Category: parents

being a teacher, conferences, ideas, parents

3 Ideas For More Meaningful 5 Minute Parent/Teacher Conferences

Pernille Ripp
image from icanread

This week I had my first experience with the 5 minute drive-by conference.  You know the one; all the teachers in the lunchroom at their own table, parents waiting in line, and once the timer starts, off we go for non-stop talking, the only caveat being you only get 5 minutes.  Not exactly my cozy student-led conferences that I love so much.  Why the change?  Besides that this is how we do it at my new school, I also have 113 students.  I don’t even know how I could possibly give them a longer student-led conference at the moment without spending weeks on it.  And still, I wanted my students to be a part of it. I still wanted it to be worth the time for the parents, I wanted it to be meaningful.  I therefore did this:

The students reflected beforehand.  As always I had my students reflect on what their grades should be, what they were proud of and what they accomplished.  I invited all of my students to come to their conference but knew that few of them would, but their voice needs to be present.  This sheet allowed me to have the conference focus on their learning journey, not just what my thoughts were.

I reflected and wrote down beforehand.  I knew it would take a long time for me to write strengths and goals for all of my students, but I knew it was worth it.  In the week preceding conferences I spent every evening thinking about each child, writing down what I knew I wanted to share (beside their grades).  I didn’t want the conference to be focused on the grades, I wanted it to be focused on the child.  I was then able to share what my thoughts were after we looked at the student’s reflection.

I asked the parents how they felt and what they thought.  My gut reaction was to not ask any questions and just run it as a fast monologue.  After all, with only 5 minutes I have a lot to cover, but that is not the point of these conferences.  No matter the time limit, parents/guardians/students should always have the time to speak, even if you feel like it may eat up too much valuable time.

Always find something good and end with that.  Ok, so this is the fourth idea which I wrote about yesterday.  In every conference I made sure to end with something good.  I remember how it was as a kid to have your parents go to conferences without you; that nervous feeling, that growing sense of dread.  As a teacher I want to make sure my students know that I am in their corner, even if there are things to work on.  Often the last thing we say is the one that leaves the freshest impression, so make it something good.

Other small ideas include:

Be wiling to set up separate conferences.  I knew that some of my students needed more time for discussion so rater than wait for parents to contact me, I sent out a blanket email offering every child a longer conference at a different time in our classroom.  A few responded and there were even a few surprises of who wanted a longer one.  You never know until you ask.

Bring out the picture books. I send all student work home so instead of having their to display, I will have some awesome picture books out.  That way, parents can at least read some awesome stories while they wait.

Just listening.  Often parents know exactly what their child needs to work on or they have simply heard it before, so stop talking and listen.  Ask them questions and see how much they cover that you would have covered as well.  Parents know their kids, sometimes we seem to forget that (myself included).

Treat ever conference as if it is your first of the day.  Every parent deserves the best of you, so keep smiling, keep the energy up.  Yes, I know it is like running a marathon to be your very best self for 4 or more hours, but that is what you should be.  I had water and peppermints to help me keep up the spirit.  We owe it those waiting to meet with us.

I am a passionate teacher in Oregon, Wisconsin, USA,  who has taught 4th, 5th, and 7th grade.  Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the Global Read Aloud Project, Co-founder of EdCamp MadWI, and believer in all children. I have no awards or accolades except for the lightbulbs that go off in my students’ heads every day.  First book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students” can be purchased now from Powerful Learning Press.   Second book“Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners” is out now from Corwin Press.  Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

Be the change, being a teacher, new year, parents, reflection, students

Have You Included Parent Voice in Back to School Planning?

Pernille Ripp
image from alexandremdesigns

On Wednesday, Theadora gets to meet her kindergarten teacher.  We get to show up, me with all 4 of the kids, drop off her supplies and asnwer any questions the teacher may have.  You would think I have a mile-long list of questions, but I don’t.  I don’t know what to as at this point, that will come later, once school has started.  And yet,  I do have hopes and dreams for Thea and I hope I get to express that to her teacher.

This realization made me remember that I need to include my 7th grade parents’ voice in my back to school preparation.  That yes, I may be planning awesome things for my first days of schools, and that yes I may be teaching students at an age of more independence from parents.  But parents still need to have a voice in our classroom.

So I created my hopes and dreams survey.  One simple question to get their feedback, to guide me as I prepare.  Don’t forget to tap into parent knowledge.  Don’t forget to reach out, even if you think their child is too old for you to ask.  I don’t think any parent ever stops dreaming for their child, don’t forget to ask.

PS: In 5th grade, I used this

I am a passionate  teacher in Wisconsin, USA,  who has taught 4, 5th, and 7th grade.  Proud techy geek, and mass consumer of incredible books. Creator of the Global Read Aloud Project, Co-founder of EdCamp MadWI, and believer in all children. I have no awards or accolades except for the lightbulbs that go off in my students’ heads every day.  First book “Passionate Learners – Giving Our Classrooms Back to Our Students” can be purchased now from Powerful Learning Press.   Second book“Empowered Schools, Empowered Students – Creating Connected and Invested Learners” can be pre-ordered from Corwin Press now.  Follow me on Twitter @PernilleRipp.

Be the change, new year, parents, reflection

Parents: Help Your Child Get Excited for Back to School

Pernille Ripp
image from icanread

I have been thinking a lot about back to school.  This break for me will have lasted over 3 weeks by the time I get back and so I wonder what I am stepping back into.  As anyone who has ever had a longish break knows, often the kids are hard to get motivated again.  I blogged about what I would do as a teacher, but now is the time to go into parent mode and think of what I can do as a parent to get Thea excited about school.  After all, January doesn’t seem to instill much excitement in many people, students included, so I am here to help change that.  A few ideas to get your child excited about back to school, please add your own in the comments.

  • Get your child a new book.  There is something magical about a brand new never-been-read book  being placed into your hands.  I have expected my students to read over break and I hope they come back with great new book tales to share and discuss, so why not load them up with books either from a store or the library.  Help them take control of their reading and get them stocked up at the same time.
  • Ask the teacher about events coming up.  I know January can be a bit of a humdrum month so I make sure we have a lot of exciting things coming our way.   We have an author Skype visit, Mystery Skype, and a reading challenge to look forward to amongst many other things.  Why not reach out to the teacher to see what cool things will garner some fun in the coming month.
  • Set goals with your child.  My students set a lot of goals with me because they need to be the masters of their own learning journeys, so why not set some together?  Students get to slowly get back in academic mode and you get a window into their world.  Plus it is such a great experience hearing your child talk about their own learning.
  • Look ahead.  I am very transparent in what we will be learning so it would be great if you as a parent shared some of your own knowledge (if you know some stuff) or just what you would hope to learn about a concept.  Again, starting a meaningful and excited dialogue about the great learning that will happen is always a great way to ease back into school.
  • Ask about changes.  I know a lot of this is conversation based, but I find that often it is through conversation that we can get kids excited rather than bribery.  Ask your child what they hope to change in the next few months, whether it be with themselves or in the classroom and then come up with a plan to make it happen.  I practice student ownership at every opportunity and so this is something I will be asking students to do anyway.
  • Look forward.  I tell the kids we have a lot to do before they leave me and in January that seems to set in.  They know that as the days get lighter they are one step closer to middle school and I want our time together to count.  As a parent it is okay to acknowledge and celebrate the fact that a new grade is coming up.  Kids know it is too early to dismiss the current one but that there is a goal to work toward.  I celebrate the fact that all of my students are headed toward middle school and they know it.
  • Embrace the slowness.  January seems to slow us all down as we wind down after the craziness of December and winter in general.  Instead of fighting it, I tend to embrace it at home with my own kids.  We read more, we light more candles, and we do more family things in a small way.  I don’t expect my kids to go a mile a minute because that’s what they did in December.  Instead we cherish the quiet times in the house and we encourage more creative play.  Out with the noise and in with drawing, art projects, and many, many books read aloud or shared.
  • Highlight the social aspect.  I know school shouldn’t be about seeing your friends, but let’s face it, it is one of the benefits of going to school.  So instead of battling it or ignoring it, why not relish in the fact that your child will get so see all of their friends again every day?  As a teacher I know this is a major selling point of school, so I also work it into our day.  We come back with a little more time to talk, a little more time to catch up, and a lot more opportunity to do group projects if need be.  Make the social aspect work for your child rather than create more tension.
  • Get new school supplies.  I know this is a staple of the true back to school time – August – but most people get excited over new supplies.  New pencils seem to beckon to be written with, journals to be filled out, and erasers used.  Perfect time to get a few new things since most of my students have used up all of their pencils and erasers by now anyway.
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new teacher, new year, parents

My Beginning of the Year Parent Questionnaire

Pernille Ripp
Two of my three kids; and that's who this is all about
Two of my three kids; and that’s who this is all about

Yesterday I shared my student questionnaire so I find it only apt to share my parent questionnaire as well.  While there are so many things I wanted to ask my parents, I wanted to keep it short and to the point.  As always, feel free to make a copy and make it your own.

Here is a link to the actual form

Here are just the questions on the form:

Tell Me A Little Bit About Your Child

  1. What is the most important thing I should know about your child?

  2. What is your child passionate about?

  1. What would you love your child to get better at?

  1. Overall how does your child feel about school and 5th grade?

  1. My child learns best when the teacher is….

  1. Great friends for my child are ….

  1. My child does not work well with…

  1. What is your child’s favorite book?

  1. What fears does your child have?  (Big or small)

  1. What is the best way to motivate your child?

Tell Me A Little Bit About You and Your Family

  1. What are you looking forward to with 5th grade?

  1. How would you like to be involved with your child’s education?

  1. What is your preferred method of communication (email, phone call, meeting, note…)

  1. Does your family have any special celebrations or traditions you would like to share with the class?

  1. What subject/area did you dislike when you went to school?

  1. What subject/area did you love when you went to school?

  1. I think 5th grade will be….

  1. A typical afternoon after school looks like this in our life…

  1. Who else lives at your house (siblings, pets etc.?)

  1. Anything else you would like to tell me that will help me make this a successful year?

 

exploration, feedback, no homework, parents

Can We Prepare Students for Middle School If We Don’t Assign Homework?

Pernille Ripp
I wonder if my child will be overwhelmed in middle school by all of the homework since they have not had much with you… The comment stares me in the face and I immediately think up excuses; but we had homework, we just did it in class, but it is not my problem what happens in middle school, and why didn’t this parent bring it up before? And then I pause, re-read the comment, take away the personal insult I had added to it and see it as feedback, see it for what it truly is; a learning opportunity. 

Homework, that integral part of going to school, that bastion of what afternoons should be consumed by, how school should look. We grew up with it, we survived, we learned the lessons and now our children should go through the same. I used to believe that home work taught a deeper lesson, that without it children would not learn lessons such as time management, responsibility, accountability. I used to believe that if a child did not do their homework then they were not taking school seriously, that the failure to complete their end of the deal exonerated me from any further responsibility. Really all I had to then was punish and move on, hope the kid got the homework done and understood the bigger lesson. And now I know how wrong I was in those beliefs. I know how homework became something expected but not contemplated. and yet how do you communicate that to those kids it affects? How do you effectively have parents place their faith in you when how you run your classroom is pretty different than what they ever tried?

So for next school year I will not just mention my homework policy. I will thoroughly explain it and also stress that it is not that my students do less work than the other fifth grade classes, it is just that they do it at school instead. It is just that they may not get worksheets but rather delve deeper into projects, dedicating class time to learn those same lessons of accountability, responsibility, and time management. I will leave the doors for discussion open and encourage the questions, not afraid of criticism but welcoming the process, carefully explaining why I make the choices I make and how the students will indeed be prepared for middle school.

And so I continue to read through the feedback and I stumble upon one that is just as unexpected, just as deep… “I wish I had had a teacher like you in school, I am sure I would have liked school more if I had…”. And I smile and I reflect and I am grateful for all those that took the time to tell me how they felt.

We only grow when we open up to the good and the bad, we only grow when we realize our own imperfection. We only grow when we reveal our vulnerability and then really listen, I would not want it any other way.

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