So, last week was parents evening at school. Typically this coincided with J being away on business so I had to ‘go it alone’ again, a short-list of questions in hand (as ‘baby-brain’ has never really left me) and a bag full of food to keep them quiet (yes, food is still the best pacifier, even at 10)! With three of them, this can turn into a full evening out but luckily for me, this time, my appointments were all within a 60 minute window- winning so far! Past parents evenings have involved speeding around the school to different classrooms, only to find that they are running late, waiting, missing the next appointment and then having to sprint across the school to the next one. This time, they took more of a ‘speed dating’ approach to the whole thing and held it it the main hall. With a large digital clock illuminating the projector screen, timekeeping was of the essence and everyone was sticking to it- still winning!
My first appointment was with K’s teacher (yr6). My main concern with her is the struggle we are still having with learning spellings, as her dyslexia means that she struggles to get them into her long-term memory. We discussed various options and the school have agreed that she can use a lap-top (if we can provide one) in school which would provide her with various tools to help. With typing being a more sensory way of writing, I’m hoping that once she has mastered touch-typing, this will help her to remember spellings too. I was however, shocked to hear that there are no concessions given to dyslexic children when taking the SATS examinations or in their assessments of ‘reaching standard’ at the end of year six. With spelling being a large part of the criteria now, K will struggle with this but the school have assured me that her secondary school will take other information provided by them, into account when streaming children. All other aspects of K’s leaning are good and I feel bad that the whole 10 minutes was spent talking about her one weakness. It’s a constant frustration but one that I feel we are finally getting on top of.
Lou’s teacher was next (yr3). Lou is the least of my worries, she’s sailed through school so far, exceeding expectation, being teachers pet and loving every minute- my little swat (just like her mother!)! Her teachers general goal for her is to ‘maintain her excellent attitude to learning’, I can ask no more! Of course there were a few things to work on and they’d like her to offer answers during class discussion times but other than that she’s a pleasure to teach! -Still winning.
Now for The Boy (yr1). I have to admit, being the third child and a summer born boy, my expectations for him were low. Having chatted with mum’s of similar aged boys, who were pulling their hair out during the early stages, but are now settled and working really well, I had just decided I wasn’t going to stress! So, he’d prefer to stick a pencil up his nose rather than write with it and wrestle under the art table with his mates, I’m lucky if I can get him to write his name in a birthday card at home, never mind any other sort of writing! He’s five, he’s a boy, what ‘ya gonna do? So, when his teacher began to tell me what wonderful adjectives (yes, adjectives!) he’s using in his writing and that his next target in maths is to be more consistent with his number bonds to 20, I was stunned into silence! She went on about how he’s using full stops and capital letters, that he can use his phonic knowledge to spell words correctly and does all this independently! He can do what, now? I had to stop her there, just to be sure that we were talking about the same child, she’s only had the class for six weeks, maybe she’d confused my Boy with another?? But no, apparently, the boy I take to school each day, morphs into the perfect student for approximately six hours before returning to his usual state, ready for collection! The only solid proof I have, that we were indeed talking about The Boy was a small concern over his pronunciation of the letter ‘R’ as an ‘L’ sound, when it is mid-word. Apparently, the school can provide speech therapy for this, during school time, through the NHS. Though we had noticed and begun to pick him up on this mispronunciation, we hadn’t considered a need for therapy and assumed that it would rectify itself. In summary, my laid-back approach to The Boy’s schooling has worked- the most unforeseen win of the afternoon!
Well, I’d say that’s a pretty big parenting win! I am so proud of them all and the little people they have become. I’m really not all about the ‘look at my children, aren’t they fantastic’, honestly! I just feel that for the majority of the time, I am their biggest critic, not in a negative or discouraging way but I was always looking for the next milestone with the girls, rather than just celebrating a current achievement. Putting too much emphasis on getting to the next stage rather than congratulating for getting here in the first place. The Boy’s review has proven that actually, they will do it in their own time, in their own way, when they are ready. Had I pushed him to do more than reading at home, he would have probably pushed back and maybe spoiled his (apparent at school) love of learning! The little monkey!!
Have you had your first parents evening of the new school year yet? Was it what you expected or were there surprises? What are your thoughts on reaching learning and developmental milestones? What’s been your most memorable parenting win so far?
Buzymum 
My child always struggles in the beginning of the year because she’s trying to understand all that is new and expected in class. So her work doesn’t get high marks and it discourages her and then I fret of course…but then it clicks for her and she really takes off sprinting 🙂 Hearing her teachers say they are proud of her work ethic and all the other things we hope to hear from the teachers. I’m not failing as her mom today. Fantastic read 🙂 #parentwinning
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I was just saying that we should be getting notification of this soon. Seems like we should have had it already. Mine is five and started all day kindergarten this year. I’m really curious how she has been at school. Congrats on the little man’s reading. That’s awesome #blogginggoodtime
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I was just saying that it seems like we should have had this by now. Mine is five and started all day kindergarten this year. I want to know how its going while she’s there. Congrats on the little man’s reading. Thats awesome #blogginggoodtime
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How lovely to get such positive feedback on all your kids. I used to love it when my mam came home from parents evening and told me about all the feedback from the teachers. I used to thrive on praise as I lacked such self confidence! It’s a shame about the focus on your son’s dyslexia as opposed to his general achievements. I didn’t realise that spelling was such a consideration these days, I thought those days were over. It sounds like he isn’t letting things get in his way though – go kids go! #KCACOLS
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Well done to all your kids! Sound like they’re all doing fab in their own ways. #KCACOLS
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Oh bless him. I feel proud just reading about this progress!
I’m super excited to see what our first parents evening has instore for us (a good five years away haha) as both me and hubby were very clever at a young age and I taught myself to read and write (my skills went downhill after primary school as did hubbys whoops)#EatSleepBlogRT
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We have separate meetings for the big lad because of his autism and haven’t had the little man’s yet (fingers crossed) as a parent and teacher I hate parents evening. It is a necessary evil and one I have written about at length. Thank you for linking up to #EatSleepBlogRT
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Sounds like they are all doing really well! Thanks for linking up to #KCACOLS Hope to see you on Sunday!
Nadia – ScandiMummy x
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Yayyy well done all… sounds like your mummy is super proud!!
Thanks for linking to #ablogginggoodtime
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We’re actually heading to our first parent/teacher interview this evening. Sounds like all of your kids are doing very well. A mommy win for sure! #KCACOLS
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Well done to all your kids and well done to you for everything I’m sure you do at home to help them. I read about your eldest and see my eldest – mine’s younger and not yet diagnosed so I don’t know if it’s dyslexia – but there’s def. something, and we are in the process of doing so and know there’s an issue. It’s hard and I wish you and your eldest every success working through. I think my youngest might be the one that coasts, but she’s only two months in so it’s a wee bit early to completely relax there 🙂 Happy to have found you and congrats on a successful evening!
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Thank you! Keep pushing for help with any issues you think your eldest has. I don’t think I was pushy enough at first but it really is the only way to make sure they are noticed! Good luck xx
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Ah – I too should have been pushier earlier. It’s hard to know when to push and I worried a lot I was over-reacting. Looking back, I should have been pushier. We have a pretty good plan in place now which I’m hoping will worth though. Thanks!
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Aww you must be so proud of them! It sounds as though they are doing so well, it’s lovely at parents evening when someone reaffirms what you already knew about your children. Thank you for linking up with #momsterslink
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Parents evening eeeekk. My son is at a special needs school so you never quite know what you’re going to hear that he’s been up to (his communication isn’t good). I had that meeting last week and it wasn’t too bad, he’s connecting with his peers a lot better so that’s an improvement.
Daughters parents evening isn’t until late November…she’s a self-proclaimed geek and I’ve never heard anything other than amazing things from her teachers. They tell me about this polite, thoughtful and sweet little girl and I always wonder who they’re talking about because at home we have an unpredictable girl who often shouts “YOU’RE THE WORST MUM EVER” or “YOU CAN’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!”
Ahh well, I guess it’s better than she’s perfect at school than at home 🙂 A xx
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What a great parents’ evening you had – isn’t it lovely to hear such great things about your kids! I love evenings like that! #fortheloveofblog
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Well done to all your beautiful kids achievements! I was too worried about my Ethan’s (yr1) reading progress. I thought he was slow as we had to leave school early at the end of last term – more than half of term, due to family reasons. But his teacher told me that it is not a worry; he was doing fine and that I should not compare him with other kids; he will develop in his own time. Feww… I thought. I am also dyslexic so I am always over paranoid of his development I guess. I think you have WIN WIN WIN on our side for sure! 🙂 x
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful post with us on #FabFridayPost.
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That’s a lovely story about your boy in year 1. It certainly sounds like you’ve been doing the right thing by being relaxed and not pressurising him to do schoolly things. You must be very proud. It’s lovely to get a glowing report from someone else who spends time with your kids. Thanks for sharing and for linking up with us #FabFridayPost
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