Meet-The-Parents Session

[shaz]

the dates of tingxie and spelling are stated on the spelling sheets so that is not a problem. But no notification on test dates. My dd came back from school today and told me they were given Maths test today. No idea if it is a CA1 test or an informal test???


Basically, communications from this school is quite bad. Received a letter last month, informing us we have to purchase a personal oral thermometer for temperature taking. Bought her a new one to bring to school. Few days later dd brought it home. The letter given was meant for P2s. All P1s are given a free thermometer. :x

Does other schools have Meet-The-Parents sessions - esp for P1? How do you get feedback or updates about your kids’ performance or other issues?

[jedamum]

shaz:

How do you get feedback or updates about your kids' performance or other issues?

I communicate with my boy's teachers through email. So far replies are promptly received in 1-2 days (even with the email showing that the teacher's reply was sent at 1am in the morning :shock:).
As with preschools, teachers' commitment make a difference in the overall school experience (for the same school, I did heard of not so favourable comments about other form teacher, so sometimes it's not the school, it's the teacher).

[corneyAmber]

shaz:

the dates of tingxie and spelling are stated on the spelling sheets so that is not a problem. But no notification on test dates. My dd came back from school today and told me they were given Maths test today. No idea if it is a CA1 test or an informal test?????


Basically, communications from this school is quite bad. Received a letter last month, informing us we have to purchase a personal oral thermometer for temperature taking. Bought her a new one to bring to school. Few days later dd brought it home. The letter given was meant for P2s. All P1s are given a free thermometer. :x

Does other schools have Meet-The-Parents sessions - esp for P1? How do you get feedback or updates about your kids' performance or other issues?

I believe the tests are notified but the children have to write it down into their diary like our school. The notification is meant for the children, not the parents hence no circular. Does your school have CA1? Usually these regular tests are topical tests and are not included into the exams computation. If you are very concerned, you should really write to the teacher to clarify. Typically in P1, the teacher ratio is 1:30, it will be hard to do formal meet-the-parents-session. But if you write in to make an appointment with the teachers, they can arrange. Also, in our school, no news is good news. If the teacher initiates a session, it will mean the child is coping badly in school. So for me, I rather not hear from the school.. :lol:

The other thing I do is I have a good network of parents in my kid's class. So if anything my child tells me that I am doubtful I will check with these parents if they have the same understanding. I understand your anxiety in this aspect because being new to the school, the child sometimes may not quite understand all that is going on and in primary school children are left to be fairly independent.

[summerlove]

I used to be a school teacher, have resigned since last year.


Different schools have different frequencies and timings of MTP (Meet-the-Parents Session). Some schools hold the first MTP on the first week of Term 1, some hold their first MTP during March holidays.

My suggestion to parents who want to communicate with teachers is to email them directly or call the school office to enquire about school’s calender-of-events.

Usually the school diary will have a calendar-of-events, however take note that changes can sometimes occur, and parents & students will be notified through official letters. The problem is, students sometimes can misplace the letters and not passing to their parents; and teachers are not aware this is happening.

Regular communication between parents and teachers is highly encouraged. Pls do not have the mindset that teachers calling means bad news. I, for one example, call parents once in a while to tell them the improvements of their child, as well as update them some school matters.

[ellehcim]

mine also do not have any meet-the-parents sessions. Probably scheduled to be end-May period bah. Emailed teacher also didn’t receive reply, lucky managed to get her mobile, so any urgent matter will sms her and wait for replies loh. called no answer one, probably the teachers are busy teaching, or other work, not convenient to answer. But writing in the diary does help a bit in the communication.


so far my ds also no formal test for maths or english, only as and when. Got to know when the kid bring back the papers for signature.Only recently there’s notice official in their diary for chinese test, that’s all. Their CA not inclusive in their final year assessment.

[porcupine]

does the teacher maintain a class blog?

hmm, my dd had a maths test yesterday too. but it was communicated via the class blogs and they were told to write it in their school diaries which they been given. hmmm… are our kids in the same school but diff class?

[usaik]

Hi Shaz,


My son’s school teachers do not communicate the dates to the children or the parents for Term 1’s "tests". That’s because the school has already abolished CA1 a few years back for the lower primary.

However, the school still have some form of assessments during term 1. The assessment include show and tell, spelling and tingxie, and a series of surprise tests. For all the surprise tests, the student will not know the dates of these tests. For my son, even though he is already in P2, he can’t really differentiate between tests and exercises during class.

Perhaps your dd’s school work in a similar way too.

[ellehcim]

ya, my ds’ school, they do not have CA test for P1 and P2. As and when there will be some surprise tests (they call it topical tests) given, some are informed, some are not. The P1 will sit for SA1 papers but their marks are not counted. Only SA2 will take up the 100% of the whole year. However, understand from the teachers, that they will have a profile for each kid and will show it to the parents on what they had done throughout the terms, during the parents-teachers meeting sessions.


Yes, my ds also have show n tell for both chinese and english.

[buds]

Just to share…

P2’s school has :-

[CA and SA]
>No CA for lower primary.
>SA1 and SA2 for lower primary.
>Recorded in report book - SA1 25% + SA2 75%

[Meet The Parents Session]
In school hall ala congregation.

Brief overview of how to help
students with Eng, MT and Math
at home. Eng on compostition &
creative writing and reading. MT
emphasized on home environment
and reading MT story books. Math
covered a little on heuristics and
problem solving for topics to be
covered for the year ahead.

No formal meet up with teachers.
Only pictures of teachers were
put up to intorduce the HOD’s,
form teachers and MT teachers
for each level.

Other areas covered :-
>Avenues of communication with the school
>Advantages of school diary & official website
>Areas for parental involvement in Parents Support Group (PSG).
>Informed parents of tentative dates for field trips, PTC (Parent-Teacher-Conference)
>CCA options for lower primary
>Holiday programme plans
>School circulars to parents

[Tests]
>Topical Tests informed via child’s diary
>Children to copy down the dates & topics to prepare
>Whole term’s spelling list given on 2nd week (Eng & MT)
>No pop quiz (surprise tests) only practise papers or additional
assessment sheets provided by school

[ctct61t]

shaz:

Did so much just to get into the school (PV, moved house)...but feeling quite disappointed now. The only notes she comes home with (school made them purchase a diary) is always - \"bring money to buy file.\", \"Bring money to buy this and that.\"


There isn't even a letter to inform parents of the 1st semester tests dates. As they have been given 'informal' tests regularly, my dd don't even know when the actual tests are

My gg's school will have no tests in 1st semester, and i even did not see my girl doing homework usually...I ask my girls' performance when I fetch her from school sometimes, knowing that my girl was not quite used to attend school for the beginning, she act just like she was in Kindergarden, did not listen teacher properly, can not finish her homework in time, and talking during the class... I spend a lot of effort to correct her, I hope she can be used to be a student soon.

I just attended her MTP a week ago, and knowing why my girl did not have homework, and I know what she learned during the english class (they don't have english text book), and I also know that my girl getting some progressive. I'm happy to hear that...