Parenting Forums

Posted: 04 July 2008 at 2:47pm | IP Logged

I was given Joshua's report this morning, and have just read it. Last year although his report was good, I didnt think it was very accurate and there was a lot of 'doesn't understand' 'doesn't show an interest in..' After discussing it with his teacher it became apparent Joshua was different in school and didn't like to join in as much. We came to the conclusion the Welsh barrier may have been a contributing factor because I knew he could do most of the things they claimed he didnt.

Anyway, I got this years report and it reads so much more positively. Throughout the report are the words 'independantly' 'confidently' 'listens well' 'understands'. I am so glad he is flourishing at school. I have his parents evening next week which I am looking forward to, but I did speak with his teachers yesterday for some time and it appears he is doing outstanding work. She said he has settled down, he isn't too boistrous any more and he really enjoys learning and absorbs the information really well.

I'll always be concerned that his Welsh will suffer because I can't help him at home. The teacher says that it'll never come to that because he'll be taught it well at school. Thing is all English children come home with reading books and need help from school and parents to be able to read them (and later on spellings). I know I can read with Joshua in English, and he already has a good understanding of his English high frequency words, but when he brings home his Welsh reading books, there is going to be no one here to correct him when he reads something wrong. For that I will always rely on the school. It was always something 'I'd cross when I got there' but Im there now. In September his teacher said he'll be going straight onto reading books as he already has done his words. I just hope my lack of understanding doesn't hold him. I am going to be taking lessons myself, but he's already way ahead of me. Orally he is fluent in Welsh.

Posted: 04 July 2008 at 10:35pm | IP Logged

Awwww that's great news, good for him

Our Jess brought her report home today aswell. It was also pretty good though they are still saying Jess is easily distracted and is lacking concentration, and is therefore not working to her full ability. We had a conversation with the teacher about this back and November and I explained she is just naturally one of those kids that has a low attention span. I asked him to speak to the other teachers involved to try and come up with some ideas that could be implimented both at school and home to help increase her focus, however from what her report says they don't seem to have done much about it other than state that she needs to pick up pace and learn to concentrate (doh!), and to say that she's lazy (Jess may lack academic enthusiasm but that's not down to laziness, it's down to lack of interest) Anyhow, I've contacted the school and arranged to go and see her main teacher, her literay teacher and her numeracy teacher all at once. I don't think they particularlly liked me bugging them at this late time in the academic year, but I'm determined that both us and the school are gonna get a head start on this little issue so our Jess can get off to a flying start next year and be able to work to her full capabilities

Posted: 05 July 2008 at 4:05pm | IP Logged

we dont get our school reports till the last week of school and then its usually the wednesday or Thursday, im sure its because they dont like dealing with parents issues. Not very good at communication skills. They also find out what teacher they will have next school year in the last few weeks of term, I think i get more worried than the kids.

Anyway well done Joshua on your school report xxx