Parent Teacher AND Student Conferences

It is a miracle I got through last week.  It was spring conference week, in my first teaching job.  I had shadowed conferences during my student teaching experience and led a few of them before but I knew that was not going to hold a candle to what I was about to experience for three days straight.  My anxieties?  Keeping my stamina up for 23 conferences.  Being able to speak to and answer all of the pertinent questions, having come into this classroom at the end of January.  Proving myself.  Making sure all the parents' worries were addressed.  Being able to assure them that their children are in good hands and that whatever areas of weakness exist, will be worked on further.  My list of anxieties were soon squashed when I remembered that the students would be sitting right next to me. They run the spring conferences in my district and assess their own learning and goals to present to their families.  Students came in with difference smiles that what I normally see at 7:55 am every day.  Some shook slightly, others' voices quivered.  It was then that I realized, they were more nervous than me!  This was a big deal to them; having to present their hard work to their parents.  Having to answer questions about why they did poorly on something or hear embarrassing enthusiasm at performing excellently on an assignment.  They were nervous too.  Their nerves weren't from my standpoint, but they were real.  My nerves came from meeting dozens of adults for the first time and explaining how personally I now know their children.  They came from hoping they understand how important their children's education is to me and how even if I'm new at this profession, I am giving it my all to make sure the school day is filled with more positives than negatives.  My nerves and my students' nerves were authentic and honest.  The end result?  Twenty three amazing conferences.  Some more stressful than others, some with more concerns than others, but all were equally rewarding, for me and the students.  I am glad that I got to sit next to the people who work so hard with me every day and present OUR learning.

Coming to America

This week we kicked off an immigration unit in Social Studies.  The kick off included an assembly in the cafeteria where the 4th grade teachers dressed up as immigrants on their way to Ellis Island.  Our principal was the "captain" and he interviewed each of us about our treacherous journey to the United States.  The kids hung on our every word, anxious to learn why their teacher was wearing suspenders, dirty shoes, and corduroys three sizes too big.  They were told that the teachers were portraying their actual ancestors which made the stories authentic and mesmerizing.  I played by great great grandfather Louis Fulop, who came to the U.S. in the 1910s from Budapest, Hungary.  He was a poor shoemaker and like thousands came to the country for a chance at a better life.  His cousin had a job waiting for him in Manhattan as a hot dog salesmen.  Not the luxury he was imagining I'm sure but it was honest, hard work.  The kids have a homework assignment tonight.  They need to go home and speak with their family about their own ancestry.  A few of my students already knew extensively what their heritage is but for others this is going to be an eye opening journey.  I think it is so important for them to understand that the people we are going to be reading and learning about were real and could even be traced to their own bloodline!  The students bombarded me after the assembly with questions about the character assignments they are going to receive later this week.  They wanted to know if they will be traveling first class or in steerage.  They wanted to know if they will get to dress up and act as their characters, just as I did today.  It was so great to see the excitement in their eyes for this upcoming unit.  I can't wait to get started!