Partnering with Your Childs Teacher

Partnering with Your Child’s Teacher As your child begins the school year in a new classroom, the early steps you take to partner with your childs teacher can make a big difference in getting things off to a good start. Kids with ADHD will typically need extra help in the classroom, and when teachers know that they have support from parents they feel much more appreciated for their efforts. With 20-30 children in a class, teachers often begin the year knowing only a few key details about each of their new students. As a parent, you know your childs full history. You know what makes him or her tick, which strategies your child has responded to with previous teachers, and which strategies were not so successful. Most teachers will appreciate learning these details from parents, especially when its presented collaboratively. Always keep in mind that teachers are ultimately in charge of their classroom and likely have substantial experience teaching children with ADHD. In fact, they may have some excellent tools and strateg ies that others have not tried in the past and end up being a great fit for your child. So, keep an open mind when your childs new teacher shares their thoughts about how to teach your child and manage his or her attention and behavior challenges. Planning a teacher meeting early in the school year will also provide an opportunity for you to learn about the academic expectations in your childs new classroom and in particular, homework expectations. I have worked with so many families whose children struggle with homework, expending two, three, or even four times more effort on homework than other children in their class. But since these kids ultimately turn in their assignments on time, their teachers never realize that homework is such a challenge for them. Once they understand what is happening, many teachers will recommend modifications to reduce the burden. For example, they may recommend that your child complete only one page of practice math problems instead of two, or break large projects down into small components with individual due dates. In addition, if your child struggles in a particular subject area and you have already enrolled him or her in a learning center or are working individually with your child at home, then share this information with your childs teacher. Theyll appreciate your extra effort. Lastly, if your childs teacher recommends a daily behavior chart in the classroom, offer to check the chart every day. Provide praise, and maybe even rewards, when your child meets the teachers daily point or sticker goal. This will allow you to monitor your childs progress every day. It will also help your child feel motivated to do his or her best, knowing that his or her parents will be proud. So dont hesitate to reach out to your childs teacher at the start of this new school year. Opening up the lines of communication early will help get things off to a good start, and will set your child up for success all year long. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.