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Poor report card?
back-to-school poor report card? Help for the second semester. By Christa Melnyk Hines
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For some kids, school is a challenge no matter guide their day and know if they’re setting themselves what. But throw in a historic pandemic, complete up for success,” says Zuck. Plan a successful with masks, social distancing, and an unrecognizable classroom environment - or remote learning - and you Tech check. Whether your child is in a physical classroom or a virtual one, not understanding how to use parent-teacher conference have a recipe for even more kids feeling the sting of the technology or how to access available resources can school struggles. frustrate any learner. Regardless of learning mode, make sure your kids know how to use whatever technology Try to connect with your child’s teacher before the How should you respond? they have available. Whether they are accessing conference to avoid surprises. Approach the conference
“Families, teachers, and students need to have grace resources, keeping a calendar, engaging in virtual from a collaborative perspective. with each other. Students have not been in classrooms meetings, or note-taking with their devices, kids may for months and there are many things going on in our need some guidance,” says Zuck. Ask your child’s teacher questions like: lives,” says Kristen Zuck, a coordinator of curriculum The process will also help you determine where • Does my child struggle with the content? and instruction. assignments and grades are posted, how teachers are • How can we address issues with test
Acknowledge feelings. Focus not only on your child’s communicating with their students day to day, and how performance? physical health, but also their social and emotional to tell if/when assignments are turned in. • What does my child’s organization/time well-being. Talk to your child about how school looks Talk to the teacher . Even if your child is learning management look like? and feels different and maybe a little weird this year. remotely, teachers generally make themselves available • Does my child seem happy/sad/frustrated/lonely? “Discussing with your kids how they feel and reassuring to address student or parent questions and concerns. • My child’s grades are good, but how can I them that it’s okay they feel that way can help ease some “Our teachers have ‘office hours.’ They will have time support their continued growth? anxiety,” says Zuck. during the day when they can read emails from parents
Get curious . Rather than panicking over a poor grade and take phone calls,” says Michelle Fitzgerald, Ed.D., an and demanding answers, try to understand your child’s assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction, and be made for your student to test in an area with fewer perspective. Otherwise, you risk losing an opportunity professional development. distractions. At home, make sure your child is fueled for a productive conversation. “Curiosity is a good place Younger children may not be able to articulate why with quality sleep, healthy food, and time to focus on to start with because it’s a non-defensive position, and it they are struggling in a particular subject or in general. concepts they need additional help on. puts your child in a position of not having to react,” Don’t wait until parent-teacher conferences to reach out Encourage personal advocacy. Beginning from says parent coach Nicole Schwarz, LMFT, owner of for support and ideas. “Communicate with the teacher when they are young students, encourage your child to Imperfect Families. and seek to understand why exactly the grade came out advocate for themselves in the classroom. “Tell them to
Try to suss out what might have led to a poor score. the way it came out,” says Fitzgerald. ‘ask your teacher for more help, raise your hand in class’ Perhaps your child is distracted by the unusual school - and celebrate those accomplishments,” says Fitzgerald. environment, their mask is itchy, or they can’t figure Ask your child’s teacher questions like: As your child gets older, include them in parentout the technology. Maybe they’re struggling to grasp • What specifically caused this grade to be low? teacher conferences, which will empower them to take a concept like multiplication. Or perhaps they need • Were assignments not turned in? personal responsibility for their learning, monitor their to have their desk moved up closer to the front of the • Did my child not do well on assessments? progress, and set future goals. “If a plan needs to be classroom because they can’t hear the teacher well. Ask • Is my child having trouble with the content? created for moving forward, having the student, parent, your child questions like: “What do you think would help and teacher team together is best,” says Zuck. you do better?” Or, “How can I help support you?” Conversations with your child’s instructor can Be proactive. Help your student enjoy a stronger
“My goal as a parent would be to show my kids that help you understand what they’re seeing from their second semester of school by remaining aware of their I’m rallying around them and wanting to help them perspective. Often, they can suggest ideas for helpful upcoming assessments, as well as ongoing assignment move forward,” says Schwarz. “When they feel heard interventions. “It’s not so much about ‘my child got an schedules. “Watch them when they’re doing their and understood, they’re more willing to go deeper into A, B, C, D, or F.’ It’s about figuring out ‘who is my child homework to see if they’re struggling and then conversation.” as a learner?’” says Fitzgerald. communicate with the teacher on a regular basis,”
Create structure . Kids typically thrive in a structured When you have that information, you can work with advises Fitzgerald. environment because it provides a sense of predictability the teacher to create strategies that support your child’s and security, which supports learning. “Whether they are ability to learn successfully at school and at home. For at home or in a physical school building, helping them example, if your child struggles to focus during testing Christa is a nationally-published freelance writer. She create a daily schedule, including goals, can help them or assessments, ask the school if accommodations can is the mom of two teenage sons. CCM
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CORRIE CHALIFOUX
HEAD OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Corrie Chalifoux was first introduced to Webber Academy in 1998 when she was hired to teach Grade 1. Webber Academy is a school that feels like a second home to her. She taught Grade 1 for five years, Grade 2 for four years, and now has been given the opportunity to be Head of Elementary School. Mrs. Chalifoux is honoured and exhilarated to be appointed this position and looks forward to the new challenges that lie ahead.
Mrs. Chalifoux attended Mrs. Chalifoux attended Red Deer College and completed the Early Childhood Program then transferred to the University of Alberta, where she obtained a Bachelor of Education Degree. Upon graduating, Mrs. Chalifoux worked for the City of Calgary with the Parks and Recreation Department, was a part-time nanny, and also a substitute teacher at Strathcona Tweedsmuir School. She married Joël Chalifoux in 1999 and then left Webber Academy in 2002 to raise her two beautiful child Academy in 2002 to raise her two beautiful children Malia and Kai. During this time, she operated a highly successful preschool business in Tuscany for 12 years. Owning her own business taught her many valuable skills. She met and influenced over 280 families and employed two other teachers: one of whom went on to open her own thriving preschool business and the other who is now a valued teacher at Webber Academy. Corrie Chalifoux grew up on a Ranch in Pine Lake, Alberta, where her family raised purebred Black Angus Cattle. Growing up in that environment taught Mrs. Chalifoux the values of hard work, perseverance, commitment, and dedication, but most importantly, the power of optimism.
