VOCABULARY TESTS? Teachers are told to use plain talk, not jargon, in meetings with parents

The Grand Rapids Press ^ | Monday, November 03, 2003 | Dave Murray

[FourPeas]

VOCABULARY TESTS? Teachers are told to use plain talk, not jargon, in meetings with parents

Monday, November 03, 2003

By Dave Murray
The Grand Rapids Press

It's a scene likely to be repeated in West Michigan classrooms thousands of times this week.

Mom and Dad visit an elementary school, fidgeting in too-small chairs as a teacher flips through a pile of papers, commenting on how little Bobby is doing in math, or whether Susie is reading as well as expected.

Parent-teacher conferences can be 20 minutes of terror if teachers impatiently rush through the pile. Pity the parent who is told "assessments are indicating" Bobby has not "obtained mastery" in multiplication, but perhaps some "manipulatives" would help him be "proficient" on the "MEAP."

Huh?

These days, educators say they are working to make such scenes less common -- especially when families have other school choices if they're not happy.

Teachers are told to throw out the confusing jargon.

So Bobby's parents would instead hear he has had some poor marks in math, but hands-on activities might help him do better on the big state test. Parents might even be treated to cookies and coffee, as educators aim to put them at ease.

"For a lot of parents, their experiences for the conferences is going to be largely based on what kind of experiences they had when they were in school themselves," said Linda Bennett, who spent 31 years as a teacher and guidance counselor in Allegan County's Hamilton school district.

"It's as if they're going back to school as kids again," she said. "And if they had a bad experience the first time, that's going to be reflected."

After retiring from Hamilton, Bennett started working for Life Service Systems in Holland, a non-profit agency that assists parents. Last week, Bennett conducted a workshop for parents on how to have better conferences.

Debbie McFalone, Grand Rapids' executive director of curriculum and elementary instruction, said she realizes the city schools have not always been inviting to parents.

"We'll have the coffee pots on and cookies, and the principals will be walking the hallways to greet people and make them feel welcome," she said. "We're making a real effort because it's something that's been one of our shortcomings in the past."

The district also is planning to make sure parents are aware of some high-profile goals. They'll all walk out with brochures, and every classroom will have a sign stating the district's goal of having all students reading and writing appropriate to their grade level by 2007.

Sara Potyraj, a parent of a Covell Elementary fifth-grader, said she's been impressed. For the first time, her school is helping parents without transportation to get rides, and volunteers are manning a drop-off room with activities to keep kids busy while mom is meeting with the teacher.

"I've found the conferences here to be helpful," she said. "I'm not worried going into it because I've got a pretty good kid, but there are things we can work on and we come up with a plan together."

Veteran teachers say they don't want parents to think of them as adversaries, even when they have some children who can be a handful.

Denise Visger, a third-grade teacher at Rockford's Roguewood Elementary, started her teaching career after her two children were in high school, so she had plenty of experience with conferences before talking to her first parent.

"I understand exactly where they're coming from," she said. "I used to wait out there in the hallway sweating it out, too."

Visger, who has been teaching 15 years, said creating a relaxed atmosphere is important. She never sits behind her desk, and has a table and grown-up-sized chairs available. She likes softer lights, and makes sure to have a bowl of candy and tissues handy.

"I let them know I appreciate they came," she said. "I want it to be as non-threatening as possible. After all, we're all here to help the child."

Language is important, and she said "ed-speak" is definitely out.

"The last thing I want is to come off like a superior know-it-all," she said. "There's so much jargon in education, and I want to put things out there in layman's terms. If it doesn't make sense to the parent, then what's the point?"

Visger said conferences are short -- about 15 minutes -- but teachers are happy to schedule a longer session if the parent requests one in advance. Surprises are bad for both sides, and if there's a problem, she encourages parents to send a note or make a call long before a conference.

If there is a problem, Visger said she wants parents to know they can work on the issue together. She tries to have documents and work samples available so parents can see the difficulty.

"I don't want to put parents on the defense," she said. "But it's important not to sugarcoat something. Parents see right through fluff. You can be honest and say, 'I like your kid, but there's one thing he does that drives me nuts.'"

[FourPeas]

Pity the parent who is told "assessments are indicating" Bobby has not "obtained mastery" in multiplication, but perhaps some "manipulatives" would help him be "proficient" on the "MEAP."

Huh?

HUH? Granted, some parents aren't too bright, but the above shouldn't be beyond most normally intelligent people. "Proficient" is jargon? "Assessments are indicating" and "obtained mastery" are too hard to understand? Apparently the dumbing-down processing is working quite well.

[netmilsmom]

Wow, Peas! This is a direct lesson from the Charters to the districts!
When we were in Conner Creek Academy in Warren, the conferences were timed with a big cook out for the parents. The Principle and VP smoozed with the parents and told them how great they were to put in an effort to the kids education. At conference time, the parents were greeted by a teaching assistant who showed us to the "Big Table" just for grown-ups. Our teacher told us that we scheduled 15 minutes but if we had any concerns to feel free to drop a note and she will be there for us.

Wonder why charter parents love our schools??

[Naspino]

...jar---gone? Someone lost the jar of pickles?

[ladylib]

Some of the ed jargon is a little ridiculous as this article states:

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Nov-02-Sun-2003/opinion/22472840.html

[Seeking the truth]

They'll all walk out with brochures, and every classroom will have a sign stating the district's goal of having all students reading and writing appropriate to their grade level by 2007.

2007 !!!!!!!!!

Real sense of urgency - jeesh!

[Think free or die]

"Real sense of urgency - jeesh!"

Yup, and that gives them plenty of time to dumb down the standards so that all can meet them.

[Slainte]

These days, educators say they are working to make such scenes less common -- especially when families have other school choices if they're not happy.

especially when families have other school choices if they're not happy.

Parents might even be treated to cookies and coffee, as educators aim to put them at ease.

Sigh. An educational revolution twarted by cookies... Mmmmm.... cookies...

[Pan_Yans Wife]

At my first grader's recent parent teacher conference, we talked about my son's writing skills, and what he is learning. The teacher told me that he knows what a declarative sentence is, because she points it out to the students! I was really impressed by this, even though it took me a second to recall the terminology.

I suspect I will remember a great deal about the lessons I learned as a child, as my son continues his education.

[Abynormal]

First of all, the article is assuming that the TEACHER herself understands the 'jargon'...... in my experience that is really stretching the benefit of doubt.

[Styria]

Most of the sentence is fine, but manipulatives and MEAP are a little hazy. As for "hands on work," does that mean he needs to just practice with some straight math problems, or that he should figure it out with physical objects? That's vague too.

[WIladyconservative]

As for "hands on work," does that mean he needs to just practice with some straight math problems, or that he should figure it out with physical objects? That's vague too.

It means they want him to use Legos to figure out math problems. Manipulatives always refer to overpriced Legos bought by the schools from "Durable Hard Goods for Education" companies (i.e. LEGOS).

It has always been my experience that teachers spout educational jargon to drive a superiority wedge into the conversation. When the parent can spout the jargon back (in spades) then the gloves come off and real work gets done.

Also in my experience, asking the teacher if they've read the latest abstracts from the ERIC database on a particular subject gets the point across that I will not be intimidated by their jargon and let's just cut the crap.

(ERIC= Educational Resources Information Center)

[biblewonk]

But teen-speak is way cool. If everyone's happy that's all good. WhatEver.

[Think free or die]

"It has always been my experience that teachers spout educational jargon to drive a superiority wedge into the conversation."

I find it amusing that when I use some of the same jargon when talking to an administrator, I get a very different response than if they think it's a "mere parent". Is isn't rocket science; just new ways of repackaging the educational process. Our district is now going through the repackaging of arithmetic (again), using the constructivist approach. Blech.