Providing Your Child’s Teacher with Useful Information at the Beginning of the School Year

Introduction

As a teacher in special education, you will be faced every year with trying to learn as much about a student as possible to insure a smooth transition, more practical intervention strategies, and knowledge that may allow you to develop a closer relationship. A great deal of this information can be gained from parents especially if they are aware of what it is you need to know. This Parent Conference Handout will provide parents guidelines for providing useful information to you at the beginning of the new school year.

Communication between home and school is a critical factor that provides both the teacher and the parent with useful facts and information about your child. Nowhere is this more crucial than at the beginning of the school year. After all, this may be the first time that your child’s teacher is meeting him/her. The type of information you provide can:

  • Help your child’s teacher gain a better understanding of his/her strengths and weaknesses
  • Gather information that may help in determining your child’s best learning style
  • Obtain information about your child’s favorite activities that can be used to bolster self worth
  • Become aware of information that may explain his/her fears and apprehensions
  • Provide insight into certain behavior patterns

The following guidelines are provided to help you put together a summary of your child that will best assist his/her teacher:

1.)  In your opinion what are your child’s strongest personal qualities i.e. sensitivity, affection?

2.)  In your opinion what are your child’s fears?

3.)  What academic areas do you see as strengths?

4.) What academic areas do you see as weaknesses?

5.) What hobbies or areas of interest does your child have?

6.) What is your child’s frustration level i.e. low, high and how does he exhibit frustration?

7.) Does your child have any medical conditions that you feel the teacher needs to know?

8.) Does you child have any eating issues that the teacher needs to know?

9.) Does your child have any toileting issues that the teacher needs to know?

10.) Does your child have rituals or habits that the teacher needs to know?

11.) What sports, if any, does your child prefer?

12.) What is your child’s social status i.e. popular, not involved?

13.) What are the names of children that he/she has over the house on a regular basis?

14.) How well does your child play in groups?

15.) Does your child prefer to work in groups or by him/herself?

16.) Is your child artistic? Musical? Creative? If so in what specific areas?

17.) Does your child have any special dietary issues?

18.) Does your child have any communication issues?

19.) Is your child able to handle classroom responsibilities?

20.) Does your child have any pets at home? What is his/her involvement?

These are just a few questions to guide you in providing useful information to your child’s teacher at the beginning of the school year. This will save your child’s teacher a great deal of investigation and observation.


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