Blog Five week of 3/23/09

I think it is very important for schools to connect with the community surrounding it. In order for families and other people in the school's community to feel like they are connected I believe schools should allow as much communication between the two as possible. I grew up in the Muncie area and I think my school did a great job of promoting community and school relations. We frequently held chicken and noodle dinners where everyone from the community was invited to come to the school cafeteria and pay to eat. All the money that was raised went to the PTO and various school groups. This was a great time for parents and families to eat dinner together and also walk around the school and look at the bullentin boards and various other things. Our PTO also always hosted the annual carnival. At this carnival parents worked booths with activities such as face painting and games for all ages. The school also held other dinners such as "Dan's Fish Fry" where everyone got together to raise money. The school also held monthly skating parties at the local skating arena where familes and students were invited to skate together. This skating party also allowed for teachers and different administrative people to interact with the familes and speak on a more casual level. I am sure there are many other ways that schools can interact with their communities, but I believe my school does a pretty good job of creating opportunities for families to come into the school and also speak to important people within the school.

Blog 4 Week of 3/2/09

I really enjoyed participating in the parent/teacher conferences this week.  I had never really thought about the different difficult situations that I would be put in by parents.  It just further proved to me that teachers always have to have their opinions and other observations backed up in writing.  I feel more prepared for dealing with parent interactions in the future.

I am glad that I was able to experience some of the different situations that I might be put in before I was actually put in them in real life.  It was hard for me to continue to take my classmates seriously with some of the things they were asking and saying during the difficult conference.  This also made me realize that when parents say these types of things I have to work to stay calm and focused, even though on the inside I may be laughing at them.