It's amazing sometimes the way that Nick and I 'jive' when it comes to being parents. We are certainly a 'yen/yang' situation, like so many couples are… Yet, when it comes to our kids and what we feel is important we are both on the exact same page. Nick likes to surprise me. A lot of parents are too busy to both attend parent teacher conferences- usually you are lucky to get one parent to come- as a teacher I found this to be true in most cases. Nick feels very strongly about being at all requested parent/teacher conferences. This part wasn't the surprising part… Here it is- He was the more active parent participant at the conference! You all know me and with that you know at least two things. I like to talk!!! I am a talker- I can chit-chat the day away! AND! I am a 'retired' elementary school teacher. I have done these assessments on my students, I have that perspective of being on the other side of the table, yet there is Nick leading the conversation and I LOVE IT!
He's is an expert when it comes to this conference because he knows our girl and he is there to learn what the teacher knows about our girl and be an advocate for her-
The things he has always wanted to know more than anything else involves Annabelle's behavior. Her manners with adults and peers. The way she treats others. If she is considerate to the teacher. If she's excited to learn and is attentive. These are the things he asks, and as Annabelle's Mommy and as a teacher I am impressed, because I feel very strongly about these things. More so than her school work because let's be honest, in life being socially appropriate, aware of others and their needs and confident in your self will help you solve problems that your brains alone could never solve...
Yesterday, Annabelle came home with her progress report and Nick and I were very happy, reading the comments from Mrs. Walther. I am going to be that very annoying parent (as a constant poster of my kiddos pictures and statements I am sure you well know that I am already there!) and post both her general comments about AB and Mrs. Walther's comments about AB's reading.
Hard worker, serious learner, arrives to school with a smile and ready to learn, wonderful friend, good choices!! These are our focus and we're so glad to see that this is what she is doing when she is away from her Mommy and Daddy's watchful eye.
Can you believe what these peanuts are expected to learn during a half day of class in KINDERGARTEN!!! I know we had the letter of the week guy and learned to tie our shoes but reading fluency, comprehension, reading engagement, 40 sight words, writing informative, narrative and simple research to gather information to answer questions?! Seriously amazing to see a 6 year old doing these things! Mrs. Walther-(and all the other teachers out there these days) = Super Teacher! How in the world do you get all of this done with 24 students?! Amazing.
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