Tips For Parents
Parenting is the most important challenge we face as adults. You know your children best. But, you may feel left out of the process when teachers and principals deal with your child’s school needs. Perhaps, you have a child with a challenge, one that requires support by the school’s educators. 21st Century schooling suggests a team approach – educators in collaboration with parents – to solve problems and challenges together.
If your child suffers in school, it’s the school’s responsibility to include you in decisions that affect your child. Whether it is behavior or struggling to meet standards, a team approach – parents with teachers – forms a partnership between home and school. Children feel supported when a positive plan is in place, it sets the stage for success. A plan of accommodation can be used both at home and at school, to support consistency, reliability and trust to enable the child’s success in school.
Some situations that warrant the team approach:
- Child being bullied at school
- Child in trouble all the time
- Child not meeting academic standards—failing in school
- Child has a medical condition that requires accommodations
- ADD or ADHD accommodations
- Child with depression (teachers should know about this)
- Any concern is worth exploring if you think your child needs help
After a plan is in place, the team should meet again in a reasonable amount of time to check in and make sure the plan is working. If not, the team should revise the plan. Parent input into the process is helpful since you know your child best. If you don’t advocate for your child, who will? Don’t feel shy to contribute what you know about your child and what you think will work. If it does, you have made an important contribution. If not, perhaps others on the team have good ideas. Be open to trying new approaches. Sometimes others will bring ideas that have worked with other children. Remember, the goal is to help your child succeed in school and to feel good about his/her progress.
If you have a unique situation, or just want some feedback and ideas, feel free to contact “Ask Principal Donna” ™ via e-mail. You can be sure she’ll get back to you very soon. That’s her pledge to you.
