Recently, the fourth and fifth grades of the SHSID Puxi Campus held their first parent meetings of the semester on October 21 and October 23, respectively. Parents gathered in the West Building Auditorium to gain a collective understanding of the daily behavioral norms and character development expectations for students in their respective grades, deepening their comprehension of the school's educational philosophy and student development goals. Following this, parents proceeded to their children's homeroom classrooms, where they engaged in in-depth, face-to-face discussions with homeroom teachers and subject instructors. The conversations centered on topics such as supporting children's personalized development, fostering stronger home-school collaboration, and building a solid foundation for coordinated efforts between families and the school to create a cohesive educational force.

Grade4

The fourth-grade parent-teacher conference, centered on the theme "Understanding Independence, Embracing Self-Reliance," aims to clarify the responsibilities and direction of home-school collaboration. It focuses on cultivating students' learning and behavioral habits, working together to guide children from recognizing independence to practicing self-reliance, thereby laying a foundation for their holistic development in the future.

Ms. Shi, Supervisor of Grade 4, began by providing parents with a detailed analysis of the transition from third to fourth grade. This included adjustments to class schedules, an increase in the number of after-school clubs, and changes in homeroom teachers' offices, among other aspects. These new changes are designed to guide students in gradually adapting to a more independent and self-directed learning model, laying a solid foundation for their smoother transition to upper primary school life.Following this, Ms. Shi highlighted the moral and character education curriculum for fourth grade. This curriculum is structured to be systematic and theoretical, emphasizing the integration of education with enjoyment and reflective learning. Through collaboration between home and school, it aims to jointly support students' growth.Finally, Ms. Shi gave parents a preview of the diverse and engaging activities planned for the semester, encouraging students to actively participate. These experiences are intended to broaden their horizons and allow them to enjoy the joys of campus life through hands-on involvement.

Next, Ms. Fanfan, the psychology teacher, began by reviewing the social-emotional learning curriculum that spans grades one through three. She then focused on the more complex social-emotional needs of students entering fourth grade, introducing related psychology-themed activities, a series of courses, and the development of psychology clubs. She also detailed psychological support services such as parent workshops and psychological chat rooms. These initiatives aim to help every child grow up healthily, confidently, and happily in an atmosphere of understanding and care.

Following that, the head of the Music, PE, and Art Teaching Research Group provided parents with a detailed introduction to each subject's curriculum. The presentation, covering everything from course design to in-class achievement showcases, allowed parents to visually appreciate their children's developmental milestones nurtured through artistic influence and physical training. The teaching content and activities across these disciplines are interconnected and deeply integrated, aiming to unlock every student's potential, pave the way for their individualized growth, and achieve holistic improvement in their comprehensive abilities.

Finally, Ms. Lu, Director of Grade 4-5, elaborated on the practical implementation of the school's educational philosophy through three key concepts. Ms. Lu emphasized that parents should act as inspirers and companions in their children's growth, helping them develop an awareness of rules and clarify behavioral boundaries through timely and appropriate reminders—rather than thinking or making decisions for them.She advocated that parental encouragement is key to unlocking children's intrinsic motivation. When children face difficulties in their studies or daily lives, parents should focus on cultivating their courage and resilience to confront challenges directly, valuing the effort made rather than fixating on outcomes.Additionally, parents are encouraged to foster a positive growth mindset in their children, recognizing every small progress and change in their daily development with a forward-looking perspective. Such consistent and attentive care makes children feel seen and valued, laying a solid foundation for healthy and robust growth.

Upon returning to their respective homeroom classrooms, parents engaged in thorough and detailed face-to-face communication with subject teachers. The teachers began by outlining the subject teaching plans and curriculum design, clearly explaining the transitions and connections in knowledge structure, skill requirements, and assessment methods from third to fourth grade. This provided parents with a comprehensive understanding of the instructional arrangements.Next, the teachers used a variety of images and video materials to vividly showcase students' learning processes and achievements in various project-based inquiries and classroom activities. They also further clarified specific requirements for each subject regarding classroom note-taking and homework standards, aiming to guide students in gradually establishing rigorous and organized academic routines.Lastly, the teachers encouraged parents to focus on guiding their children toward independent thinking, effectively stimulating their intrinsic motivation for learning, and laying a solid foundation of skills for future studies.

Grade5

The fifth grade is a pivotal year marking the transition from elementary to middle school, during which students encounter various new changes and challenges in areas such as learning pace and self-management. At the fifth-grade parent meeting, Ms. Zhuo, Supervisor of Grade 5, delivered a detailed and in-depth presentation titled "How to Grow into an Outstanding Elementary School Graduate." Ms. Zhuo introduced the new changes and challenges that fifth-grade students will face, emphasizing that this stage requires not only greater academic independence but also enhanced self-management skills in personal conduct. She then provided parents with a series of practical suggestions on how to help children better manage their personal belongings, cultivate effective study habits, and develop time management skills to create reasonable study plans.Following this, Ms. Zhuo also introduced a variety of specialized activities organized for fifth graders, including the "Safety Month" to strengthen safety awareness, the "Sports Week" to promote physical fitness, the "Reading Month" to foster a literary atmosphere, and the "Poetry Contest" to carry forward cultural traditions. These activities are designed to enrich students' campus life and promote their holistic development. It is worth noting that the ASB plays an active role in these specialized activities: during the "Safety Month," ASB members visited first-grade classrooms to explain campus safety basics to younger students; in the "Sports Week," they organized fun quiz sessions to promote sports knowledge. Through such active participation, fifth-grade students demonstrate a strong sense of responsibility and contribute to creating a vibrant and diverse campus environment for growth.

Student development also relies heavily on mental well-being. At this parent meeting, psychological teacher Sun Fanfan elaborated on the school's distinctive initiatives in nurturing students' mental health, giving parents an in-depth understanding of the school's commitment to supporting children's inner growth. At the beginning of the semester, the school launched psychological adaptation courses for fifth graders to help them quickly adjust to the academic pace and daily life of this grade. In anticipation of the upcoming adolescence phase, specially designed puberty education programs have been introduced to guide students in understanding physical and emotional changes and learning scientific coping strategies. During regular teaching, the "Tree Hole Chat Room" remains consistently available, providing students with a safe space to openly share confusions and worries. Furthermore, the school offers a series of psychological elective courses aimed at enhancing students' social skills and emotional management capabilities. These measures collectively focus on cultivating students' emotional regulation and self-awareness, building a protective shield for their mental health. Teacher Sun emphasized the importance of close communication between parents and the school to form an educational partnership, jointly addressing children's emotional needs and helping them navigate various challenges throughout their growth journey.

To ensure parents gain a comprehensive understanding of the teaching plans and educational objectives across various subjects, the lead teachers of Chinese, Mathematics, English, Geography, Science, and other subjects provided detailed explanations regarding curriculum design, semester learning goals, and core content. The instructional approach not only focuses on knowledge acquisition but also emphasizes fostering students' independent learning abilities. Through diverse teaching methods such as project-based learning and group collaborative inquiry, students' initiative in learning is stimulated, thereby enhancing their overall competencies.To help parents better grasp the key focuses of subject teaching, teachers from each discipline analyzed potential difficulties and challenges students might encounter in their learning, using specific course examples for illustration. Additionally, the teachers presented numerous samples of outstanding student assignments and creative works, while also sharing a wealth of learning resources and offering practical guidance.A standout feature of this parent meeting was the carefully prepared subject introductions by the Music, Physical Education, and Art (MPA) faculty. Through engaging course demonstrations and showcases of student work, the teachers allowed parents to experience the vibrancy of MPA education firsthand and gain deeper insight into the curriculum content and educational goals.Together, these subjects form a holistic educational framework aimed at nurturing well-rounded development, enabling every student to shine in their unique way and achieve comprehensive growth.

Finally, Ms. Lu, Director of Grade 4-5, engaged in an in-depth exchange with parents focusing on the practical implementation of the school's educational philosophy. Ms. Lu emphasized that parents should act as inspirers and companions on their children's growth journey, guiding them to develop independent thinking and problem-solving skills. When facing new challenges and changes, she advocated helping children establish a proper self-evaluation system, avoiding the use of singular standards to measure growth. This involves both accepting current shortcomings and valuing every attempt and breakthrough, enabling children to progress steadily through self-awareness and external affirmation.

Following the group sharing session, parents moved to their children's respective homeroom classrooms for detailed and in-depth communication with the two homeroom teachers.First, leveraging the instructional characteristics of fifth grade, the homeroom teachers provided a comprehensive overview of the class's teaching methods and learning pace. They used concrete examples from classroom learning and campus life to help parents gain a clear understanding of their children's daily routines.Next, centered around the school's core values, the teachers systematically explained the key focuses of character and moral education for the academic year. They outlined the pathways and evaluation criteria for home-school collaboration in cultivating students' daily behavioral norms and sense of responsibility.Finally, both parties engaged in a focused discussion on how to collaboratively foster children's academic and lifestyle habits. The homeroom teachers suggested working with children to set incremental small goals, regularly reviewing learning progress, developing time management skills, and gradually enhancing their sense of responsibility and self-management abilities by guiding them to organize their personal belongings independently.The teachers emphasized the importance of establishing a multi-faceted perspective on growth evaluation—one that values the mastery of academic knowledge while also recognizing children's progress in moral development and breakthroughs in practical exploration. Only by respecting each child's uniqueness can we better support their healthy growth on the path to well-rounded development.

The parent meeting has not only helped parents gain a deeper understanding of the school's educational philosophy and teaching objectives but has also strengthened the connection between home and school, fostering a shared consensus on nurturing students. Moving forward, the school will continue to work hand in hand with parents to create a more fertile ground for every student's growth, jointly safeguarding each step of their development and transformation.

(Written by Yutong Zhu, Cathy Cao

Pictures by Minxuan Cao

Reviewed by Ms. Luting Lu, Shiyu Wu)