Thoughts for Parent/Teacher Conference

Yesterday I scheduled The Boy's Parent-Teacher Conference. All evening long I was thinking about this opportunity. And the things I need to bring up at that meeting.

The Boy's teacher is brand new--not just to the school we have been at now for 9 years, but new to the profession of teaching. He apparently did something else in his professional career (with school age kids, he assured me) and now has attained a teaching credential and is a brand new teacher. Also, I understand that his wife is a school administrator in another district, so that adds weight to his expertise, right?

I was a brand new teacher once too, in a well established school with parents who were involved and trying to help. It can be intimidating and overwhelming from that side of the desk. But from this side of the desk, it looks very different. So to prepare myself, I thought I should write a list of discussion point I would like to bring up with Mr. New Teacher:

*It is now more than a month into the school year and I haven't seen The Boy bring home any spelling words. Or any writing assignments. Or a reading log with required reading for home. Do you have plans for any of these subjects in this class?

*I have been asking The Boy about his Guided Reading groups. He looks at me like he doesn't know what I am talking about. Will you be utilizing the trailer filled with the school's Guided Reading library? Will that be happening in this subject in your class this year?

* I have noticed, with curiosity, that The Boy has regularly spoken about the choice of classroom pets for nearly 3 weeks. I understand that it has been settled upon by bringing a bearded dragon lizard into the room. Did it actually take three weeks to decide, or where you filling time with the pet campaign instead of doing history, geography or social studies of any kind?

*The Boy was outspoken and highly disappointed when the "Bravo Board Bingo" was held and he received no prize while other select kids, according to The Boy, earned two or three prizes each. I understand the prizes were in the $2-$5 range, each. I have no problem with them receiving rewards for their own good behavior, but have you thought about just giving them a bookmark or a homemade certificate? This would save not only your money, but also the student's expectations that they come to school for the prizes and not the learning. Besides, as I understand it, you are running a classroom, not a popularity contest here.

*Finally, as I collect The Boy every day after school, it seems he regularly has a treat of some kind to tell me about that he ate in class that day. Is this bribing with treats plan working as your classroom management? The kids should be expected to behave, and as the teacher, you set that expectation for their behavior. Being consistent and firm in your rules in class will go a long way in helping them learn to control themselves and, consequently, the overall behavior in your class. Again, my kindest suggestion would be to eliminate food rewards and then the kids won't expect a treat every time they do something correctly. A little Pavlovian, isn't it?

So, Friends, what do you think? Do you think I am being too demanding of the teacher? Too interested in the plan he has for this class? Am I a helicopter parent here? Should I continue my line of questioning to include whether he intends to follow the Utah State based curriculum and testing requirements? Or the NCLB breakdown of sub-groups required to be tested with the state standardized test? And am I a little too sarcastic? I have about two weeks to work the kinks out before I meet with the teacher. I'll keep fine-tuning my questions.