The View From The Other Side

       A little over a week ago I had the unique opportunity of observing my cooperating teacher in action during conferences.  It was wonderful going back to my main placement school and seeing the significant progress our sweet half day kindergartener’s have made since the start of the school year.  It was also touching to hear how much the students and my cooperating teacher have missed me.

       At an all school staff meeting a few weeks ago, the topic of conferences brought out varying opinions from the teaching staff.  Starting this school year, the structure of these conferences has changed, as well as the intended objective of the conferences.  Some teachers voiced that they would only be using their October conference with parents as a tool to connects and build rapport with their students’ families.  Other teachers felt that they should mainly focus on academic progress and setting smart goals for their students during these meetings.  Other teachers felt conferences should be a mix of the two.   My cooperating teacher felt strongly that building a deeper relationship with parents was important, but that identifying areas of concern academically and setting a few realistic goals for their children was priority.  Upon observing several of these conferences, I was pleased to see that both objectives were accomplished. 

      In total I participated in six conferences, three of which were “target” students of mine who I have been following closely.   Being able to sit down with their parents and guardians was invaluable because it allowed us to gain so much insight into the backgrounds of the students and their families and their challenges, anxieties, and the ways they learn best.  Several of these families are experiencing a crisis in their family and two of the students are not living with their biological parents, but guardians instead.  To hear these tragic stories and to see the grief and disappointment felt by these grandparents raising their grandchildren was heartbreaking.  For this reason, I was glad that my cooperating teacher mainly set academic talk aside and just focused on giving support and encouragement to these hurting caregivers.  What was touching and personally moving to me was hearing the hopes that these grandparents had for their grandchildren.  They want a better life for them and they are working tirelessly to make sure they are feeling as safe, secure, and loved as possible.    As a mom and teacher it warmed my heart to hear my cooperating teacher offer these families her pledge that she would partner with them to ensure their grandchild’s success.   

      I didn’t realize how emotional conferences could be and was completely unprepared.  The entire day was strange for me as I have always been on the other side of the conference table.  Having a son who is thirteen and a daughter who is nine, I have been to my share of school conferences.  I look forward to these opportunities to connect with my child’s teacher and find them to be short, informational, and to the point.   I had no idea how much preparation goes into these conferences and how emotionally draining they can be for the teacher.  This had never occurred to me and it made me feel guilty that I had never brought a little gift for the teacher during my children’s conferences.  They deserve all the treats they can get.

     It was such a strange experience sitting on the “teacher side of the table” that at one point during a very uneventful conference with a very sweet mother I felt like I was having déjà vu.  I found that I grew a bit uncomfortable sitting with the teacher because I am so used to being the parent in the classroom during conferences.  While it was strange being asked questions about their child’s social and academic progress, it was also wonderful to be looked at and respected as a teacher.  All of the parents addressed me this way and it was very exciting and a bit moving for me.  Overall, I am so thankful that I was able to attend these conferences, as it allowed me to see my cooperating teacher, our student’s families, and myself in a new light.   How strange but enlightening to see the view from the other side .
~ Christy