Parents Evening tonight

[doglover]

Seeing our 2dds teachers tonight (same Y1/2 class) and feeling rather apprehensive. They are both bright girls who enjoy school. Their current school is somewhat "laidback" about pupil achievement in my opinion;I'm a teacher, by the way,too! I'm really looking for some advice about how to phrase comments that could show any misgivings we have without sounding like a total witch! My elder dd is easily capable of achieving level 3s in her T.A./SATs(I've taught Y3 for 20 years so am very aware of standards etc.) and I've got a funny feeling that she won't be predicted these levels. Likewise my other dd is simply coasting through Y1 without having to put in much effort to remain in the top groups. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that my dds are happy but how can I say that I know that they are both capable of achieving so much more if the teaching was much more focused and expectataions were higher? Also, the cynic in me does wonder whether the school prefers to keep the K.S. 1 levels low to boost the V.A. score for the K.S.2 SATs?!!! Contentious, I know!!!!

Thoughts before 6pm, please!

We've approached DD1's teacher recently. Her previous Reception teacher left on maternity leave and the replacement seems a lot less enthusiastic about renewing reading books, writing in the contact book etc.. I actually did it through an intermediary (our nanny, who is herself an ex-KS1 teacher) which was much more effective when the teacher's initial reaction was rather defensive. We talked rather tangentially about 'how we could help maintain DD's enthusiasm and focus on learning to read', 'what we could do to complement what was being done at school' etc etc. The somewhat oblique approach seemed to work. The books aren't being renewed any more frequently (there is a plan to this - fair enough), but at least there is more communication with us via the contact book.

Beyond that our nanny is supplementing the school reading scheme (Oxford Reading Tree) with some Ruth Miskin materials. Just one book a week at the moment, but she may do more with DD1 over the Summer. We are not pushy parents, really. DD1 thrives when she feels confident and secure and all those words in ORT that you couldn't expect a Reception kid to sight-read, you can't sound out and you can't guess from the context or the picture, rather dent her confidence.

Bump

How did it go doglover?

Pretty much as expected, Roisin. DD1(year 2) is already working well into level 3 as recognised by her teachers so we were pleased not to have to query her attainment. DD2(year1) is working at 2a for reading, 2c for writing and 2c for maths so is also achieving well for a 5 year old. I just kept quiet about a couple of issues and felt pleased that both dds are happy and motivated, if not particularly challenged.