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Suggestions For Improving Parent-Teacher Conferences

February 25, 2021

Parent-Teacher conferences are an important opportunity for two-way communication. They are not merely a stage for teachers to give parents information on classroom performance, although many teachers do just that. They are also an opportunity for parents to understand and develop trust in their child’s teacher. Parent-Teacher conferences are NOT just about results. If a parent leaves a conference with a list of grades and nothing else, it’s wasted time. Conferences are also a place for parents to tell teachers things about their child: How the student likes to learn. What they says about the class at home. How they enjoys spending free time. What motivates and interests them. Parent-Teacher conferences are a key strategy in establishing a partnership with…

Drive Your Mind With Your Body

February 18, 2021

Getting things done is easy when you feel like getting it done. But what about when you are lacking energy, focus and you just don’t feel like it? Sometimes we can find ourselves not thinking very clearly, being anxious or generally feeling overwhelmed but our work demands that we perform. At times we want to be at our mental best at specific times, to complete scheduled tasks. For peak mental functioning in these circumstances, author Josh Davis, in his great book Two Awesome Hours, advocates leveraging the immediate effects of physical activity and food to improve our mental functioning. Given that our mind and body are woven together, it follows that our physical state shapes  our mental state too. Almost…

How to Finish Your School Day

February 11, 2021

How do you typically finish a school day? Exhausted, running on low reserves, feeling guilty about the things that you didn’t get done and already worried about tomorrow?   Working in schools can be exhausting. There is always a lot to be done and a limited amount of time to get it done. Our days are often filled with interruptions and unexpected events e.g. Johnny having a melt-down, a cranky parent arriving unannounced or an accident in the playground at lunchtime. No two days are the same and you are very unlikely to become bored.   One of the challenges can be that there is always more that can be done. More preparation! More planning! More marking! Our work can…

Meet the Parents – Successful Information Sessions

February 4, 2021

Information sessions for parents and carers are important occasions for setting the tone for the year and building relationships. For 99% of parents the MOST important thing in their world is their child! More important than their house, their car or anything they own. This places a tremendous amount of responsibility on us. We are not only charged with the responsibility to look after them but to educate them as well. Whilst this is a massive responsibility, it is also a tremendous opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives. First impressions count! Be organised – set the classroom up to be interesting (ensure displays are error free) Be punctual – start and finish on time Be interested –…

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