Parent teacher conferences have highs and lows. I talked about a parent related high point earlier, but my low point came in the very came night.
Much of a child’s life and behavior during the day are influenced by what happens outside of the classroom. Usually, if the parents are around AND involved, the chances of a child being balanced and productive in class are a little higher, by the numbers anyway.
What happens when the parent involvement is negative? I have a student who struggles, but works very hard. His issue is more reading than it is academic ability or potential.
That brings me back to the quote from the beginning of the blog.
Sometimes teachers really do know their students better than their own parents. I had to explain to that parent that academics ARE, in fact, his thing, but that he struggles with a particular type of material. I also provided her with the steps that her son and I have begun taking to improve his reading comprehension. She was pleased to know that I also provide both audio and visual resources that allow her son to get the same basic content knowledge without having to rely heavily on the text.
Again, she said part of why she felt that way was because teachers have been saying for so long that “academics aren’t his thing” instead of trying to find ways to help him be successful. Deciding and accepting that he was beyond help is part of his academic struggle. He has low academic self-confidence. I hope to correct that.
This was very sad to me which is why it makes #8 on my low points list.
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Dallas Student Emotional Health
Dallas Parent Teacher Conferences Part 1
Dallas Parent Teacher Conferences Part 2
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