Parent-Teacher Conferences

Following the end of the half-term holidays, we had parent-teacher conferences with both Desmond and Sierra's teachers.  We love how much detail we get even in a three-year-old classroom.  Desmond has curriculum that is based on seven areas of development.  We had to laugh at Desmond's opportunities listed under the category of communication and language.  The teacher mentioned that he gets really confused by British terms (e.g. gas v. petrol).  She also mentioned an issue with pants vs. trousers.  In England, pants are underwear.  He had an accident one day and the teacher asked him to put on new pants and he kept telling her that those weren't pants.  Not sure if we know what words to practice, but we will get right on that  :) 

The British curriculum is very different here compared to the US.  Sierra was considered gifted and talented in the US, but entered British primary school below level.  British children in our area get a very rigorous phonics and writing program as four year olds. They actually don't call letters by their letter names but by their sounds.  So if I asked Sierra to spell her name she would say S-I-E-R-R-A.  However, I asked her British friend Ava the same question she would say Ah-Va-Ah.  They apply the same technique to their writing and are asked even at four to begin sounding words to make sentences.   I drew the same chart below that the teacher at Sierra's school drew for us.  Children typically enter year 1 at a 1c.  The goal is to get to 1a by the end of the school term in July.  When we first arrived, Sierra tested below level in every category assessed.  By February, she had made significant gains in all areas especially math. She may or may not make national average in all areas by the end of the year, but we are amazed at her bravery and ability to make friends wherever she goes.