue was that DD was uncomfortable because when all of the student body was together in the am, the teachers yelled to get them under control. DD told the principle and the teacher that she did not like that school because they yelled. She told me that she did not want to grow up and be a yeller. (Long conversation about personal choices took place)

I just don't like to be rushed. Although I have my questions formulated prior to the meeting, somethingmay come up rthat I did not think about.

 

[KathyFP]

Results of the conference - I am a little concerned, because what the teacher reported was not what we see at home.

Here are the results

Letter recognition 51/52 (DD sometimes thinks a lowercase l is an i)

Number recognition 1-15 ( I know that DD knows many more)

Word recognition 11/25 - this one really concerned me. She wrote the words that she said DD did not know. There were three that I agreed with. When we got home I reviewed the words with DD and I was right.

Letter Sounds 20/26 - again I disagreed. DD get confused with q, but thatis all.

My other concern that I raised (and Ihave raised this twice before) is math. The math they are doing is allpre math. DD can add and subtract (she just can't carry over of take away). I asked for them to keep her stimulated with math. The teacher said she would send worksheets home. That is not what I wanted. We already do that at home.

She did say that DD has great work ethics and takes pride inher work. She said that DD is above what is expected.

Is this normal?? Am I being an overly sensitive parent????

 

[believe]

Sometimes children appear to know less when tested. They aren't use to being tested.

Your daughter does sound like she is doing above what most Kindergarten students do. My daughter is an older kinder, she will be 6 in December. She is still working on her letter sounds. She does spell words and can sound out some words, but not all. She isn't adding anything big, she isn't starting to do more though. She does know all of her letters.

When DD was tested in preschool I always listened to the teacher and if I knew my daughter knew something they said she didn't know I just let it go and chaulked it up to a moment of testing that DD went blank. I know what DD knows and that is what I find most important.

 

[KathyFP]

I know what DD knows and that is what I find most important.

Good point believe. That makes a lot of sense. DD will be six in Feb. Her last year at preschool was less than desirable (the quality of the school is deteriorating and the admin doesn't care). So I guess I am sensitive.

Plus this is our first and only child - no previous experience with what to expect.

School has been a struggle for us. We live in a school district that ranks one of the lowest in the state. We can not afford private school at 11,000 a year. Reluctant to do Catholic school since we are not catholic. Ended up at a charter school.

 

[CEDmom]

I'd also have to agree with Believe. I know our DD knows more that we're told at conferences. I chaulk it up to her comfort level and mood at the time she was evaluated. I think the fact the your DD has a good work ethics and takes pride in her work speaks volumes about her potential. I think most parents would be pleased to get the feedback you did. BTW, I can relate to not having previous experience since our DD is an only child as well. I'd just keep doing what you're doing since it seems to be working well.

 

[KathyFP]

Thanks