making a connection

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Home : 2007 : February : 4

making a connection
By newtothird

I'm using your thread to make a connection, and I'm sorry. I have an opportunity to go with many of my students up to fourth next year. My only reservation is as you said, if I have the same kids I have the same problems.
In these cases I'd like a break from the problems, and I'd be happy to take-on new problems.

I think those same old problems are just the nature of people. My son, at grade 10, still gets comments on his report card related to his inattentiveness. I now have another teacher in the room who looked at my very ADHD child and said, "I don't know how you put up with it?" I wondered

is there any person who can make him sit still.

Regarding the conferences--do you have time to meet with every parent? My time allocation doesn't allow me to meet with all of them. If that's the case you might want to meet with the parents of the top kids. Encourage those parents to work with their kids to help them meet their potential. My top kids' parents missed out on a conference the first time because I didn't have time to see them. My problem kids require parent-conferences repeatedly thorughout the year. Also, if they're students who have an IEP you need to meet with the parents on an annual basis. Consider, do you really need to meet with every parent twice a year or more?

Fill the time however you wish, it's just a contract obligation. It's not fun for the parents to hear the same old story all the time either. As I said I've heard the attentiveness comment for 10 years now. The problems you see at school are the same ones the parents see at home. You won't be telling them anything they don't already know. Good luck.