#Parent_Teacher_Partnership #TogetherWeCan In our joint effort to make a difference, both parents and teachers should focus on the question, "What can I do to make a difference?" rather than placing blame on each other. One common concern raised by parents during Parent-Teacher Meetings is, "My child behaves perfectly at home, so why are they not doing well at school? It's the school's responsibility to fix this issue." To this, I want to say that parents are right. #Group_behaviour_vs_Individual At home, you typically don't have the opportunity to observe your child in a group setting. You may have a few siblings at most, but not a group of 20 or more. At school, your child is constantly in a group, often consisting of 20 or even 30 children, and the teacher's primary objective is to cover the curriculum and ensure every child understands. This is done in a half-hour time slot before the teacher moves on to the next group, and this pattern continues throughout the day. #From_Dependence_to_Independence You're correct; your child performs well with one-on-one attention from the teacher. However, as the school year progresses, we need to work together to help your child become more independent. We must understand that your child is as important as every other child in school. In other words, every child is as important to us as your child is. #Not_a_blame_game Our meeting is not about assigning blame. It's about creating an individualized education plan for your child, one that will only work if you and I share equal responsibility and accountability. Together, we need to gradually shift the responsibility to the child. #Smooth_transition I'll be your child's teacher for only one year, but you'll be with them for the rest of their life. You can ensure a smoother transition than I can. You are the primary influence, and I'm here to support and facilitate. #Understand_Home_Scenario At home, one-on-one support is readily available. It's important to understand how dependent your child is on you for completing tasks. Do they need constant reassurance, breaks, or reminders? Who decides the work, and are there promises of rewards? #Understand_school_Scenario At school, most activities are predictable and teacher-controlled or flexible group activities. Praise is not constant, and rewards are often social or the satisfaction of completing a task. The classroom can be sensory overload with 20 or 30 students. The teacher can't provide undivided attention all the time. #How_can_we_work_together As you gradually help your child with focused one-on-one activities at home and slowly withdraw support, I will provide feasible one-on-one support at school without imposing tasks your child can't manage independently. Your child may work at their own pace, even if it's slower than others. #Social_and_Behavioral_expectations We cannot overlook three specific behaviors: self-harm, harming others, and harming property when safety is at risk. In such cases, we will need your active support, and we should teach your child better ways to regulate their emotions. #Together_We_Can We need to stay in touch as often as possible, ensuring a smooth transition from home to school. We are partners on the same side, and we must understand each other's difficulties and work together to find solutions.
