As we are approaching the end of another school year and most schools will be hosting a parents evening; I decided to share my thoughts and experiences;:-
A recent episode of a daytime television programme shared that a father fell asleep during a parents evening and a child asked her dad not to tell his ‘dad jokes’ to her teacher.
My eldest granddaughter told me that her daddy broke wind while talking to her teacher ( I’m not sure if this really happened; but she thought it was hilarious to tell me).
My advice for parents evening is don’t be tempted to take your child along, it can be awkward talking about your offspring if he is sat next to you listening; instead ask before you go if there is anything that they would like you to ask their teacher.
Write down any questions that you intend to ask as you may forget when you get to sit opposite your child’s teacher.
When I was at my middle son’s parents evening at secondary school. a teacher, who had also taught me came over and asked, ” Surely you can’t be old enough to have a child in this year Karen?”
I replied that I had another child 2 years above. She said hearing that made her feel ancient!
I once heard of a mother who burst into tears at parents evening because she was overjoyed to hear how well her daughter was doing so well..
When I was in junior school a piece of my hand writing was on display, my mum was delighted and mentioned it to everyone- that was until she read it and saw that I had written, last night my dad and dad had an argument ( sorry mum).
My eldest son was given a detention for not handing in his homework on time , he insisted that he had completed and given it to his teacher. As he was a good student and loved school I believed him, I questioned his teacher about this during parents evening; when he looked at my son’s records he went red and told me that he had graded the homework and then said he owed my son an apology, as we are all only human I accepted this.
If you don’t hear what you were hoping for at parents evening, don’t be angry with your child; talk to him/her in a calm manner to try to establish why she isn’t achieving better grades. Most schools are happy to work with parents to help children to do well , by offering extra help or additional homework.
Please share any experiences of parents evenings with me.
As always questions and comments are welcome.
Until next time.
Karen
x
I couldn’t agree more about not taking children to parents’ evening. When I taught, I found it much harder to deliver the negative news when the child was there and also children can be distracting. This is a time when you may need to have a serious conversation. #KCACOLS
I have yet to attend any of my daughter’s parents evenings as she’s not yet started school, but I really can’t wait to start going to them with her 🙂 #KCACOLS
Wow a tad unprofessional of the teacher who ended up owing your son an apology. Good on you for keeping calm, I think most Mum’s would of gone mad! #AnythingGoes
Ha! Visiting you from the uk bloggers club. laurensparks.net
So I take my kids (their education, not mine, and no reflection on me – and all I’ll be doing is repeating what they say anyway, but they might listen if it comes from the teacher), and my middle child is one subject short for his final years of school. When the teacher of a subject he excels in found out he was doing 4 units of her subject, she spent the rest of our alloted time making suggestions of what other subjects would work well with it and that she thought, knowing him, he would be interested in. He then said he didn’t want to do a major work and she launched into him about how it wasn’t hard and he was smart but he was going to have to make some effort in year 11 & 12. It was literally stuff I say all the time but it was so great to see him listen for a change. Anyway, she is going to talk to him about it over the next few weeks….so for that alone it was worthwhile having him there. #Stayclassymama
Daddy breaking wind … can imagine the giggles my lot would have! #bloggerclubUK
A lovely read and great advice too. I have always opted to not taking the kids along, I tend to plonk my lot in the school library instead. Giving me a chance to be able to talk openly wit their teachers #thatfridaylinky
detention seems a bit harsh for a late homework assignment. Over here that means staying after school, a pretty big inconvenience more to the parents than the child. Is that the same? #dreamteam
He didn’t actually do the detention in the end, which would have meant staying behind after school, hope that answers your question
It does. Sometimes things don’t mean the same in different places. I stand by saying that seems too much of a punishment but I’m glad it all worked out in the end. From what I hear my daughter has a much stricter teacher next year than she’s used to. Bit nervous. Back from #KCACOLS
I dont mind parents evening my sons are both at primary so slightly different and more of a relaxed affair X #pocolo
Parents evening is certainly more enlightening now that my daughter is older – teachers in our school don’t freely give out information, blood from a stone springs to mind. I was very pleasantly surprised by the last parents evening, but I came out wondering why they don’t tell us information throughout the year, only ever twice a year in a 10 minute meeting. 🙁 Sim #PoCoLo
I completely agree that if possible, it’s sometimes easier to do parents evening without the children being present. I think it can make it really awkward if there’s something that needs to be discussed. Ekk!! That said, we’ve always had such a positive experience chatting to our little ones teachers. Thanks for sharing this over on the #DreamTeam.
I completely agree that the children should be left at home so allow free and open discussion. My son’s school has a parents’ evening where children are invited to give their perspective but I find out less about his progress thatn at a standard meeting. Thanks for linking up with #globalblogging
I agree with not taking your child with you, its easier to have discussions with the teacher if they’re not watching.
#abitofeverything
Oh yes I have to agree, but sometimes it’s always a goood idea to catch them out too. There have be so many occasion that have happened at school that my daughter has failed to let me know about and admitted them once in front of the teacher. Thank you so much for linking up with us for #KCACOLS and we hope to see you next time.
I’d have to disagree with the not taking the kids to parents evening. We have always taken our boys as I think it’s a good idea for the teachers to interact with your kids when you’re there. It’s also a chance for them to discuss things with you present. Yes, there can be times when it’s embarrassing but I think there are more benefits. With a teen in Secondary School I know they’re expected to be there for parents evening because the teacher actually talks to the kids rather than the parents most of the time. It’s always nice to hear if your son/daughter is doing ok, but it’s also a good opportunity to discuss any issues – whatever they may be.
Thanks for sharing with #pocolo
Yes, I agree I talk my kids to Parents Evening or PTA (like is called here in the US) for me is good that the kids can see that the teacher and the parents are friends (or at least understand each other) and are working towards one goal. Not that everything that will come from the teacher can be as bad as for the kid not to hear it.
#alittlebitofeverything.
As my OH is a primary school teacher, I hear about parents evenings from the other side, so to speak. Not sure how I will feel going along to hear about my own LO! #KCACOLS
Love the anecdote about a dad fallling asleep during parents evening! Thanks for linking up with #stayclassymama
I have always taken my daughter, the teachers have always requested it and so far there hasn’t been any issues with her being there. I had a teacher say similar to me when i too my daughter to an open evening for secondary school. She was horrified to see me with a daughter at the same I was when she was teaching me! I was horrified she remembered my full name so well within seconds lol #kcacols