Be sure to play the free games linked from Bridges, Courtenay’s math program!
Reading in your native language
You don’t need to speak English to raise a strong reader, reading in any language helps.
“While it is important to encourage and support your child’s efforts to learn English, research shows that children who are read to in their native language (such as Spanish) will have an easier time learning to read in their second language (such as English).”
— Lydia Breiseth, Colorín Colorado
All families can help their children become readers. The following videos are recorded in English and Spanish, with subtitles in any language.
En español · Alfabetización en familia
In English · Family literacy at home
Partnering with your child’s teacher
You don’t need to prepare a speech to meet your child’s teacher, you just need goals.
“Questions to ask at a parent-teacher conference might include: Is my child meeting expectations? How does my child compare to others in basic skills? If my child is struggling, what has been tried to improve their performance? What else can be done at home or at school? What are my child’s strengths? How are they doing socially?”
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) gives three tips for that conversation:
- Help the teacher get to know your child. Share family values and preferred activities. Share areas where they are doing well and note areas where they need help. Share what makes them shine; and share any important changes in their life or behavior.
- Discuss academic progress. Ask about recent data (including grades and test results) and what the data says about your child’s current strengths and challenges. Ask what teachers will be doing this year to inspire academic progress, ask if your child is at grade level in math, reading, and other subjects, and ask what key skills they are expected to learn this year.
- Team up on a plan. Discuss how to support academic skills at home and, if needed, ask for resources. Share what helps your child stay motivated at home, and ask about the next opportunities to touch base on progress.
En español · Hablar con el maestro y abogar por su hijo
Una educadora de Texas explica por qué la conferencia es una conversación de dos vías, qué preguntas hacer y su derecho por ley a un intérprete (algunos detalles son específicos de Texas; para Chicago, vea Su escuela, sus derechos). Otro buen video: Escuche, Aprenda y Abogue, una charla de MCPS.
Parent-Teacher Conference Checklists
Before the conference
- Ask your child how she feels about school.
- Ask your child if there is anything that he wants you to talk about with his teacher.
- Tell your child that you and the teacher are meeting to help her.
- Make a list of topics that you want to talk about with the teacher.
- Prepare a list of questions such as:
- What are my child’s strongest and weakest subjects?
- Does my child hand homework in on time?
- Does my child participate in class?
- Does my child seem happy at school?
- What can I do at home to help?
During the conference
- Be on time (or early) for the meeting.
- End the meeting on time. Other parents will probably have a conference after yours.
- Relax and be yourself.
- Stay calm during the conference.
- Ask the most important questions first.
- If your child receives special services such as English classes, ask about your child’s progress in those classes.
- Ask for explanations of anything you don’t understand.
- Ask your child’s teacher for ways that you can help your child at home.
- Thank the teacher.
After the conference
- Talk about the conference with your child.
- Talk about the positive points, and be direct about problems.
- Tell your child about any plans you and the teacher created.
- Keep in touch with the teacher during the school year.
Checklists reprinted from Colorín Colorado (WETA / AFT).
Listas de control
Antes de la conferencia
- Pregúntele a su niño qué le parece la escuela.
- Pregúntele a su niño si hay algo sobre lo que él quisiera que usted le hable a su maestro.
- Indíquele a su niño que usted y el maestro se reúnen para ayudarle.
- Haga una lista de los temas sobre los que desea hablar con el maestro.
- Prepare una lista de preguntas como las siguientes:
- ¿Cuáles son las materias en las que mi niño es más fuerte y más débil?
- ¿Entrega mi niño la tarea a tiempo?
- ¿Participa mi niño en la clase?
- ¿Mi niño parece estar feliz en la escuela?
- ¿Qué puedo hacer en casa para ayudar?
Durante la conferencia
- Llegue a tiempo (o temprano) a la reunión.
- Termine la reunión a tiempo. Otros padres probablemente tienen programada su conferencia después de la suya.
- Relájese y sea usted mismo.
- Mantenga la ecuanimidad durante la conferencia.
- Haga las preguntas más importantes primero.
- Si su niño recibe servicios especiales, como clases de inglés, pregunte sobre el progreso de su niño en esas clases.
- Pida que le expliquen lo que no entiende.
- Pídale al maestro que le indique cómo puede ayudar a su niño en casa.
- Dele las gracias al maestro.
Después de la conferencia
- Hable de la conferencia con su niño.
- Hable sobre los puntos positivos y sea directo acerca de los problemas.
- Comuníquele a su niño cualquiera de los planes que usted y el maestro hayan hecho.
- Manténgase en contacto con el maestro durante el año escolar.
Listas reproducidas de Colorín Colorado (WETA / AFT).
More resources
- Colorín Colorado — conference tips for families in English and español
- Child Mind Institute — a parent’s guide to parent-teacher conferences (English)
Bridges: Courtenay’s PreK through 5th math program
Courtenay begins conceptually preparing students for middle school algebra from the moment they enter Kindergarten. Don’t be surprised to see your five year old solving for X.
“Bridges in Mathematics” is a math program that Courtenay’s teachers voted for, as it encourages hands-on, full-class problem solving with lots of discussion and visual models. Don’t try and push your student to use a single solution, as Courtenay students prove their conceptual understanding in many ways.
What a Bridges classroom looks like and how to support it at home: Family Support page.
Speed isn’t math: slow down
“Focus on understanding, not speed.”
— Jennifer Bade, Courtenay MTSS/Math Specialist
“There is a common and damaging misconception in mathematics – the idea that strong math students are fast math students. … When students are stressed, such as when they are taking math questions under time pressure, the working memory becomes blocked and students cannot access math facts they know.”
— Jo Boaler, Stanford youcubed
Speed isn’t math! Some of the world’s best mathematicians reason slower than most people. Recent research has shown there’s no such thing as a “math person” and everyone can learn high level mathematics.
You don’t have to know the answers to your child’s homework, just ask your child to explain how they could solve it and listen. Their explanation is the practice, whether they arrive at the answer or not, and it slows everyone down in the best way.- Fun math-focused shows for you and your student: Cyberchase en Español · Cyberchase in English (PBS KIDS, 1st–6th grade) · PBS Math Club (tweens/teens)