First Parent-Teacher Conferences

Friday my mom watched the girls while Alan attended the conferences. I was kind of bummed that they were on a Friday during the day, because that is a day I teach and wasn't able to go. But Alan gave me all the scoop, and came home with the written evaluations and some stories.

Both girls are doing well in all areas, although Evelyn still "needs development" in listening & following directions, waiting to be called on before speaking, and showing self-control. This line, right out of the teacher's notes here, makes me smile: "She would like to be in control of her peers a bit more than they are willing to allow." Apparently, every day during free time Evelyn lines up chairs in front of the chalk board and insists on teaching a Science class. Some students willingly prefer Evelyn's "class" to other activities. Her teacher said, "Evelyn has amazing leadership skills...we just need to, well, channel them a bit." Sounds like we need to encourage Evelyn to realize that her Science class is an elective.

Amelia is still not really talking in class, although her teacher is able to discern what she knows. She's got pretty much straight A's (the pre-school version, at least), except she can't consistently hop on one foot and, when she raises her hand to answer a question, instantly melts into silence when actually called upon. Over Christmas, my mother-in-law asked her whether or not she liked school. Amelia smiled, wrinkled her nose adorably, and answered in her shy, squeaky voice (the one she uses when talking about school), "Yes. And my teacher likes me...because I'm quiet."

I've saved my favorites of the teachers' comments for last. Evelyn's teacher wrote, "It is a pleasure to teach Evelyn. Her love for the Lord is evident and continues to grow every day." She also told Alan that Evelyn volunteers every day to say the end-of-the-day prayer (let's restate that--she volunteers for EVERYTHING) and that the other children have learned how to pray through her example.

And Amelia, when answering the question, "What do you know about Jesus?" answered simply, "I love Him."