Parenting Tips From Your K12 Advocate

Parenting Tips
Parents play a vital role in their child’s education. Our Job as your Special Education Advocate is to help you set the course of your child’s educational career, parents may interact with a large number of professionals (e.g., their child’s special education teacher, general education teacher, occupational therapist, speech therapist, physical therapist, and perhaps many different consultants).
Being able to work effectively with these many professionals, exchanging ideas and concerns, communicating openly about what’s working and what’s not, are important elements in their child’s educational success. You need to diplomatically, but strongly, advocate for your child.
Develop relationships with the teachers who work with your child.
Remember that the people you are working with also care for your child.
If something is not resolved quickly, work on it. You may be able to help your child’s teacher resolve something much faster. Work as a team.
Remember that working with the school can be a very emotional and personal process, because this is your child. Encourage those who work with your child to do so also.
Remember to think of your child first. The disability is just part of who your child is. Remind people of your child’s strengths. Encourage teachers to praise him or her.
Encourage a work ethic at home. If you are not sure about how to talk with teachers, connect with other parents. Talk to other parents about what they are doing.
Communication
IEP Issues
The teachers (and others who are working with your child) write in these each day and send them back home with the child. The parent reads what the teacher writes and responds and sends the book back with the child. These are especially effective with non-verbal children. It keeps the communication open between parent and teacher. Inform teachers immediately of any unusual circumstances occurring at home. A stressed child cannot attend to task, often exhibits disruptive behavior, or may simply space out. Teachers may misread the signs. Creative Problem Solving
You never know what will work.
Meetings
You can suggest a “pre” IEP meeting to talk about some of your ideas and what your goals, and the goals of your child, are. Good Parent-Teacher Relations
Even if you don’t agree with the methods that are being used, if your child is improving, recognize it.
Hopefully, teachers and parents have the same objectives in mind. Teachers often need help, not criticism.
Write articles to the local paper about one of your child’s success stories. It’s good for the school, the teacher, and your child.
If you’re part of a parent group, consider inviting teachers and/or administrators to a meeting every now and again. Work on creating a good relationship with all the people who work with your child. Be open to sharing information about your child.
Praise the people who work with your child even when things aren’t going as well. Appreciate them when they’ve had a particularly hard day with your child. Let them know that you appreciate their efforts on your child’s behalf.
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