I missed blogging. I had to come back and I'm surprised that after two years of ignoring Artistry of Education, my following has grown.
I have had quite a personal journey in the last five years and I may share bits and pieces here, but most of it feels like it belongs in a bad made for TV movie instead of a teaching blog.
I went back to teaching the fall of 2016. I spent three years teaching fifth grade in a gifted and talented program. This year I moved to third grade in the same program.
But enough about me...
This last week I had student/parent/teacher conferences. After years of traditional parent teacher conferences where I told the parents how things were going and then they went home and told their children, I facilitated student-led conferences for three years. This year, I decided to give everyone a list of questions ahead of time and simply have a conversation about how things were going. I think it was less stressful for everyone and the parents could excuse the students for part of the conference if there was something they wanted to share with me privately.
I tell my students that I don't tell their parents anything I wouldn't tell them.
There were a couple of funny moments last week. In the middle of his conference, one student asked if he could have a private word with his dad. (I still don't know what that was about.)
One student stayed up past his bedtime to finish a writing assignment so he wouldn't be in trouble. He didn't realize that the computer showed that he turned it in just before midnight, so he was in a different kind of trouble.
Three students made a pact of silence the day after their conference, because they got into trouble for talking. Third graders can't stay silent for three minutes, not the three hours they planned.
I love my job.
Here is a link to my newest free product in my Teachers Pay Teachers store, Conference Recording Sheet.
It's good to be back.
