Parent-Teacher Conferences

[crabcake]

Interesting ... the conference I attended at DQ's school today was student-led ... meaning the student is responsible for taking the parent around and spending 10 minutes in each "center" of the room (there are 5 total in her class) and the teacher is there to answer additional questions, as well as discuss student performance, challenges, etc. as you would in a normal conference at the end of the "tour".

I liked this concept because it makes the kid responsible for showing they know what they're doing in class, explaining it, etc., and focuses more on the positive vs. the negative, which P-T conferences sometimes do.

Anyone else's kids' schools do this? I'd never heard of it before, but I give the idea

 

[harleygirl]

Interesting ... the conference I attended at DQ's school today was student-led ... meaning the student is responsible for taking the parent around and spending 10 minutes in each "center" of the room (there are 5 total in her class) and the teacher is there to answer additional questions, as well as discuss student performance, challenges, etc. as you would in a normal conference at the end of the "tour".

I liked this concept because it makes the kid responsible for showing they know what they're doing in class, explaining it, etc., and focuses more on the positive vs. the negative, which P-T conferences sometimes do.

Anyone else's kids' schools do this? I'd never heard of it before, but I give the idea

Great idea!! It is never too early to start teaching these kids reponsibility. At the school I work at, when a child gets kicked out of class, they have to call the parent in front of the staff to discuss with them why they are in the front office.

 

[crabcake]

Eggzactly! The class has several "key themes" such as integrity, responsibility, independence, courtesy, etc. and I see those things coming out in DQ more now that they're stressed in the classroom as well as home. But the learning/instruction style of her school is a lot like Montessori, which I always knew she'd do very well in, so I'm not surprised she's grasping these concepts and her subjects much faster.

 

[harleygirl]

Eggzactly! The class has several "key themes" such as integrity, responsibility, independence, courtesy, etc. and I see those things coming out in DQ more now that they're stressed in the classroom as well as home. But the learning/instruction style of her school is a lot like Montessori, which I always knew she'd do very well in, so I'm not surprised she's grasping these concepts and her subjects much faster.

That is great!! Sounds like she is off to a great start!! Most private schools emphasize character education, the public schools should teach it more often.

 

[greyhound]

Calvert County Public Schools have a very strong Character Education program. One of the elementary schools is used as a national model.

 

[wood Butcher]

St Mary's County Schools also teach character education, at least in the middle schools. My school has won numerous awards for its Character Education program.
Private schools are great for the few who can afford them; the public schools do a wonderfuyl job of educating those who want to learn and can't afford a private education. Unfortunately, we must also try to educate those who do not want to learn.
GWB calls this "No Child Left Behind."

 

[MMDad]

St Mary's County Schools also teach character education, at least in the middle schools. My school has won numerous awards for its Character Education program.
Private schools are great for the few who can afford them; the public schools do a wonderfuyl job of educating those who want to learn and can't afford a private education. Unfortunately, we must also try to educate those who do not want to learn.
GWB calls this "No Child Left Behind."

What should society do with the children "who do not want to learn?" As I see it, we have two choices: build schools, or build prisons. I'd rather we moved our money away from the penal system and to the educational system. If teachers don't want to teach the "do not want to learn" kids, what is our option?

The easy answer is to blame the bad parents. It is absolutely true that they are at fault. But how do we solve the problem? Condemn the kids who have bad parents? Send them straight to jail?

I definitely prefer that my tax dollars go towards rescuing these kids from their environment, and allow them the oppurtunity to thrive. It's cheaper than supporting a prison system, and much, much cheaper than supporting the welfare system.

 

[greyhound]

What should society do with the children "who do not want to learn?" As I see it, we have two choices: build schools, or build prisons. I'd rather we moved our money away from the penal system and to the educational system. If teachers don't want to teach the "do not want to learn" kids, what is our option?

The easy answer is to blame the bad parents. It is absolutely true that they are at fault. But how do we solve the problem? Condemn the kids who have bad parents? Send them straight to jail?

I definitely prefer that my tax dollars go towards rescuing these kids from their environment, and allow them the oppurtunity to thrive. It's cheaper than supporting a prison system, and much, much cheaper than supporting the welfare system.

I agree with MMDad. I think of things this way....I have no control over what happens away from school, but I do have control over what I can do to help the children that come into my school. I cannot make parents help with homework, or read to their children. I can do everything possible to make sure that a student has the tools to learn. If you are in education and you are not there to try your hardest to educate all children regardless of whether you think that they want to learn or not, than maybe you might need to rethink things.....

These children will be adults someday.