Getting feedback

[Shannie77]

In my daugther's casa classroom they only get a "report" at the end of the year. I am sure when I went to one of the curriculum nights they mentioned you could request a meeting to see how your child is adjusting.

Is this how it is normally done? I was thinking of sending in a note asking for a meeting just so I can find out how my DD is doing, what she enjoys etc. Is that common place? She has been in the class for 7 weeks now. DD is only 3 and it is hard to get her to tell you what happens in her day. I usually get a couple of sentences from the assistant but mostly just that my DD is so cute and she had a good day.

I also believe they said that in November you can sit in and watch. Has anyone done that at their child's school?

[sbarr_NY]

Not a Montessori parent (yet), but I am my daughter biggest advocate.

As a parent, you have the right to know how your child is doing. Whether it be a report or a conference, I hope that if you go forward, extending a hand of support, that a good teacher would be happy to sit down and tell you how your daughter is doing. I can't imagine getting something > bi-weekly or monthly. To put perspective: end of year is 33% of lifetime of a 3 yo vs. 6% of lifetime of a senior in high school (please disregard the rounding for 9 mo vs. 12 mo - analogy still holds true)

I sometimes compare children/education to boats. Small sailboat, you may need to adjust the sails more often than a huge cruiser that is going along. Similarly, for a 3 yo, I'd want to know end of the first WEEK, whereas a high school senior, quarterly might be fine.

I'd request to watch earlier, just to see how things are going. Not to judge, but to watch.

[nanette0269]

We had a parent's night 2 weeks ago, and the kids basically worked as if they were in a normal work cycle...just with more enthusiasm since they were showing off to their parents!

Before thanksgiving...they are having a grandparents/special friends day, where the grandparents also come into class during their workcycle and watch the kids perform their lessons.

We also have a parent teacher conference scheduled...tomorrow actually. And the parents who cannot attend are meeting with the teacher next week.

So, I do think your case is unusual...or you simply havent been told that there are parent teacher conferences, outside of the official end-of-year evalation. Definitely ask! Even public schools here are having their parent-teacher conferences now.

[NYMommy2007]

At DD's school they seem to really want the parents involved. We've so far had informational nights (where the teachers teach us the lessons, this is an ongoing monthly thing) and observation time (where we sit in the classroom and observe). Starting next month they have grandparent observation time and also two times a year there are actual teacher/parent conferences. We've been very impressed so far with how they try to keep us in the loop.

[AJHCFamily]

My daughter is also 3 and about 7 weeks into her first year. I had a parent/teacher conference last week. After only 20 minutes with the teachers, I was blown away at how much my daughter had been doing and how well they already knew her. My daughter is shy and more of an observer so I figured that she was still getting the lay of the land.

Definitely schedule a conference! There is plenty they can tell you about your child at this point.

[carmel23]

Schedule a conference, or send an email. Don't wait. My DD often says she has done "nothing," or mentions something random. But she has done quite a bit-- she's had sand paper letters for the past 2 weeks.

But she usually tells me whether she did or did not do the pink tower.

[MattBronsil]

Originally Posted by carmel23

Schedule a conference, or send an email. Don't wait. My DD often says she has done "nothing," or mentions something random. But she has done quite a bit-- she's had sand paper letters for the past 2 weeks.

But she usually tells me whether she did or did not do the pink tower.

Also, take a look at my Montessori Life article entitled "Counting or Playing" (By Matt Bronsil) You can google and find it pretty easily, especially if you use my name.