08/06/2024
As the new school year approaches, you might be feeling a mix of emotions—either tears or cheers! Many of you are preparing for Meet the Teacher or Open House events, and I want to ensure you make the most of this opportunity.
Now is the perfect time to set the stage for an excellent year for your child. Here’s how you can get started:
✅Establish yourself as a partner in Team [Your Child's Name].
✅Learn how to communicate efficiently and effectively with your child's teacher.
✅Give your child the advantage they need to succeed.
Let's talk about this.
Long ago, before transitioning fully into reading intervention and instructional coaching, I was a classroom teacher. I remember the nerves of decorating my classroom and wondering how to make a good impression on new families. I had 87 students, and 70 of them showed up for Meet the Teacher. One parent, in particular, made a significant impact on me.
She grabbed my hand and said, "Hi Ms. Joseph, my name is Sharon. Steven is my son, and he struggles with reading. Please watch him closely. We need this to be a better year."
Here’s why this was impactful:
At the beginning of the school year, it takes a teacher weeks to determine if a student's scores are due to incompatible learning styles, lesson engagement, or a skill deficit. It's not until schoolwide testing in the first few weeks that teachers can truly assess student performance.
Students often regress nearly 40% over the summer if they don't attend tutoring but can close significant gaps with consistent instruction. Last year's scores may not be entirely accurate.
When Sharon approached me, she saved valuable time. I didn’t have to wait for the first test to understand Steven's needs. I learned that his silence wasn’t due to a quiet personality but because he was lost and too afraid to speak up. This early insight allowed me to start intervention six weeks earlier than usual.
If you haven’t met your child’s teacher yet, make sure to convey that you have high expectations, you are an involved parent, and you’re willing to do whatever it takes to make this year better than the last.
Just refrain from touching the teacher—that part still freaks me out!
For more tips on preparing for the first weeks of school or helping your child excel this year, join my Facebook group: Level Up in Reading, Writing, and Math.