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Newsletter
for the third week of November, 2008
COAT DRIVE
Thank you to all who donated coats. The coats are still being
counted by the Eagle Scout and his family and we will let you know soon
how many were collected. Coats can still be dropped off at the PPW's
office at the ARL through Thanksgiving. The PPW's are already giving
out coats to those in need in our county.
Parent
teacher conferences nov 24-26, 2008
It's Parent Teacher Conference Week coming up next week. How can
a parent be prepared for their conference with the teacher. There
are two resources, one from HCPSS and one from National PTA.
The HCPSS "A Family Guide to the Elementary Parent/Teacher
Conference" can be found at: http://www.hcpss.org/files/brochure_ptconference.pdf
How
To Make Parent-Teacher Conferences Work for Your Child
Here
Are Some Things To Keep in Mind
- Start the conference
right: be there on time, and plan not to run over the amount of time
that has been set aside.
- If you are a working
parent who can't arrange to meet during regular hours, make this clear
to the teacher and try to set up a time to meet that is good for both
of you.
- The best conferences are
those in which both teachers and parents stay calm and try hard to
work together for one purpose and one purpose only: to help your child
do well. Arguing, or blaming each other for problems your child is
having, helps no one.
Getting
Ready
Each
teacher will probably come prepared with samples of your children's work
and with ideas to help them do even better in school. You should get ready
for each conference, too.
Talk
to your children before the conference. Find out what they think are their
best subjects, and what subjects they like the least. Find out why. Also,
ask your children if there is anything they would like you to talk about
with their teachers. Make sure your children don't worry about the
meeting. Help them understand that you and their teacher(s) are meeting
together in order to help them.
Before
you go to the school, write notes to yourself about:
- things about your
child's life at home, personality, problems, habits, and hobbies you
feel it's important for the teacher to know
- your concerns about the
school's programs or policies
- questions about your
child's progress
- how you and the school
can work together to help your child
If
your spouse can't attend the conference with you, ask for his or her
concerns and questions.
The
Conference
Some
good questions to ask are these:
- Is my child in different
groups for different subjects? Why?
- How well does my child
get along with others?
- What are my child's best
and worst subjects?
- Is my child working up
to his or her ability?
- Does my child
participate in class discussions and activities?
- Has my child missed any
classes other than ones I contacted the school about?
- Have you noticed any
sudden changes in the way my child acts? For example, have you noticed
any squinting, tiredness or moodiness that might be a sign of physical
or other problems?
- What kinds of tests are
being done? What do the tests tell about my child's progress?
- How does my child handle
taking tests?
It's
a good idea to ask your most important questions first, just in case time
runs out before you and the teacher have a chance to discuss them all. Be
sure to ask the teacher for specific suggestions on ways to help your
child do better. This is the most important part of the meeting. It will
become your action plan. If the teacher says something you don't quite
understand, don't be shy about asking for an explanation. It's a good idea
to end the conference by summing up decisions you've made together. If
needed, ask to meet again.
After
the Conference
Start
immediately on the action plan you and the teacher worked out together.
Discuss the plan with your child. Make sure he or she knows that you and
the teacher care. To see if the action plan is working, watch your child's
behavior and check your child's class work and homework.
Stay
in regular touch with the teacher to discuss the progress your child is
making. Meeting with your child's teachers should help build strong
parent-teacher partnerships—partnerships that are needed if you and your
child's teachers are to reach your common goal of helping your child get
the best education possible.
Copyright
© 1987 The National PTA, National Education Association of the United
States, Stock No. 5174-2,
Making Parent-Teacher Conferences Work for Your Child
HCPSS NEWS
The 2009-10 proposed calendar was presented to
the Board of Education last Thursday. The calendar committee (which
PTA Council had 2 representatives on) has recommended that spring break be
shortened to Thursday, Friday and Monday plus a few other minor
revisions. To read the report from the committee, go to Board Docs
on the HCPSS website. Here is the direct link: http://www.boarddocs.com/mabe/hcpssmd/Board.nsf/Public?OpenFrameSet
The public hearing for the proposed
calendar will be Dec. 11. The Board encourages public
participation. Persons may pre-register and are asked to limit their
testimony to three minutes. More detailed written testimony is welcomed.
Participants are asked to provide 15 written copies of their testimony
before or at the time of the hearing. To sign up for a public hearing,
call the Board of Education Office at 410-313-7194. Or you can email
the Board members at boe@hcpss.org.
This is a read only avenue. Or if you wish to write the old fashion way,
please send your letter to the Board Chairman and copies will be made for
all Board members.
Chairman
Board of Education
Howard County Public School System
10910 Route 108
Ellicott City, MD 21042
CALENDAR
Nov.
17-21 American Education
Week : http://www.nea.org/aew/index.html
Dec.
1
PTACHC General Membership meeting at ARL 7:30 pm
Dec.
11 Public Hearing on
proposed 2009-10 calendar 7:30 pm
DOE
or comments can be sent directly to BOE members at boe@hcpss.org
Dec.
19 Reflections
entries due to Council
Jan.
5, 2009 PTACHC General Membership meeting ARL 7:30 pm
THANK
YOU FOR BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR EVERY CHILD! |
