helping school to improve communication

[purpledolphin]

Hi I am looking for positive ideas to help my childs class teacher improve home school communication, I saw the teacher not long ago about my DD (in reception) and finally understood a year into her education what she meant by lack of independence, if I had known early I could have supported my daughter to improve, but if teacher has to spend even 2mins a day writing in home school communication book for all children then this would take nearly an hour. Any ideas on how to help her( or indeed me to communicate more effectively) would be gratefully recieved especially as we have to work together again next year! really want to support my daughter and know that supporting the teacher and providing positive solutions is better than moaning

Not quite sure what you are really looking for? Perhaps you and the teacher could agree one particular aspect of independence you'd like DD to improve in - perhaps making a start on her work without constantly seeking adult support (if that's something she does). Then, at the end of the day the teacher could simply draw a 'face' in her communication book:
= Managed this in most/all sessions today
(well, straight, but there isn't one!) = Managed this in some sessions today
= managed this in very few sessions today

Once she starts getting pretty much every day, choose another aspect to work on and so on?

Is that the sort of thing you want?

As a teacher, I had 'faces' going on for perhaps 6 children in my class, and they would bring me their diaries at the end of the day while getting bags/coats, and I'd do them quickly then. Very manageable.

Thanks Galena that sounds like one really good solution. If anyone else has any ideas I'd love to hear them as I'd like to be able to suggest a range of ideas to my DDs teacher, so that she can choose something that works for us both ( actually knowing anything about what my DD is doing in school would be great as all I get to find out is what reading book she has, and what she has had for lunch and occaisionally what the story was!)

It'd usually only be done for children where there is an identified need for more parental involvement. So, if your child doesn't have a particular problem the communication might not be seen as a concern. As a teacher I would typically be in daily contact with 2-3 parents and another 1 or 2 on a weekly basis. I've used anything from daily emails (for a particularly "tricky" child) to homeschool books or a score sheet (good for behaviour) that was sent daily or weekly.

In some cases I'd arrange for the parents to come see me at the end of day once a week (and in one case daily) for a quick chat.

Do you have time to go in and help? Say, for an hour a week? I did this when my children were in the early years and I learned so much about the class, how the teacher worked, and how my own children slotted in, that communication has never been an issue.

However, if you don't have that time, and I know many don't, then the suggestions others have made would be better

perhaps my DDs teacher does not see it as a concern as my DD is quiet kind and sensitive ( school report with which I agree) but as confidence and independence in learning have been given as a reason to keep her in class one (mixed reception and year 1) rather than moving her into class 2 (mixed year 1 and year 2) I do!!!! especially as she is extremely independent at home!

Just want to add to above message that I recognise children can be very different at school and at home but I am concerned that she recieves appropriate work for her ability in the next school year (have all ready discussed this with her teacher) and don't want to get to the end of another year and have the same sort of surprises!