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Original poster

Parents Evening

24 replies

Icantremembermyusername · 12/01/2022 21:45

I know it isn't great being online but 50 per cent of my parents spent the whole time talking. And didn't let me speak. I had one appointment when I only said "hi".she spoke the whole time.

OP posts:

IHaveToSay · 12/01/2022 21:48

You’re right, it is rubbish being online. Crossing my fingers that I get to at least meet my DC’s teachers this year!

TheFallenMadonna · 12/01/2022 21:53

I much prefer online as a parent, and I think it must be far better as a teacher. You've just got to keep one eye on the countdown.

Atypical13435 · 12/01/2022 21:54

You need to be more assertive. Parents evening is your (teacher) opportunity to discuss how the child is doing at school. If the parent is doing all the talking then you can't do that.

lljkk · 12/01/2022 21:54

I guess she wanted to be heard, OP.
Most people just want to talk about what's in their own head, tbf.

Pearlpink · 12/01/2022 21:55

I love online parents evening. No hassle and done and dusted within 10 minutes.

Sirzy · 12/01/2022 21:55

Did they all have lots of concerns then?

DrMadelineMaxwell · 12/01/2022 21:58

I much prefer them online. No pressure to have to concentrate on how to manage how long the appointments are and worry about running late - I get to focus on talking to the parents and the online system manages the timings.

Most of our parents have said they prefer it too. No pressure to find parking at school, they only need to give up 10 mins of their day, not add in time to travel, park and wait around for their appointment.

The only thing that's a downside for us is that the parents can't look through their books beforehand.

IDontHaveThePelvisForAFuton · 12/01/2022 21:58

I prefer it online. I can hear what the teacher is saying without distractions and the appointments run to time. I can also sit and make proper notes between each appointment.

Face to face in school is stressful. The secondary has over 200 pupils per year group. Whole families taking up all the chairs, staff at cramped tables in the echoey hall, queue jumping, lack of privacy.

IDontHaveThePelvisForAFuton · 12/01/2022 21:59

Scrap that - it's 400+ per year group!

IHaveToSay · 12/01/2022 22:01

I’m glad loads of people prefer it online, personally I hate it. I’m partially deaf and rely a lot on lip reading, and when the zoom connection is out of sync that is very very difficult. That might make it appear that I’m talking too much to cover up my discomfort, I hope the teacher wouldn’t moan about me online though :
I also like to meet the people my very young children are spending 6 hours a day with, but again that’s personal preference.

WorraLiberty · 12/01/2022 22:07

@Icantremembermyusername

I know it isn't great being online but 50 per cent of my parents spent the whole time talking. And didn't let me speak. I had one appointment when I only said "hi".she spoke the whole time.

But it's up to you to take charge and make sure both you and the parents are heard, in order for the child to get the most out of it.

I'm sure it's not easy but would you say you have a problem in general with being assertive?

FabriqueBelgique · 12/01/2022 22:13

Use your teacher voice!

Can you go in taking command like it’s a mini-assembly? Maybe something like:

“ -polite greetings- So we have x amount of time, I’ll quickly run through my comments about -pupil- and then give you the second half to ask your questions!.. Okay, let’s get started.. SO -good comments- then -quick praise- then -things to work on- then -any questions?-

Wondergirl100 · 12/01/2022 22:29

My children are in primary and I think online is really sad - it's the only chance for a proper chat with the people who care for my children all day - I want to be with them and sense what sort of teachers they are/ what my child is like - it is only twice a year - the inconvienence is not a big deal -

It's sad that you are frustrated by parents talking a lot - imagine how it feels to have no idea what your child does for most of their day and the parents are full of things they want to tell you about their child their feelings their wellbeing - their worries about them.

rrhuth · 12/01/2022 22:38

Online is far better for us! It is one thing I'm hoping will stay.

LynetteScavo · 12/01/2022 22:43

As a parent I only spoke more than the teacher if I had concerns and I wasn't being listened to generally (lack of email communication etc).

Generally I found online parents evenings much more effective than face to face.

shoofly · 12/01/2022 22:55

Online works far better for secondary. I actually managed to speak to my child's teachers as opposed to queuing for an hour for 1 teacher.
For some reason it feels very impersonal for primary though. Although DS2 is 2nd child and I actually know the member of staff (because they taught DS1) it feels as if they don't 'get him' and I have little understanding of how he's getting on, or what he actually does at school.
I am so much more concerned about him than I was about his elder brother (d/x ASD)
I feel like primary school already think he'll be away end of June, so he's done already

whattodo2019 · 12/01/2022 23:11

As a parent i absolutely love online parents evenings. No queues and no annoying parents in front of you who talk for hours.
Parents need to logon and listen to the teachers...

IHaveToSay · 13/01/2022 09:42

@rrhuth

Online is far better for us! It is one thing I'm hoping will stay.

I hope they will give the option of face to face for people like me, who cannot cope with them.

justmethatisall · 13/01/2022 10:20

My sons primary school had the option at the last parents evenings of face to face or online meetings. They had them over 2 days one day set aside for one option and the other day for the other. I think it worked a lot better. I prefer the online meetings, however I know some people prefer the traditional appointments.

Hemingwayzcatz · 13/01/2022 10:27

Ours were over the phone last year which I much preferred. Back to face to face in October which is always a pain. They never run on time so I always end up sitting there waiting for a good 10-15 mins. One teacher then only spoke to me for 2 minutes flat because he’d overrun with the parent before me so much and was trying to make up the time. I was a bit annoyed I’d waited all that time for, well, nothing. He didn’t really have much to say tbf, reassured me DD isn’t a pain in his arse and is doing well and sent me on my way. Preferred being told that over the phone.

FreeFrenchHens · 13/01/2022 11:14

I'm struggling to imagine the teacher not saying anything. We sometimes find the opposite - the whole 5 mins is taken up by the teacher talking and there's no time to ask any questions so it feels like you're just being talked at. But by and large it works.

I would like more than 5 mins sometimes, especially for our child with SEN.

BogRollBOGOF · 13/01/2022 12:25

I like talking to humans.
I hate talking at screens.
I don't take in what the screen is blathering on about. (I have auditory processing issues)

I miss the days of home-school relationships. It's a significant loss.

When I taught, I enjoyed parent's evening (tiring as it is) because I got to actually meet the family of my pupils and a head and shoulders on a screen can't tell you nearly as much as real human contact. It helped me understand my pupils better. I could show evidence in books. It was a two way conversation especially if it wasn't an easy one. Zoom does not replicate that at all.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 13/01/2022 12:34

We had phone calls. Online is better than that (especially if its software where DH can also dial in from wherever in the Country he is)

Going for parental preference would be good going forward. I like meeting my childrens teachers, but its a lot easier to have them online and not worry about childcare, travel etc (I once cycled 30mins to the school, had a 10min appointment to cycle the 30mins home. I've had to take a toddler to a SEN review. DH has taken half a day of work for 2 10 minutes appointments...)

Heckythump1 · 19/01/2022 14:42

We have parents evening tonight, in school, and i'm so pleased its actually happening, my daughter is in Year 1 and as yet, we haven't ever been in the school. Today, i'm finally going to see where my little girl is every day.

In person is definitely better :)

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