Tips for Both Parents & Teachers
1. Agree on what an appropriate/expected behavior "looks like" (i.e., walking to the classroom... with or without hands on walls, walking on right side of hallway, or on a designated path/line in hallway)
2. Acknowledge & Celebrate the successes with child (small & great). Sometimes we tend to focus on the one challenge the child had and forget about all the appropriate behaviors the child demonstrated. (Remember, if we make a mistake, do we want others to judge our whole day by the "mistake" only or do we want the opportunity to correct it(?))
3. Ensure supports and accommodations are age appropriate (i.e., instead of big pictures of cartoon-like characters for a 4th grader who can read, use a checklist with icons the child knows, an ipad, or computer)
4. Map out the day - what will the child be doing at different time periods throughout the day. (i.e., at 12:15 - time to line up for lunch, how will the student line up and walk to the cafeteria? How will the student know where to go? Are there any signs or indicators of where to go or sit?)
5. Avoid assuming that the other "knows" what is going on with your child in other environments. Communicate what is going on... child's successes and challenges in each event/situation.
6. Take responsibility. Blaming the other hurts the child... make a plan to address concerns.
7. Support each other - thank each other for the little "things" (i.e., notes, comments, phone calls, pat on the back, smile, a conference, etc.)
8. Create opportunities to practice collaboration and working together before the first day of school.
9. Listen to concerns - repeat the other's concerns.
10. State your own concerns calmly and privately - not in front of the child)
1. Agree on what an appropriate/expected behavior "looks like" (i.e., walking to the classroom... with or without hands on walls, walking on right side of hallway, or on a designated path/line in hallway)
2. Acknowledge & Celebrate the successes with child (small & great). Sometimes we tend to focus on the one challenge the child had and forget about all the appropriate behaviors the child demonstrated. (Remember, if we make a mistake, do we want others to judge our whole day by the "mistake" only or do we want the opportunity to correct it(?))
3. Ensure supports and accommodations are age appropriate (i.e., instead of big pictures of cartoon-like characters for a 4th grader who can read, use a checklist with icons the child knows, an ipad, or computer)
4. Map out the day - what will the child be doing at different time periods throughout the day. (i.e., at 12:15 - time to line up for lunch, how will the student line up and walk to the cafeteria? How will the student know where to go? Are there any signs or indicators of where to go or sit?)
5. Avoid assuming that the other "knows" what is going on with your child in other environments. Communicate what is going on... child's successes and challenges in each event/situation.
6. Take responsibility. Blaming the other hurts the child... make a plan to address concerns.
7. Support each other - thank each other for the little "things" (i.e., notes, comments, phone calls, pat on the back, smile, a conference, etc.)
8. Create opportunities to practice collaboration and working together before the first day of school.
9. Listen to concerns - repeat the other's concerns.
10. State your own concerns calmly and privately - not in front of the child)