Dear Parents

Preparing for Parent Teacher Conferences

After Fall Break we will be having Parent Teacher Conferences (PTC). This is a time where parents can come and talk with their homeroom teacher to see how their child is progressing in their learning and how their child is settling into school for R1s. Parents can also ask questions and your teacher or I can offer advice and support in how to help your child. We are sending out a Progress Report on October 15. Please read through it carefully before you come to the PTCs.

In Kindergarten, the Progress Report lists the expectations for each of the following development areas – Language, Mathematical Skills,  Bible, Motor Skills, Social & Emotional, Cognitive and Chinese Language. 

You will see there are sub-categories and expectations for each area. The children are expected to be progressing towards these criteria for each one of these development areas. These expectations and criteria will increase as the school year progresses. These expectations are based on our Early Learning standards and some of these criteria are listed as “Begins to”.

Your child’s teachers have been observing and monitoring your child’s progress and the Progress Report will show a “Progress Level” based on what is observed at school: 

• ME - Meeting developmental expectations

• AE - Approaching developmental expectations

• NE - Not exhibiting developmental expectations (at school)

However, each child develops at a different rate across the developmental areas. There will be differences for children born in September or October against children born later in the school year. To attain the “Meeting Expectations” a child should be consistently meeting those expectations in school. 

If your child has any “AE” Approaching developmental expectations, your teacher will either explain in the comment or will talk with you more during the Parent Teacher Conferences. For the children who are older, we would expect all expectations to be met. For the younger children it is important to look at where they are still “Approaching Expectations” and any additional reasons. 

For example, it could be developmental, and a child is not yet ready, but often there are other factors affecting the children’s progress. 

• A child who is not getting sufficient sleep will find it harder to regulate their own behavior or follow instructions (3 to 5 year olds need 10 to 13 hours sleep). 

• Children who are not actively playing or getting physical activity or who often use strollers or are carried everywhere may not have body strength or arm strength that may affect their drawing or writing or even their ability to focus in class. Core muscle strength is needed to sit for extended periods, whether it is on the mat for Circle Time or at a table for Activity time. 

• Children’s language skills in school are affected by the languages they hear and use at home. A child’s confidence to stand up and do a Show and Tell is affected by how many English words they know. If they are not hearing much English outside of school, then their English language fluency is affected. 

Your homeroom teacher is a very experienced Early years teacher, she will be able to give you advice on how to help your child learn in a playful way as play is the best way for young children to learn and understand their world.  I will also be available during the Parent Teacher Conference days to talk with any parent, just drop into my office. 

At the Parent Teacher Conferences, we will also have a range of parenting books on display for parents to borrow – more information on these books will be in the Weekly Warrior on October 16! These books can be borrowed by parents at any time.