Parent Magazine Flagler February 2022 | Page 25

Building Your Education Team How to give kids the support they need in school

By Rachel Ehmke , Child Mind Institute

All children need their parents and teachers to work together as allies , but children who are struggling in school need that teamwork even more than others . Sometimes kids also need other specialists on their team to help them do their best .

As you assess whether a child is doing as well as they could be , your communication with their classroom teacher is key . Here are some tips parents can use to build strong relationships with teachers and assess what support a child needs to thrive .
At the beginning of the school year
Whether your child is a quick study or is struggling in school , building a team to support them starts with forming an effective partnership with their teacher .
When your child starts each school year , your first goal is to make sure you understand their new teacher ’ s expectations — everything from the demands of the academic curriculum to grade-appropriate behaviors . Remember that when your child enters a new classroom , they aren ’ t just tackling new math skills , they ’ re experiencing a new style of learning and building new relationships .
When you talk to the new teacher , make sure to give them the information they need to put your child ’ s behavior into context . Does your child need extra time or a periodic break to do their best work ? Do they need to sit near the front of the class to be able to focus ? Are they such a perfectionist that they rub a hole in the paper correcting their own work ? Teachers want to know these things — preferably before class begins .
For parents of children who have struggled in the past , starting with a “ blank slate ” is an attractive idea , but it rarely works out , according to learning and educational therapist Susan Schwartz , MAEd . Keeping a teacher in the dark about an issue you already know about only leads to surprises and frustration for the teacher ( and for your child ). Schwartz also notes that even if you don ’ t talk to the teacher about your child , there is always the possibility that another teacher or parent will — and the information that is shared may be inaccurate or outdated or biased . It ’ s better to tell the teacher everything you want them to know .
Similarly , you want to let the teacher know that you ’ d like them to share anything specific they notice about what helps your child learn effectively or anything that tends to get in their way .
If you have any specific questions , don ’ t be afraid to ask the teacher . For example , how much involvement should parents typically have in a child ’ s homework ? Different teachers have different opinions , and you ’ ll be glad you asked .
Finally , ask if there are ways the teacher wants you to be more involved — or if there are ways you should be stepping back .
Parent-Teacher conferences
About 12 weeks into the year , schools begin scheduling conferences and sending home progress reports . By now you should already understand the teacher ’ s academic and developmental expectations for your child , so the parent-teacher conference should be an opportunity to discuss how they are meeting those expectations .
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