Director’s message 63

Dear Parents,

The Short Version.

On Friday, March 4th, 2022*, we will host Parent-Teacher-Conferences from 1:00pm-6:00pm. You may contact your child’s teacher to schedule an appointment for another date and time if you are unable to attend.
Please note:

  • Elementary conferences last 40 minutes and will take place in the classrooms. Our homeroom teachers will host individual meetings with your students to ensure that they achieve measurable student progress here at ISO!
  • Conferences with specialists and Upper School teachers last 10 minutes and will take place in the auditorium.

*Due to conferences, Friday, March 4th, is a half day, therefore all students must be picked up at 12:00pm, and Friday after school activities are cancelled.

Side Note: Last week we celebrated Mother Tongue Day! Enjoy this Mother Tongue Day video message of international greetings from ISO students and staff!

The Long Version for our new parents, or avid readers:

Student Parent Teacher Conferences
(SPTC)

RE: ALL ISO PARENTS

Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held next Friday, March 4th, from 13:00 – 18:00hrs. You will have the opportunity to meet the entire International School of Ouagadougou Teaching Team. Many of our 47 new parents (about 40% of our ISO community) have not had the opportunity to do so very often due to the ongoing and unique circumstances. Please be sure to:

  • Sign up for a meeting time using the link above
  • Read the information about our Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences below
  • Be prepared for a productive meeting, as this is the time “when students, parents, and teachers celebrate learning.”

Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences
March 4th, 1:00 – 18:00
“The time when students, parents, and teachers celebrate learning”
TIPS FOR PARENTS

THE PROCESS OF PREPARING AND CONDUCTING CONFERENCES ALLOWS STUDENTS, PARENTS AND TEACHERS TO:

  • Reflect and report on their learning in different classes with the goal of comparing the different factors that have an effect on their learning.
  • Reflect on their effectiveness as active learners with the goal of improving future performance.
  • Practice setting goals and articulating strategies.
  • Better understand how they are evaluated.
  • Organize and carry out a presentation about his/her learning.
  • Practice and demonstrate analytical and communication skills.
  • Express their points of view rather than passively receive an evaluation about them.

Why Reflect?

  • Through structured self-analysis and reflections, students “learn how to learn”.
  • For Parents and Students, the experience of attending a focused student-led conference is a powerful way to understand and to assess the child’s development in specific academic areas.
  • MAP Results create a situation in which students must examine their own learning based on concrete and valid evidence. This shifts the focus away from the external influences and places students in a position of assuming responsibilities for their actions.

The Teacher’s Role in the “Learning” Conference

  • Teach the students the necessary skills to self-evaluate and lead the conference.
  • Help students set goals for the following quarter.
  • Provide guidance and encouragement.
  • Help students enhance their communication skills and rehearse conferences in class.
  • On the day of the conference, act as a facilitator opening the conference, explaining how it works, revisiting the learning objectives of the trimester, encouraging the child to lead the conference, monitoring the time, and closing the conference.
  • Only intervene in the conference if the child can’t progress. Allow the child to continue on his own, once s/he gathers confidence.
  • Let parents know that there will be other opportunities to meet with the teacher if they need to talk about any specific concerns.

The Student’s Role in the Learning Conference

  • Assume the responsibility to report learning and progress.
  • Set goals for the trimester with his/her teacher and parent’s help.
  • Evaluate and translate honestly his/her work and progress.
  • Learn to communicate in a way which is understood and satisfying for themselves and their parents.

The Parents’ Role in the Student-Led Conference

  • Before conferences, ask the children about their performance and areas for improvement.
  • Bring the children to the conferences.
  • Trust that children can report and reflect on their learning. Allow that the children use all the time of the conference to report on their progress.
  • Ask questions, encourage, and praise the child’s work and effort.
  • Ask the children questions to help them decide goals for the following trimester.
  • Assist the teacher in maintaining the time limit and schedule a new meeting if you have to discuss specific issues.
  • Talk about the conference with their child before and after the conference

QUESTIONS PARENTS MAY ASK THEIR CHILDREN DURING THE CONFERENCE:

“Tell me about what you learned in this assignment? – ” “What did you have to do in this assignment?” – “What was the most challenging part?” – “What skills did you have to use?” – “What do you think you did well? Why?” – “If you had to do this assignment again, what would you do to improve it? Why?”

POST CONFERENCE PARENT REFLECTIONS: Parents should take some time to comment or write a letter to their child reflecting on her/his performance during the student-led conference. Should you write, we ask you to provide us with a copy of the letter the week after conferences take place, so that it becomes part of your child’s MAP Results.

Below are some ideas for discussion:

“I felt proud because…” – “Keep up the good work on…” – “I find it interesting that…” – “I know that sometimes you have difficulty with…- but…-” – “Why do you…?” – “I am glad to see that you are taking an active role in your education by…” – “I am glad to see that you are making an extra effort in…” – “Now you are more…” – “How can I help you to…?” – “Some ways I can help you are…” – “What if we…?” – “Let’s….” – “I enjoyed your conference because…” – “Next time you may want to…”

Your children will love to hear your reactions to the conferences and they will be more motivated.

New Parents … Thank you for your support and for a smooth start to a uniquely challenging year as we work together to create a solid (and safe) school ecosystem for all our students!

Have a good afternoon. The Board agenda for Wednesday’s meeting at 18:00 in the Library was sent.

Sincerely,

Jeff