It’s that time of year. You feel the pit in the stomach starting to form again.
Here are a few miscellaneous thoughts to keep in mind to try and shrink the pit ever so slightly.
What’s the focus?
Ask yourself what the focus will be in the coming school year. Is the emphasis decoding? Reading fluency? Reading comprehension? Written expression? Math? Pick one or two (or have a professional help you) and target those domains.
Be Realistic.
Be realistic about what the school can and cannot do. Certainly, advocate for the child, but parents sometimes go for the “moon, sun, and stars,” leaving the school feeling that they can’t deliver any of it. Consequently, you might also find it helpful to research ways that you can support your school financially. Most schools are critically underfunded and therefore organizing a fundraising event can be a fantastic way to show your appreciation and can even help teachers to gain access to additional resources to support their pupils. You can learn more about the importance of organizing fundraising events for schools on the GoFundMe site.
Communication Counts
The old adage, “you get more fly with honey than you do with vinegar” applies. By and large, schools are made up of people who tend to be nice, child friendly types. (I know. I know. I can hear you moaning in disbelief over your school.) Try and approach the teachers more informally “mom (dad) to teacher.” Use a lot of “I or we talk.” Try not to put the teacher on the defensive.
Limit Emails
Email is a great way to stay in touch, but teachers are feeling buried by the amount and length that they receive. Perhaps check in every few weeks with a simple, focused question, such as, “Just checking in to see how Marissa is doing with her friends? We are really targeting her social skill development this year and would appreciate the feedback.”
Watch the Jargon
Kids are kids. They are complex beings with a mixture of different variables working. Yesterday I tested a girl who had a fair helping of anxiety with a good mixture of language processing/reading comprehension issues (not to mention a dash of impulsivity.) So what’s her label? Stay skill focused – “We’re working on helping Marissa practice not reacting so quickly when we ask her a question.
Practice Deep Breathing
Everyone calm down. Breathe deep. Remember to put a lot of the responsibility on the kid – “Gee, I’m sorry you didn’t do your homework. I will have to write the teacher and let her know what you chose.”
Good luck with the coming year. Shrink the pit