Not too long ago now, we had Jack’s parents evening. I remember them well from when I was a child at the same school so it seemed weird to be walking into a parents evening myself with my own child. I was both eager to hear what his teachers had to say and also a little terrified. They are always saying how good he is but you never know what issues can crop up so its always best to be prepared to hear the good and the bad.
Luckily there wasn’t really any bad at all apart from the fact he lacks concentration sometimes. They were pleased with his mathematics and phonics skills as he is ahead of where he should be and he is very caring and sharing. We have had the odd issue with another child hurting Jack but Jack never tells the teacher and if they don’t see it, how are they supposed to know? We as parents plus his teachers worked together at the parents evening to try to make it clear that he needs to tell someone if people are being mean. However, overall it was a great parents evening and we as parents are super proud of him.
This occasion got me to thinking though – I remembered my parents evenings very well and it was structured very similarly to Jack’s – 20 years later. So what five things should you expect at your child’s parents evening?
- A discussion about their skills – Obviously this varies depending on what age they are and level of school. As I mentioned, we discussed Jack’s mathematics and phonics skills mainly as he is in nursery but this would all depend on the level your child is at.
- A chat about their friends – Usually the children they spend most of their time with at school will be mentioned and, more often than not, it will be mentioned that the teachers are trying to get them to branch out a little. In Jack’s class, they often move children around in the groups in order to get them to mix with others and not just hang around the same children all the time.
- What they are like at home – Teachers ask this because they want to see if the child does certain things differently at home than they do at school. For instance, Jack listens really well and is really obedient at school, at home not so much. He will sing his little heart out at home but doesn’t seem to want to at school. This gives them areas to work on with your child.
- Any problems – This could be from them not being quite at the level they should be at to them perhaps being a little mean to other children or even them having children be mean to them. This is a chance for either side, parents or teachers, to get any worries or problems across and give the other the opportunity to deal with them.
- Finally, the learning journal. Now I don’t remember having one of these at school but I must have had something similar as my parents have one at their house! Right at the end of the meeting, the teachers will give you a chance to look at your child’s learning journal and see what your child has been up to since the last meeting. It is always nice to see pictures of Jack happy and engrossed in whatever he’s doing. I’m not too sure whether learning journals continue on as children get older but these can definitely be expected at pre-school and nursery and possibly even reception.
So there you have it…five things to expect at your child’s parents evening? Did I miss anything – what would you put on the list?
I remember my parents attending parent evening – Oh my! I don’t remember learning journal either. R
They must be a fairly new thing!
Aw I used to love parents evenings for my daughter, especially looking through the learning journal.
My daughter is in high school now and the parents evenings there are so different, very un-personal and formal!
I hate how formal secondary school ones can be!
I love parents evening – really enjoy getting to find out what they are up to when they are away from me
I do too!
I used to worry when I first started going to my Daughters parents evenings, but the thing that seemed to follow every time was talking, which did not surprise us at all.
His first one I was terrified!
You’ve shared some great tips here, I’m sure they’ll be really helpful to other parents xxx
Thanks Laura x
When my parents would go to my parents evenings I would always be told that I didn’t participate in class more x
Same!
I used to dread parent’s evening even though mine were good! At high school out teachers always asked us “How do you think you are doing?” Worst question ever.
I hate that question!
Is there anyone who actually likes parents evening? I know as a child I hates attended mine even though they were always positive haha x
Jack seems to like his lol
Great post – I can only add that this all goes out of the window at secondary school – you will be lucky if the teacher can remember their name (sadly, this is true!) Kaz x
That’s so sad! 🙁
Things have changed so much since I was at school. My kids’ parents evenings are so much more full of information than I remember mine being.
Really? Mine are pretty much the same 🙂
I was dreading our last one but lucily it went very well and both my girls went up a group in math, yaaaaayyyyy for mummy’s extra hw.
Well done to your girls!
Ekk I can imagine it is nerve racking going to your first parents evening! x
Am I the only one that dreads parent’s evenings, lol! You wait around for ever for the teacher to spend five minutes telling you your child is doing fine, then you go home. 🙂
Thank you so much for this advice, I need all the advice I can get haha!
My girls don’t have a learning journal in their parents evening but my youngest she does like a little test thing to show how much she can count to and what letters she can recognise and so on. My eldest is in year one and for the first time I got to look through her book! I love parents evening x
I’m not a parent, but I imagine this is a useful post for those who are! My little brothers hate parent’s evenings!