Parents make a difference.

This semester I am a student teacher at Lxxxx Charter School. Lxxxx for the most part operates with gender specific classrooms, except for a few high school level classes. I am working with the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade science classes and my cooperating teacher seems very eager and happy to have me in the classroom. She sees this as an opportunity for us to learn from each other.
During my first week I am overwhelmed with how enjoyable being apart of Lxxxx already is. The most noticeable differences are the teachers and parents as well as the principal. The teachers and staff have enthusiastically welcomed me with open arms and encouragement. They really seem to know every student in the school in depth (about 120 students total). The parents seem to be very actively involved in the school as well as their children’s education. My first parent teacher conference was this past week. At Bxxx xxxxx, my practicum school, I attended a number of conferences and all of them dealt with students discipline or failing grades. The conference I attended last week was with a parent and her 7th grade daughter. It was the most enjoyable conference I have been apart of so far. The student was not failing and is actually a pleasure to have in the classroom. The basis for the meeting was because of a somewhat low score on a recent test. My cooperating teacher gave very positive feedback and encouragement as well as some things that would help with her preparations for class. It was obvious my teacher had a close relationship already established with the student and parent, and it really helped make communication very open and easy.