Conferences
At Village Montessori School, we are aware of the significant role that parents play in the children’s education. In the sense of the adolescent, they are also key factors in providing an environment that is filled with adult-like responsibilities and activities to prepare them for adult life. One of the most important aspects of the middle school staffs’ obligations is to form and maintain is a healthy relationship with the parents.
It is critical to have communication with the parents as well as a relationship built on trust between the student, teacher, and parents. To respect their need for independence, the students in the adolescent community participate in student-led conferences twice a year (fall and spring). Each student is given a survey to fill out before their conference. This survey contains questions related to personal and academic goals. The students, along with their teachers, will meet with the parents to discuss how the year is going and areas the student feels particularly confident in as well as areas in need of improvement. Each student is asked to bring at least one binder and their student planner to their conferences for a demonstration of what they are doing in class and how they organize their time and work. The adolescent might have questions or concerns to discuss at this conference, which will lead to opportunities for deeper conversation between adults and students. If there is ever a time the parents prefer to discuss their child’s academic and personal growth independent from the student, an additional conference will be arranged.
Maria Montessori stated, "but, above all it is the education of adolescents that is important, because adolescence is the time when the child enters the state of manhood and becomes a member of society" (From Childhood to Adolescence 60). To aid in the search for their place in society, the guides and parents must provide opportunities for the adolescent to participate in adult-like experiences. The student-led conferences are utilized to better prepare the adolescent for adult life. They are learning how to conduct themselves in a professional manner. This type of interaction between student, teacher, and parents will foster the development in the adolescents’ language and communication skills as well.
It is critical to have communication with the parents as well as a relationship built on trust between the student, teacher, and parents. To respect their need for independence, the students in the adolescent community participate in student-led conferences twice a year (fall and spring). Each student is given a survey to fill out before their conference. This survey contains questions related to personal and academic goals. The students, along with their teachers, will meet with the parents to discuss how the year is going and areas the student feels particularly confident in as well as areas in need of improvement. Each student is asked to bring at least one binder and their student planner to their conferences for a demonstration of what they are doing in class and how they organize their time and work. The adolescent might have questions or concerns to discuss at this conference, which will lead to opportunities for deeper conversation between adults and students. If there is ever a time the parents prefer to discuss their child’s academic and personal growth independent from the student, an additional conference will be arranged.
Maria Montessori stated, "but, above all it is the education of adolescents that is important, because adolescence is the time when the child enters the state of manhood and becomes a member of society" (From Childhood to Adolescence 60). To aid in the search for their place in society, the guides and parents must provide opportunities for the adolescent to participate in adult-like experiences. The student-led conferences are utilized to better prepare the adolescent for adult life. They are learning how to conduct themselves in a professional manner. This type of interaction between student, teacher, and parents will foster the development in the adolescents’ language and communication skills as well.