In order to promote home-school communication, strengthen parent-teacher collaboration, and support students' growth, this week, the Puxi campus held parent meetings for Grades 1-3. The parent meetings were divided into two parts. The first part involved grade leaders and subject teachers relaying an overview of the grade and the situation of each subject. The second part took place in individual classrooms, organized and conducted by the classroom teachers.

Grade Meeting

Grade 1

Grade 1 coordinator, Ms. Ye Xing, began by summarizing the characteristics of first-grade children. She explained that at this age, they exhibit "strong curiosity, a short attention span, a need for affirmation and encouragement, and an increase in social needs." The diverse range of subject activities and colorful classroom décor in the primary section of Shanghai High School International Division align perfectly with these needs of children at this age. Ms. Ye Xing also emphasized how teachers at the first-grade level use various visual aids to cultivate children into independent learners. For example, each IL booklet records their SMART goals at every stage and provides regular feedback, daily checklists remind children of the direction for effort and progress each day, and diverse methods of knowledge acquisition nurture independent thinking and teamwork skills.

Character education is also paramount during primary school. Character education revolves around the six core keywords of the acronym HEROES—Honesty, Encouragement, Respect, Organization, Enthusiasm, Sharing. Throughout the semester, the children record their own “HEROES story” on heroes passports specially made by teachers, which allow them to witness their own growth.

Afterwards, the subject teachers responsible for various disciplines presented a diverse array of subject activities, demonstrating how each subject fosters critical thinking, creative thinking, and investigative skills. They elaborated on how these activities align with the goal of cultivating independent learners and provided parents with practical methods on how to assist children at home, thereby promoting home-school collaboration.

The second-grade team leader, Ms. Sunny, highlighted how the school cultivates independent learners and implements character education into the curriculum.

Grade 2

Children began the new year by creating a "Dragon Year Goal Outlook." By setting two good habits they wanted to develop, two bad habits to overcome, and two new skills to learn, the children laid the foundation for setting SMART goals. Additionally, this semester's IL Booklet included a 21-day habit tracker and regular family reflections. With the participation of teachers and parents, most children utilized these tools to track their small goals. The teachers also integrated activities that promoted independent thinking and deeper learning in subjects like Chinese cultural exploration and daily math learning methods, enhancing the children's enjoyment of higher-level learning.

Furthermore, Ms. Sunny introduced this semester's character education plan. Centered around the HEROES core values, the teachers guided students to be honest, proactive, respectful, organized, enthusiastic, and willing to share. Additionally, personal development courses included social-emotional learning, gender equality, and embracing diversity.

Addressing common parenting questions, Ms. Sunny offered several suggestions. She emphasized that cultivating independent learners requires support not just from the school but also from families. Parents can remind and encourage their children after setting growth goals, regularly review and correct them, and supervise timely previewing and reviewing of lessons. Additionally, children should have unscheduled free time after school and take on age-appropriate chores.

Grade 3

The Grade 3 team leader, Ms. Yang Yijuan, introduced the overall position of the Grade 3 students to the parents. Over the past year, with the joint efforts of teachers and parents, the children have shown staggering growth in both academic achievement and overall qualities. Ms. Yang and the parents then reviewed the diverse range of grade-level activities conducted by the school. From the Chinese "Parent-Child Reading of Andersen" to the fun competitions during Math Week, and the experiential activities of AI Science and Innovation classes, each activity aimed to cultivate the students' comprehensive qualities and interests. Character education was also an important topic discussed during the parent meeting. Ms. Yang emphasized the significance of character education in the students' growth process and guided them to establish correct values and morals through initiatives like the HEROES moral education curriculum.

Ms. Yang also shared feedback from parents collected through independent learning questionnaires conducted at the end of the previous semester. Parents expressed that their children have made significant progress in independent learning. They are able to complete assignments independently, manage their study time effectively, take notes, and revise autonomously. Additionally, the children have shown a strong desire for knowledge and spirit of exploration by attempting different approaches to problem-solving. Finally, Ms. Yang emphasized the crucial role of family education in children's growth. She urged parents to provide more care and encouragement, teach them to face challenges directly, and learn self-reliance. At the same time, she explained that parents should also gradually let go, allowing their children to develop independent thinking and problem-solving skills.

Class Meeting

After the auditorium lecture, the parents moved to their children's classrooms to attend the grade-level parent meeting. What awaited the first-grade moms and dads was a surprise prepared by their children. Prior to the parent meeting, the students had created subject questions to “quiz” their parents and show off their acquired knowledge! After the engaging question session, the two homeroom teachers offered useful suggestions to parents on how to help their children become independent learners at home. They advised setting regular small goals together, reflecting regularly, creating checklists at home, learning organization methods, managing personal belongings, and using timers to cultivate time management skills. These valuable suggestions were like an educational feast, and parents greatly benefited from them.

The second-grade teachers addressed common parenting challenges and shared how they handle them within the school. They also analyzed the different situations in each class and provided useful advice to parents. The third-grade teachers discussed the growth and changes children experience upon entering third grade and what preparations are needed for fourth grade. By providing specific examples, the teachers helped parents understand the progress and direction of their children's learning and lives.

The successful organization of this parent meeting not only deepened cooperation between parents and teachers but also provided parents with a platform to share their parenting experiences and concerns in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Through this form of communication, the school hopes to better support the growth and development of each child and create a better learning environment for them. "Sow behavior, reap habits; sow habits, reap character; sow character, reap destiny." Let's work together to give our children wings and help them soar to new heights!

Written by Thea Chen, Yuanjing Zhang, Yu Lin

Pictures by G2 Teachers

Edited by Cong Luo, Bianca Noguera