Talking to your child’s new teacher at the beginning of the year is a great way to set your child up for success.
Summer is winding down and school is on its way. The transition from summer vacation back into school can be stressful for both kids and parents. And children with disabilities have added hardships to overcome during those crucial first few days of school. To make sure that your child gets the school year started off on the right foot, it’s a good idea to talk to your child’s new teacher about exactly what your child will need from their teacher in the classroom. Before school starts, call your school and request a meeting with your child’s new teacher. Here are a few things you can talk about that will prepare the teacher to set your child up for success.
Your Child’s Interests and Motivations
One of the hardest things that teachers have to deal with in the classroom is a lack of motivation. If you can tell your child’s teacher what sort of things motivate your child, then your child and their teacher will have more success in the classroom. Think about what your child responds positively to. Do they pay attention whenever dinosaurs are mentioned? Or do they work better with one-on-one time with an adult than they do in a group? Or do they try harder when the teacher sends home positive reports? Anything you can think of to let the teacher know will help.
Any Changes Over the Summer
Summer vacation lasts for a long time, and lots of things can change. If your child is having trouble sleeping, or their eating habits have changed, or they’ve made progress towards goals from last year, be sure to let the teacher know.
Goals for This Year
Just as you should let your child’s teacher know if your child has made progress towards last years’ goals, you should also let them know about your child’s new goals for this school year. This way, your teacher can work with your child to help them reach their goals.
The Connections Therapy Center
The Connections Therapy Center serves families of children and adolescents with disabilities and special needs. We are a team of experts in the fields of pediatric speech, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and behavioral sciences. As a team, we offer intensive hands-on therapy for children and adolescents, as well as informative and useful resources for families. If you are interested in learning more about what we can do to help your family, visit us online or give us a call at (202) 561-1110 (Washington, D.C. office) or (301) 577-4333 (Lanham office). Want to get more information on how to help your child thrive? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and Pinterest.
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