First Parent Teacher Conference

Report cards, parent-teacher conferences, and grades are a rite of passage into school and have a big impact on a good portion of a person's life. I don't remember receiving my first report, although I have seen in it the memory box my mom kept for me. The columns lined with "S" and "S+" signifying that I was performing satisfactorily as a kindergartner.

We had Emma's first Parent-Teacher Conference this past week, and received her first report card. I didn't know what to expect. I had humorous thoughts of Mrs. K telling us that Emma was rambunctious and wild. (I am sure those of you who "know" Emma that this is the exact opposite of her.) We received great news about Emma, and confirmation on things we were worried about.

Emma is doing wonderful academically. The only constructive criticism was something that may not be able to be changed, and that is having Emma participate more. Emma is shy by nature, and doesn't like to make it known what she does know. Mrs. K told us that she would like to see Emma participate more, because she is so smart, as a help to the other kids. Mrs. K looks at Emma and can tell that Emma knows the material. Also, Emma would rather be on her own reading books, which we already knew. We have set Emma up with some playdates with some of her classmates, and Mrs. K said that is helping Emma come out of her shell.

The big shocker was Emma's reading assessment. We were informed that she is reading at a 5th grade level with a comprehension at 3rd grade reading level. During the assessment, Mrs. K was afraid she was going to have a 9th grade reader on her hands, as Emma was flying through the test. This just confirms our decision to have her in at the charter school. At the public elementary school she would have been bored out of her gourd.

Emma is thriving so well. She loves her weekly homework which is a packet of various activities- numbers, alphabet, and she begs to complete in one sitting. Her favorite are the nightly books- her chapter book (Magic Treehouse series), and comprehension little reader. In her weekly homework, she has had to practice writing sentences, and has taken to writing "little" stories on the extra sheet provided. I have been really impressed, as she does it by herself. The only thing she comes to ask me is how to spell her little sister's name.

So her first report card will get tucked away in a memory box, and when she is an adult she will look back on it, hopefully with fond memories of kindergarten. As Mrs. K relayed this story to us: "The music teacher told the kindergartners "You all will be getting an 'S' on your report card! Isn't that great?" The kindergartners looked back at her with blank stares, and I whispered her in ear "They don't know what grades are." To which the music teacher then said "Right! You have a great day, and you are doing so good."

So Emma is in happy ignorant bliss about grades, and rightfully so. I hope she continues to have much fun and joy in learning.