How Can I Support My Child in School?
Partner with their teacher
Teachers are overwhelmed with students, tasks, content, assessments, paperwork, and everything in between. They are nurses, counselors, caregivers, and…. teachers! It is critical that you maintain a relationship with your child’s teacher and make sure they know that you are working WITH them, not against them. Ask for regular feedback on how your child is doing in class. Come up to the school and volunteer or just observe the class. Ask what their reading program looks like and the research behind it. Look over your child’s grades and papers. Ask questions. If your child is not meeting your learning expectations, set up a conference with the teacher to find out what is being done to help them and what you can do at home. Being proactive instead of reactive is your best plan of attack.
Be Involved
Find ways to become involved in your child’s school life. This can be challenging with our busy lives and responsibilities. However, squeezing in some time every week to check in will pay off greatly. If you need to, put it on the calendar to help block off that time. Ask for resources you can use at home to further your child’s education.
Create Learning Opportunities
Take time each week to learn with your child and explore the world around you. Take a trip to the park. Look for free events in your community. Research topics your child is interested in with them. These experiences help your child comprehend what they read and understand the world around them. If you are not able to be home with your child after school, find after school programs or clubs they can be a part of. These allow your child to socialize, learn, and grow in a structured environment.
When There’s a Problem
If you notice a problem with your child’s experience at school, whether it is behavioral or academic, it is important to be responsive as soon as possible. Ask your child’s teacher what behaviors they are noticing and where they think your child is struggling. Come up with a plan to support your child in these deficits. Ask your teacher for documentation on supports given and their outcome. If the problems persist, ask to increase support. What is the next step? Do they need to look into testing? If your child is young (PreK, Kinder) it might be hard to get them to start testing. However, if you truly feel there is a deeper issue and supports have been tried for a continuous span, push for it. Last, but certainly not least, get to know the laws and your rights. The worst thing a parent can do is sit back and wait for the teachers to come to them and suggest there is a problem.