Parent-Teacher Conferences

Although my colleagues warned me ahead of time, I became a little disappointed at the low turnout for parent-teacher conferences at the end of this week. Eight parents (about two-thirds with their student) came to visit over two days of conferences (scheduled at different times to accommodate any parent working any shift). I just can't help but think, like many things in public education, there must be a better way.

I'm not sure what that better way might look like, though. I know that some schools often hold conferences at large employers in the community, but how would that work for parents who don't work there? We have a place like that in the community I teach and they often partner with the schools, but it doesn't sound like a satisfying, simple answer to me. One of our wonderful APs called the parent of every kid sitting on a D or F average in any class, so you'd think that would jump start some conferences. And I will say that out of those eight parents who showed up, five had kids who were in danger of failing. I also made sure to talk up the conferences in every note I've mailed home in the last month and called the parents of kids who seem to struggle the most.

The student-teacher across the hall said that when her daughter was in elementary school, she went to conferences all the time, but kind of tapered off as she got into high school. And she couldn't decide if she had done the right thing or not. What's the appropriate level of parental involvement? Does not coming to conference night mean you don't care? Should we have our conferences somewhere else in the community people feel more comfortable attending? For our community, the school really is a community center of sorts, so I'm not sure that's the solution.

Dear readers, if I have any, I am interested to hear what you think. How do we re-imagine the parent-teacher conference to make it worthwhile for student success?

You Win Some?

So, today a couple of things worth blogging about happened. Also, since I've broken my foot, my after-school activities have been severely curtailed and leave some space for blogging. Little blessings?

Anyone who works with teenagers knows that it's a constant battle to keep them from saying gay or retard in a derogatory way. A lot of teachers give up. But I can't. Maybe it's the thought of my wonderful younger brother standing proudly as his class's homecoming rep last year. Maybe it's all of the people who happen to be gay who have loved me in my life. But I can't let these words go. If my job is to teach kids that words have meaning and power, then I think I have to show them how using words negatively can affect people around them. So, I don't allow those words in my classroom. I try not to be mean about it and I give kids a chance to rephrase, but I never, ever let them slide (when I hear them). Today, one of the eleventh grade girls who rarely gives me a lick of trouble busted out the r-word. I was shocked and surprised, but she immediately corrected herself, and I forgot all about it. After class, she came up to me nearly in tears apologizing for how disrespectful she'd been. I mean, I couldn't even remember what she had to apologize for, but it was obviously weighing on her. I'm sorry she felt so upset, but it's kind of nice to see kids Getting It -- especially when the It is something bigger than worrying about their SOLs tomorrow.

I've also started to notice that I'm not exhausted when I come home in the afternoons any more. I still stay at school till around five most afternoons, but when I get home I still feel alert enough to enjoy something besides hiding under my covers and watching Glee on Hulu (still eight days behind). This increased energy seems like a huge victory. I can't wait to take advantage of it when I'm back to being a biped.

Today did have its absurd moments, however. After school, I had a phone call from an irate parent demanding to know why I hadn't held any practices for the male cheerleaders who are supposed to perform at the pep rally on Thursday. After patiently explaining that I had tried three times to reschedule after breaking my foot and no kids had showed up, she explained to me that was because I wasn't holding my practices at eight o'clock at night after all the other commitments had ended. Now, I know the juniors have met after school and I really can't imagine my very wonderful administration expecting me to have practice for a fake team at eight at night on top of all the other things a first year teacher gets to experience.

I didn't tell her this, of course, I just let her volunteer herself into practicing with the kids at night and turning a video into me. I hope this works out because I'm a little preoccupied with the testing, conferences, and other duties of actually teaching coming up this week. Please say a little prayer for my eleventh graders taking their SOLs tomorrow and Wednesday. Mostly pray that they don't lose focus halfway through the test and can keep it together long enough to get the pass advance I know each of them has inside themselves.

Thirty by 30

So, I know I have the terrible habit of posting about once a year, but I think I'm going to change that! In fact, blogging once a week is one of the thirty things I plan to do before turning 30. I've been inspired by my new friend Emily. Here's the list:

1. Visit NOLA

2. Visit India

3. Run the C’ville 10 miler

4. Publish an essay about education policy

5. Hike the AT

6. Work in Honduras

7. Start work on my doctorate

8. Become a National Board certified teacher

9. Go out West

10. Re-read the Frank Atkinson books about VA politics

11. Keep Atticus a healthy, happy dog

12. Send my parents on a trip to the Homestead

13. Throw a really great pig roast

14. Fall in love

15. Keep in touch with at least two students from every year I teach

16. Visit France

17. Drive in London

18. Stay at a convent for at least a week

19. Organize my finances (and keep them that way!)

20. Learn to fly fish and make my own flies

21. Raft the New River Gorge

22. Eat at the fancy new restaurant at the VMFA

23. Take my friend Bekah to a really nice ballet

24. Live in a city bigger than Charlottesville for at least one year

25. Go on a beach vacation where I do nothing but read, eat shrimp, and sip margaritas

26. Come up with a solid curriculum for grades 9 – 12 in Virginia

27. Blog at least once a week

28. Never give up on going to the gym at least four times a week

29. Help my brother sell his art

30. Decide there’s really no such thing as “settling down”

Also, I promise to keep y'all updated on my summer reading adventures. This summer I'll revisit the books I didn't get to last summer. I'm also starting The Moor's Last Sigh today for book club. Let me know if you'd like to read along with us!

Summer Reading Adventure

I've been flirting with the idea of starting blogging again. We'll start with our summer reading adventures. Here's the list. Join in on conversations in the coming weeks!

Maggie’s Summer 2010 Reading List

Nonfiction – Political
The Dynamic Dominion – Frank Atkinson
Virginia in the Vanguard – Frank Atkinson
Going Rouge – Richard Kim & Betsy Reed
What a Party! – Terry McAuliffe
The Audacity to Win – David Plouffe
The Year of Obama – Larry Sabato

Nonfiction – Biography
Fever Pitch – Nick Hornby
The Polysyllabic Spree – Nick Hornby
Eat, Pray, Love – Elizabeth Gilbert

Nonfiction – Teaching
The Quality School – William Glasser
One Day, All Children . . . – Wendy Kopp
Amazing Grace – Jonathan Kozol
The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child – Donalyn Miller
Holding on to Good Ideas in a Time of Bad Ones – Thomas Nevkirk
The Trouble with Black Boys – Pedro Noguera

Fiction – Adult
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies – Jane Austen and Seth Garhame-Smith
Music for Chameleons – Truman Capote
Juliet, Naked – Nick Hornby
Ford Country – John Grisham
Liberty – Garrison Keillor
Push – Sapphire
Killer Angels – Michael Shaara
Brooklyn – Colm Tobin
Bartleby & Co. – Enrique Vila-Mates

Fiction – Young Adult
Durango Street – Frank Bonham
The House on Mango Street – Sandra Cisneros
Coraline – Neil Gaiman
Little Brother X – Doctrow
Looking for Alaska – Green
Bronx Masquerade – Grimes
Hoot – Carl Hiaasan
The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
Inexcusable – Lynch
Monster – Myers
Rats Saw God – Thomas
Skinned – Wasserman
Make Lemonade – Wolff
American Born Chinese – Yang

Follow Me!

As Raising Kaine ends its successful run in Virginia politics, I'm joining up with the group who hopes to help fill that vacuum at Blue Commonewalth. Please follow my blogging adventures there!

Tom Needs Your Help!

You can debate Virgil Goode's prudence in requesting a recount, but no matter what you decide, Tom Perriello needs your help to keep his offices open and his lawyers on retainer during the recount. You can click here to donate. Just a few dollars are sure to help ensure progressive leadership in the Virginia Fifth!

All politics, all the time

The New York Times reports that Gov. Mike Huckabee will begin a book tour in Iowa later this month. Despite my utter exhaustion following my two weeks on the trail, I have to say that I love elections. I think that they represent a time citizens can have a conversation about the direction of our country, but I dislike all of this focus on national races. All politics is local. And, in this endless campaign cycle, I would really like to see politicos turn our attentions to state races next. In Virginia, the entire House of Delegates will be up for re-election. This election is exceptionally important as congressional redistricting ocurrs following the 2010 census.

So, let's stay away from Iowa and New Hampshire for a few years (a lot of people in NH seem to not be big primary fans, anyway) and focus on the elections that will continue to shape our nation and will actually happen this decade.