We have all been home with our kids for the holidays.
We have helped them with the schedule changes that the holidays and time off from school brought.
We transitioned them and had days with them while they were with us in whatever manner we celebrated the season.
And it is here that you got to see them in life, during a full day-maybe engaged with family, maybe engaged in a game. And with this time is the opportunity to take mental notes of what you think they struggled with and what you may have been happy to see them doing well.
Take a moment to think. Take a moment to write it all down.
Your time to assess them matters because as you send them back to school in January you are entering the time frame that I like to call “mid year check in” and your information plays a part.
It is something that I think is FOREVER ingrained in my head even years after Elizabeth has been done with a traditional school year.
“mid year check in” is the time we have after the holidays but before the second and usually last, conference night of the school year.
This “mid year check in” is when you take a good, long and hard look at just where your child is, where they are on their IEP/504 goals. Are they where you thought they would be? Better? Worse? And you add in your personal observances and notes.
Then you are ready as you get prepared for conference night because working our way into conference time.
The last one of the year unless you request more and it is a big one because what is talked about here and how the goals are being met sort of set the stage for the IEP meeting and goals for the following school year. Any concerns you have, goals you wish were achieved or changes you desire are all points to cover.
Below are my tried-and-true suggestions and tips for conference night:
Take a good and honest look at how your child is doing in school this year. Ask yourself these questions.
-How is your child doing with his/her peers? stressed? scared?
-Do they struggle with social situations more than before? Or are things going pretty well?
-Are they able to do the work required even if it is modified? Or do they need more help and modifications?
-Does your child hate going to school? Cry when they have to go. This is something important to bring up.
Re-read your child’s IEP ( Individualized Education Plan)
-No matter how sure you are you know it, re-read it anyway
– It is so important to see how your child is progressing towards the goals listed and if not, then it is important to ask, “why not?”
-This is where you share any positives or struggles you may see at home towards their goals
-It helps to be well versed on the IEP, simply to be the best advocate for your child.
Bring up any concerns that may have been tabled from the last conference time…you know things to “watch“.
-Sometimes things get put into a “watch and see” file especially if there is the hope that maybe through therapy or special attention at school, it will abate.
Examples would be a fear of walking to class unassisted or maybe speaking in morning circle time. Really anything should be addressed at this point.
Find your voice:
Don’t be afraid to speak honestly and with confidence, after all, you know your child best and you are their best expert. Also don’t be afraid to ask for the supports that your child needs or a future date to meet and evaluate how these new supports are going for your child
Bring a friend– If you need to bring someone with you to be “your person” during the conference. The person who can help take notes and can make sure all the questions you have are addressed.
Advocate well: It is easier said than done. Advocacy is a learned skill, not one most are born with. Don’t feel badly if you are not quite there yet, just be the best you can be for your child right now. Those skills will grow as you gain confidence.
It is time to share with the school any new concerns as well as things you are working on outside of your child’s school time.
-Bridging the two worlds, school and home, only helps the child.
Getting everyone to understand everyone else’s work and efforts only helps the child. If you have papers/work/testing from other sources, please share it with those at the school. It helps with any planning or expectations.
Be aware that time is creeping toward what we love to call “IEP season” or Spring.
-Getting a good and full understanding of your child from those working with her as well as a good review of where things stand on the IEP will help you. Because, soon you will begin to plan and address the IEP that will need your attention and work in the not too distant future.
Remember that the whole goal of this conference night is to work for your child and to work as a team with the school.
So my tips and suggestions are to help grow both of these things which are vital to the success of your child.
I hope that everyone has a good and positive beginning to the second half of your child’s school year.
And that you continue to do your find your strength to do your best for your child and their needs.
It is not easy job, but it is one that is incredibly important.
I will see everyone next month,
Michele