Little Red School House
and Elisabeth Irwin High School

A Pre-K-12 Progressive Education

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Family Conferences

Ana Chaney

Dear Middle School Families,

Family Conferences are tomorrow. Like so many things these days, these will likely feel both familiar and not. Regardless, coming together to reflect on and strategize about learning is something our community excels at and it will feel good to have that time. I offer three thoughts about the opportunity afforded by these unusual times:

You have a front row seat to your child’s learning in a way you haven’t in a long time, maybe ever. This is probably illuminating and aggravating by turns. If you’re experiencing those highs and lows, you should know you’re in good company. Teachers, by contrast, are suffering a loss of the data they would typically glean by just walking through the room, looking over shoulders. This is a great opportunity for partnership. Tell us what you have noticed - about your child’s pacing, the way they approach challenges, processing instructions, and making decisions about their work. Much of it will echo what we have seen in school and some will be unique to this circumstance. You may be wondering if they’re doing ok, or if what you see is typical, and how much to step in, or step away. If you have a particular new insight or question, this is a great time to share it. Ask your child what they need at home that might be different from before.

Your child’s wellbeing is our first priority. This is always true, and is especially important now, during uncertain and scary times. Middle schoolers have to feel supported and confident to be the most effective and resilient learners. So much of the middle school program is built around this idea. We know from experience and from scientific research that being comfortable and happy is a prerequisite to deep learning. We can all enjoy this opportunity to spotlight wellness. How can we partner with you to keep your child healthy, happy and engaged? Can you identify the healthy attitudes and habits that supported any particular success in humanities, math or art, for example?

Remote learning taxes the executive functioning skills; these include the ability to plan, prioritize, take initiative, and regulate impulses. You may have noticed the effects of this at home. Even for a child with typically strong executive functioning skills, the demand is high. Your middle schooler is in charge of structuring their own work and overcoming challenges in a new way. The good news is that this generation of students will emerge from this experience with a heightened ability to do this, to seek help when they need it and to sustain attention over a long project. There are many supports available for students who need more adult help managing their time, planning or just starting their assignments. The need for this help varies. If you child needs or wants more, conferences are the time to make appointments for office hours, learning lab, or IWP.

Typically, I’d say “See you tomorrow.” I wish that were true. I’ll miss the ebb and flow of families through the building. Enjoy your time connecting with advisors. Here are a few logistical notes about tomorrow:

There are no synchronous LREI@home classes for middle schoolers tomorrow.
The teachers’ zoom IDs are on the middle school news page on Connect, under “All Grades Announcements”
The conferences are 30 minutes apart, and there should be five minutes of buffer between them. Please help advisors keep to this schedule. Also, be aware that if you enter the zoom meeting early, you may need to wait.
I welcome feedback about the program. Please direct suggestions and ideas to me rather than teachers and keep the conference focused on your child in particular.

Warmest,
Ana

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