If you know anything about the school where I work- my relationship with my students' parents is a little more than just telling them things that go on at school. I'm not saying that I particularly like this- but I've embraced it nonetheless... so usually a conference goes like this:
Me: (Insert Student's Name Here), I'm so proud of everything you've accomplished so far in first grade! You're truly growing! How about we show your parents some of the things you've done!
Kid: This is my portfolio. It has stuff in it, like, stuff I've done. This is my family portrait. And here's me, and here's baxter (the dog) and here's my brother and I couldn't fit you or daddy so you're not on the picture.
Me: You've done such wonderful work! I'm so proud of you! I know you're parents are proud too! (Notice I'm using a lot of exclamation marks)
Parents: [ Nod in agreement]
Me: You filled out this questionnaire so your parents and I would know more about how you feel in first grade. Can you read your favorite question and answer to us?
Kid: Um... my favorite one is... the question is.. What has been hard for you so far this school year? and i wrote trying to understand why my mom was shooting at me.
Mom: [Laughs nervously] We were on our family vacation at a water park and I was shooting a water gun at him when I pressed a button to shoot water..... the shooting was water... from a water gun... it was fun honey remember?
Me: You filled out this questionnaire so your parents and I would know more about how you feel in first grade. Can you read your favorite question and answer to us?
Kid: Um... my favorite one is... the question is.. What has been hard for you so far this school year? and i wrote trying to understand why my mom was shooting at me.
Mom: [Laughs nervously] We were on our family vacation at a water park and I was shooting a water gun at him when I pressed a button to shoot water..... the shooting was water... from a water gun... it was fun honey remember?
Me: Oh. That sounds like fun.
Kid: Yeah, I just didn't understand it.
Me: [smiling] Well.......the next thing I want you to do is help me set some goals. You're doing such a great job, but we can ALWAYS get better. So I want you to help me set three goals for you.... one for humanities (reading, writing and spelling), one for math, and one personal goal. So can you think of a goal for humanities?
Kid: Yeah, I just didn't understand it.
Me: [smiling] Well.......the next thing I want you to do is help me set some goals. You're doing such a great job, but we can ALWAYS get better. So I want you to help me set three goals for you.... one for humanities (reading, writing and spelling), one for math, and one personal goal. So can you think of a goal for humanities?
Kid: Um.... to put periods at the end of my sentences.
Me: That's a great goal! And what about one for math?
Kid: I want to learn square roots.
Me: Wow! Well I don't know if I can teach you that, I barely understand them myself! How about something that we've been working on. Could we maybe set a goal about counting pennies and nickels or adding on the number grid?"
Kid: I want to count by ones.......................backwards.
Me: A lofty goal, yes? But, I know you can do it. I'm so proud of you, and I know you're parents are too!! (note I've already said this above). So now you can walk down the art room and there will be someone there to do some activities with you and your parents and I are going to talk about some of these things we've discussed. Byeeeeee! Have a good weekend!!!
Then I turn to the parents and I tell them the "real-deal" abou their kid and they get all up in my business with questions (and statements) like:
So where'd you go to college? I heard you were in school full time. How many classes do you have during the week? Do you have enough time to devote to the class? Are you married? You're like, what, 22? OMG, I heard your sister is dating a doctor! [reffering to my oldest sister and her boyfriend who i've never previously discussed with them] Do you know what your sister is having? [reffering to my pregnant sister who works at a completely different school] So when's the wedding?... I heard about your engagement. Is that a picture of your fiance? [as they lean over my desk]. When's the wedding?.... and the ONE that totally got me excited about planning again:
"Oh, summer 2011 isn't that far away, just over a year and a half, that's the perfect amout of planning time... you better get busy!"
Thank you! I plan too! And now Josh and I are in the works for getting more done than just a reserving a place for the ceremony and putting a list of possible attendants on paper. I called him this evening to ask if he wanted to get online to wedding plan with me. He let out a quick "no", and I said in my now I'm mad at you but I'm going to pretend like I'm not voice "okay, well no big deal, I'll talk to you later." No worries, he had bad taste in what I wanted to pick tonight anyway- colors! Besides, he's going to be helping a lot, he just doesn't knwo it yet :)
Wedding Update:
So we have the location, and now it's on to researching wedding planners and reception sites. I really think I wnat a plannner because we're both so stinking busy! Any takers?!?!
Kid: I want to count by ones.......................backwards.
Me: A lofty goal, yes? But, I know you can do it. I'm so proud of you, and I know you're parents are too!! (note I've already said this above). So now you can walk down the art room and there will be someone there to do some activities with you and your parents and I are going to talk about some of these things we've discussed. Byeeeeee! Have a good weekend!!!
Then I turn to the parents and I tell them the "real-deal" abou their kid and they get all up in my business with questions (and statements) like:
So where'd you go to college? I heard you were in school full time. How many classes do you have during the week? Do you have enough time to devote to the class? Are you married? You're like, what, 22? OMG, I heard your sister is dating a doctor! [reffering to my oldest sister and her boyfriend who i've never previously discussed with them] Do you know what your sister is having? [reffering to my pregnant sister who works at a completely different school] So when's the wedding?... I heard about your engagement. Is that a picture of your fiance? [as they lean over my desk]. When's the wedding?.... and the ONE that totally got me excited about planning again:
"Oh, summer 2011 isn't that far away, just over a year and a half, that's the perfect amout of planning time... you better get busy!"
Thank you! I plan too! And now Josh and I are in the works for getting more done than just a reserving a place for the ceremony and putting a list of possible attendants on paper. I called him this evening to ask if he wanted to get online to wedding plan with me. He let out a quick "no", and I said in my now I'm mad at you but I'm going to pretend like I'm not voice "okay, well no big deal, I'll talk to you later." No worries, he had bad taste in what I wanted to pick tonight anyway- colors! Besides, he's going to be helping a lot, he just doesn't knwo it yet :)
Wedding Update:
So we have the location, and now it's on to researching wedding planners and reception sites. I really think I wnat a plannner because we're both so stinking busy! Any takers?!?!
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