It's all up to you...

So it is that time of year again - school conferences.

This time there was a theme to the conferences but I will get to that in a minute. I believe I have talked before about how in middle school the conferences are student led. This means that the kids talk about their grades and papers they have done. The teachers walk around and talk a bit if you have any questions. I understand why they make kids do this but would rather have a more traditional talk with the teachers.

So Vern starts going through his papers. I see many individual grades below par. I ask him what is going on?  I get back "I don't know."  What can you do to improve this paper next time? "I don't know." You get the picture.

Finally a teacher shows up to talk about Vern and his grades. They proceed to say along the lines of the following: Vern is doing well but sometimes does not pay attention in class.  I think Vern could do better.  Next teacher: Vern is not working up to his potential. Vern is choosing to rush through his papers.  Next teacher: It is all up to what Vern chooses to do. Vern grasps the concepts very well but needs to apply himself. Next teacher: (Math) Wow, Vern has really improved his grades and how he acts in class. He is doing much better than first semester.

So the theme really rang true with all the teachers. Vern you are at a juncture in your life where you can choose the outcome. You are an extremely smart kid that grasps ideas at a much higher grade level. What will you choose to do with your gifts Vern?

It is all up to you!!!

Parent/teacher conferences

It is that time of year all ready. Time to head to the school and hear how your son/daughter is doing in the classroom.  In middle school our school district does things differently in that the kids have to present their work to the parents.  This involves the entire family participating.  I understand they want the kids to become proficient at speaking and giving presentations but personally I wish they would do that in school and leave the conferences to the adults.

Vern has been struggling with 6th grade this first semester. We have had multiple after schools, phone calls to teachers, undone homework, tears, on and on and on.

So I was unsure what to expect when we arrived at conferences.  The place was packed! The staff unlocked the doors precisely at 5:02 and everyone trampled to their respective areas. Luckily we were able to get a chair but some groups of parents/students did not. Vern gave his presentation of homework to date in each class. Good and bad papers. Then we waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Finally one teacher showed up. We were able to ask a couple general questions and they had to move on.

Then it was back to wait.

Wait.

Tapping toes and drumming fingers.

A couple more teachers eventually showed up and then we gave up on the last one.

I hated it. The more I write, the more I believe I am going to contact the school with this issue.

On an ending positive note, Vern had all A's and B's.


***Addendum***
I did contact the school and their response was you are welcome to schedule additional time with the teachers on a different week. We just don't advertise this.

Oh I wonder why???? Because you would have many many parents doing this and conferences would be for nothing?  No good answers but I did try.