Reflections about Back to School Night - Open House

As a team we met to discuss how our Back to School Night went.  We went over some of the questions parents had for us, and our own reflections.

Reflections about Back to School Night: (2 stars & 1 wish)
Things that went well:
The observation around the room.  Parents were even looking under tables.  Going over the transdisciplinary skills having them try to match the skills with what is happening in the photos we showed of the students engaged in inquiry (brilliant idea Analisa!).  Thanks to Shuruq for the lovely transdisplinary skills display.  The flow of the presentation, the activities.  The involvement in the activity so that it wasn't only me talking.  They were interested in the 'small world area.'  Parents were asking how these things were going to be assessed, but they seemed to answer their own questions as they went along.  Parents got an idea about what their kids were learning by walking around observing and then discussing them.  Going over the blog was helpful and made it easy to have the tabs there.  Getting together as a group to plan presentation as a jumping off point, and having done that in advance gave me time to do the presentation organically but knowing the parts I wanted to get done.  Mosaic of hands activity - gave time to wait for parents, find the photo of your child's hands.

Things that left us wondering or wish to change:
Wish we had all the parents together at the same time or more evenly divided.  Could we maybe do it after school?  Parents asked where their child's learning was going to be at the end of the year.

Wonderings:
What to do if the child goes to the construction center every day? (Doesn't do fine motor?)
Would like to learn more about discipline and working with special needs?
If learning expectation in T1 is 1-5, what happens if they are not in an area where they count things?
How can we help kids be involved in other centers, so they can develop their skills?

Parent Questions:
One parent was confused about why they don't have assigned seats.
My child likes to have her own things, how does it work if everything is shared?
Do you help them learn manners?
Wood table - what kind of learning tools?  What do they do with all the accessories?  What do they use the house for?
What part of the room do they use the most?
How much time do they spend outdoors?
Should we have the same sorting system at home for art supplies?
Is there a type of punishment, how you discipline children?
How do the children manage time and know what is next?  What does this inquiry mean?

Sharing is fundamental to everything we do when we learn.  Kids have things to take responsibility for but sharing things develops their executive functioning skills, fostering community - social cooperative skills.  Taking turns.
The children are everywhere all the time, but the teepee is a place where most kids like to go.  Using observation to inform practice of how to design classroom environment to invite all students to participating in learning within those areas.  Keeping records of where kids go, with whom, how long, what they do is essential for us to really develop all learning areas in our classroom.
The challenge is to design activities in each area where all skills are developed, and also be creative in our design of spaces and activities to draw them out.  For example, integrate blocks or trains in other areas of the room, Batman cut outs.
Positive discipline in the classroom is emotion coaching.  Labeling the feelings, Addressing the behavior, Problem Solve together. (Role play can also be helpful to reinforce).
Keep in mind Stephanie's Peace Dove on your shoulder - don't let it fly away.
'Rain is what makes children grow, not thunder!" - wise words of wisdom from Shuruq.