Building Relationships with Your Child's School - Why is Positive Parent Involvement is Important?
Parent involvement is important to help your learning disabled child be as successful as possible. Educators recommend that parents take active roles in helping their children learn. This is particularly important for students with learning disorders and others in special education programs. There are many ways parents can become more involved in their children's programs beyond IEP team meetings. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Strategies for Involvement that Work:
Show Your LD Child Learning is Important and You Value Your Relationship with His School
Make learning and living a positive lifestyle a priority. Model your belief in this priority for your child, and send her to school ready to learn each day.
Praise Effort; Don't Over-emphasize Perfection
Encourage your child to do her best in school. When she experiences failure, reassure her that no one is perfect all the time and that the important thing is to learn from her mistakes for self improvement.
Keep Open Communication with Your Child
Talk with your child about his experiences at school each day. Make it a regular, pleasant time to ask him about his school work. Look at his assignments, and talk with him about what you see. Show him that you appreciate his efforts.
Support a Study Schedule
Schedule a regular time of day for study and provide him an appropriate place to study and do his work.
Use Television Time Wisely
Limit your child's television viewing/video games and encourage more reading time. Read to and with your child, and have your child read aloud to you. If your child is a reluctant reader, explore ways you can help him read more that are enjoyable for both of you.
Communicate with Your Child's Teacher
Communicate with the school and with your child's teacher by attending any regularly scheduled parent and teacher conferences and scheduling interim meetings when needed. Many teachers also have email for communication.
Stay Current with School Activities and Events
Find out what events are happening at your child's school by regularly checking the school web site. Many schools offer online homework assistance, post assignments and scoring rubrics, and offer secure access to student grades and progress reports. Your school may have other resources as well, so ask. Your school counselor, administrative assistants, and librarians may be able to provide more information.
Support the School's Disciplinary Policies
To curtail disciplinary problems before they happen, go over the school's rules and codes of conduct with your child. Ensure she understands the expectations before school begins. If your child is disciplined, remain calm and get all the facts before reacting. It is very important to support the school's discipline efforts. Discuss any concerns you have with the principal or teacher involved.
Volunteer When Possible
Volunteer in your child's school, join the PTA, and attend school activities, open houses, and parent-teacher conferences.
Encourage Activities Outside of School
Encourage your child to participate in school activities. It is important to protect her study time, but it is also important to her emotional well-being to have positive extra-curricular activities that build leadership and bonds with others beyond the classroom.
