Primary Advice / Keeping parents in touch with kids
Helene J. Uchida / Special to The Daily Yomiuri
Q: What do you think is the best way to inform parents about the English progress of their students? Do you think report cards are appropriate, or is there another way? It seems parents often entrust a lot of their children's education to teachers in Japan, but I would like to involve them a bit more and let them know how their children are doing in my lessons.
D.V.
Teacher
Saitama Prefecture
A: Parental involvement is always a positive factor in early education. There are various ways to inform or show the parents how their children are doing.
At our Little America school, we use The Challenge Book, which clearly designates which English point the student is working on each month. Upon successfully mastering the challenge, the student gets a stamp on the challenge and a small present. This is a firm indication to the parents about their children's progress, and it also opens the door for them to give support at home in preparation for our monthly one-on-one Challenge Book tests.
Holding parent observations or happyokai presentations once or twice a year enable the parents to view how their children are navigating themselves around in an English-speaking situation. Such activities give parents and other family members a chance to see their children in action. (219 words)
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