Whatever the cause for the meeting, you should go into it with the intention of supporting both your kid and the teacher. To assist you, consider asking the following questions to prepare for the meeting:

1. What are the rules in your classroom?

Classroom rules, grading, rubrics, and academic standards are all established by each instructor. You must first understand the policies in place before you can address any concerns your kid may be having in the classroom. This question will also help you determine how to strengthen policies on your own. This inquiry also leads to a series of follow-up inquiries, such as: What is the strategy for informing me about rule-breaking issues, social concerns, or academic difficulties?

2. What are some of the resources that we should use?

Use the time you spend meeting with your child’s teacher to acquire recommendations for any (and all) materials you and your child should use. Make sure to inquire about student resources such as school resources, library resources, district resources, and technological resources. Outside of the classroom, parents are often ignorant of the wealth of educational materials accessible to their children.

3. By the conclusion of the school year, what should we expect our child to know?

While this is a wide question, it is useful for defining goals and remaining on track over the academic year. Many instructors can provide you with information on state standards that children are expected to fulfil by the end of the school year in some schools.

4. Do you have any tips for helping my child to talk about his or her school day?

If your child is hesitant to discuss about school, you might want to ask the instructor this question. You’ll be able to find out from your instructor what kinds of activities pupils do in class on a regular basis, allowing you to ask specific class-related inquiries.

5. What areas does my child need to work on?

Even if you believe your child is excellent, you should listen to the teacher’s suggestions for how he or she might develop. While your child may flourish intellectually, the instructor may observe that he or she has social difficulties.

6. In your class, what modifications are being made?

This is a question that all parents of children with special needs and IEPS should ask. Because you are your child’s greatest advocate, double-check that the teacher has seen the IEP and is providing the necessary modifications.

7. What can I do to help you?

Last but not least, you should emphasize your willingness to collaborate with the instructor to assist your kid to flourish at the end of your meeting. You’re demonstrating your desire to collaborate with the teacher by asking how you can help.

As you prepare for the parent-teacher conference, keep in mind that you may not have enough time to cover everything or go over each of these topics thoroughly. Educators, on the other hand, always give a way to reach them if you need to interact with them further.

The post What Questions Should You Bring to Your Child’s Parent-Teacher Conference? appeared first on The Tech Edvocate.

To reform education, there needs to be a change. Fortunately, it doesn’t mean you need to make hefty financial contributions, or even require much of your time. There are lots of little things you can do each day that impact your child’s education. 

Get to Know the School

It’s important to understand the rules and regulations of your child’s school when you want to bring change. You should learn about the recommended coursework, textbook choices, and what ethical standards educators are held accountable to. It’s the smart way to highlight areas of concern and take steps to improve them. 

Become a PTA Member

You want to reform your child’s education and it’s easier to do so when you witness the toils firsthand. Being a PTA member lets you see the daily struggles of the education system which is crucial to understanding where the problems lie. You can also partner up with other parents and educators to make a positive change, even if it’s just within your local school district. 

It’s a start. 

Be an Active Parent

It’s easy to say the school district has let your child down. Teachers are the first people you blame when the child fails; however, you’re the parent and if you don’t oversee the child’s homework, that is down to you. So, you need to be an active parent.

Take interest in what the child learns at school and make sure all class assignments and homework are completed. If they struggle, help them, and seek out assistance from a teacher. You can communicate better with the child’s teacher and may even improve some aspects of their education. 

Get More Involved with School Events

If you want to see how organized your child’s school is, you need to attend special events hosted at the school. For instance, when there is an awards ceremony, show up and get involved. It might not seem much; however, it gives you an idea of how organized the school is. You might even be able to make minor improvements through your participation. 

See the Bigger Picture of Education and Vote 

It’s important to understand the widescale troubles of the education system. It isn’t just a state problem, it’s a national crisis. While your focus is on your district, you need to look at the bigger picture and know which problems require change now. It’ll allow you to educate yourself on the lesser-known issues within the education system and become more involved. You can even vote for reform bills too. 

Exercise Your Right to Vote

While you might not think it matters who’s running for State Governor or President, it could impact your child’s education. Officials usually set out policies or mandates for their term in office and some might be more beneficial to the education system than others. While you can’t base your vote on one policy, it’s good to know where each politician stands on education reforms. 

Question the Child

You may feel let down by the school district, but you need to understand the view of your child. They are the ones who attend school Monday through Friday and witness the problems firsthand. So, sit the child down and find out what they dislike about the school. 

• Are Teachers Willing to Help All Students Equally?
• Do they think they are Being Given a Fair Education?
• Is There Enough Support for Students?

These are the sort of questions you need to ask your child so you can understand their thoughts on the matter. 

Seek Answers from Educators

Let’s say you believed your child was being unfairly singled out by their English teacher. You should request a meeting with them and find out the problem. You should ask the principal to act as a mediator and find out what’s going on. 

You aren’t there to create problems for the child, just ease whatever concerns you have. It could even spark reform within the classroom. 

Choose What’s Best for your Child

If you don’t like the school your child attends, move them to another; one that offers a better education. You’re the parent and you’re the one that must make the difficult choices. When you are unhappy with the state of education, you need to decide what’s best. You have the option of private, homeschool, and public school. It’s important to compare each and find the best for your child. 

You Must Encourage your Child to Embrace Learning

Changes to the education system begin with your children. Remember, when a child wants to learn and cares about what they learn, it inspires reform across the board. If, however, a child doesn’t care about their education, nothing will change. So, you should encourage the child to learn and enjoy it. 

Reform Can Happen

Small steps make the biggest changes. You can reform education by doing little things, including keeping yourself involved with the PTA. While education won’t be overhauled in a matter of days, it can slowly be reformed through your actions. Reform will happen and can create better schooling for your children. 

The post How Parents Can Help Reform Education appeared first on The Tech Edvocate.

If this happens to your kid, you will be sent to the hospital for an examination. However, you must be as prepared as possible for this circumstance.

1. Find Out What Happened?

As the child’s parent or guardian, you must listen to what the school says, but you should also consider your child’s tale.

Begin by compiling all of the data and determining what occurred by aligning both sides of the tale. You should also inquire with your child’s instructor about their behavior before the event.

2. What Should You Do If You Agree With the School’s Selection?

After gathering the accounts and learning about the proposed disciplinary punishment, you will either agree or disagree with the decision. If you agree with the school’s decision, you can have your child sit down and compose an apology letter.

If your kid has an IEP, you’ll want to know how this disciplinary action will affect their special needs. Also, try to get in touch with the school on a regular basis so that you are constantly informed of any potential behavioral difficulties.

3. What Should You Do If You Disagree With the School’s Selection?

If you disagree with the school’s decision, you have the option of filing a due process complaint. You should speak with an education advocate or possibly a lawyer to ensure that you take the proper measures.

The Parent Training and Info Center is an excellent resource. Depending on the circumstances, this is what you can do.

504 Plan: If your kid has a 504 plan, contact the 504 teams to see if he or she should undergo a functional behavioral evaluation. 

IEP: If your child has an IEP team and is subjected to a penalty that lasts more than ten days, the team must consider whether your child’s handicap contributed to the misconduct.

Finally, consider the following:

Overall, regardless of the scenario, you should convey your opinions as plainly as possible. Make an effort to stay focused at whatever meeting you attend.

If another person is involved, make sure to take notes so you can refer to them afterwards. The final step is to confirm whether or not this disciplinary action will be recorded on the school’s record.

The post When Your Child Faces Disciplinary Action: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on The Tech Edvocate.

1. Consider the Accommodations.

Understanding the adjustments that your child may require is another approach to ensure the productivity of your child’s 504 plan meeting. You should tackle this with all of the distinct learning problems in mind.

Then, consider if the present accommodations are sufficient. After examining the accommodations, search for areas where they might be updated or enhanced, such as via the use of assistive technology.

2. Examine Your Child’s Records.

Prepare for the meeting by gathering records of your child’s existing 504 plan, as well as other information such as report cards and progress reports. You may also download tests, assignments and note samples. You should next go over these data and look for areas where your child can develop as well as places where he or she needs extra help.

3. Familiarize Your Child with the Team.

No one knows your child better than you. You may, however, share your child’s personality, difficulties, talents, and interests with the team. Essentially, share insight into your child’s workings so that the team can assist your youngster as effectively as feasible.

4. The plan should be detailed and comprehensive.

Schools are not obligated to include many specifics in their 504 plans. However, in order to have the finest and most successful 504 plan, you must ask the team in the meeting to describe in detail what your kid will get.

Assume that a number of Educators from the school are in charge of the accommodations. To facilitate better, simpler communication, the names of all persons in authority must be included in the plan specifications. 

5. Obtain Copies of the New 504 Plan.

You must follow specific procedures even after the meeting to ensure continuous production. This involves requesting a copy of the updated 504 plan from the 504 teams. You may refer to the plan at other meetings, such as the parent-teacher conference, in this manner.

Finally, consider the following:

Asking about the meeting at the start of the school year is an excellent approach to always be prepared for the 504 plan meeting. This guarantees that you will always be available to attend. You should also never be hesitant to ask for clarification on any terms used throughout the discussion. It is critical to comprehend what is being said.

The post Having a Productive 504 Meeting: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on The Tech Edvocate.

The school will evaluate the IEP on a regular basis based on the child’s performance, but as parents, you have the right to request extra IEP sessions.

When Should I Request IEP Meetings?

If you believe your kid has already mastered the IEP goal that was established for them, you can request an IEP case review to see if they can create a new objective for your child. You may also inquire at the school about things you can perform at home to assist your child.

If you believe that your kid is not improving despite the use of an IEP, you can meet with the IEP expert at school and request that the program be redesigned. You can also ask for a meeting if you believe your kid requires a functional behavior assessment, often known as an FBA exam.

How to Request More Meetings?

If you believe that further meetings are required, you can submit a letter to the school administration requesting an additional meeting with the IEP expert. Make sure your letter is properly formatted, and you may use a template to assist you to write your request letter to the school administration.

You should also ensure that the school administration got your letter, therefore suggest that they provide an acknowledgement letter as confirmation that they received your request. In this manner, they won’t be able to back out of a meeting by claiming that they didn’t get your request.

Remember that it is your right as a parent to seek these meetings, and the school must honor your request within four weeks.

The Value of Follow-Up Sessions

Following an extra IEP meeting, it is also critical that you contact the school on a regular basis for follow-up sessions. This will keep you informed about your child’s IEP.

This will also allow you to monitor your child’s development and ensure that the school is giving your child all of the additional help that they require to overcome their learning issues.

Finally, consider the following:

If you believe your child’s IEP isn’t functioning, it’s critical to schedule another IEP meeting with the school. This gives you the ability to suggest adjustments to the program so that your child has the best chance of succeeding academically.

The post Requesting IEP Meetings: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on The Tech Edvocate.

These documents include sensitive information, and parents have the right to see this information and ensure that everything is in order.

1. The Importance of Maintaining School Records

Keeping track of your child’s school records is critical for a number of reasons. Again, because these records include sensitive information, parents must be aware of what information about their kids is on file.

They should also verify these records on a regular basis to ensure that their children’s information is valid and up to date. If there are any disparities, parents have the right to request that these inaccuracies be addressed as soon as possible.

Accuracy in a child’s records is critical since this information can influence whether or not a youngster is admitted to a reputable institution or university in the future.

Parents must also guarantee that the school keeps these records private and does not release them to third parties.

2. How to Obtain Access to Your Child’s Records?

Here are some comprehensive instructions for gaining access to your child’s school records:

1. Request a release of information form from the school’s administration.
2. To gain access to the child’s records, fill out and sign this form.
3. If the school does not have a release of information form, you might write a letter or send an email to the administration.
4. Follow the structure of a sample letter for seeking school records when writing your letter or email.

3. Important Reminders

There are a few things you should keep in mind now that you have access to the learner’s information.

To begin, make copies of the official school records and place them in a folder for your personal records. This way, if the school makes a modification to your child’s records, you can quickly review your own copy for any irregularities.

Second, having your own copy allows you to make a note of any information that has to be changed later. Finally, keep in mind that you may be required to pay a modest charge to the school in order to obtain copies of the original documents.

Finally, consider the following:

Every parent has the right to know what information is contained in their child’s school records, and they also have the right to amend this information if something inaccurate is discovered in the records.

The post Accessing Your Child’s School Records: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on The Tech Edvocate.

These meetings give you an extraordinary opportunity to talk with your kid’s educators in person, understand school events, and act as your child’s supporter. It’s important to be prepared to face parent-teacher conferences to make them productive. Here are some tips for doing it effectively.

Obtain Up-to-Date Information

Get all necessary information about your kid’s academic performance and behavior prior to the conference to avoid being adversely surprised.

Examine your kid’s grades. Ask if there’s anything the kid especially thinks might be discussed at the meeting or if he wants you to talk about anything specific.

Such homework, followed by a conversation with the kid, will ensure you know what to expect from the conference.

Prepare a List and Bring It Along

You can write down a list of topics or questions you would like to discuss with or ask your kid’s teachers. To prepare this list, you can seek inputs from your spouse or other well-wishers of your child. Since you may forget to recall what you want to discuss at that moment in the meeting, it pays to bring along this list.

The list could include:

• Anything your child is worried about or any current changes in his home life that his educators should know about;
• Something specific regarding your kid’s performance, strengths and weaknesses, social skills, behavior, or upcoming tests and assignments that you want to be aware of;
• Steps you can take to better support your child academically at home; and
• Ideas that your kid’s educators can implement to help him behave and learn better in the class.

It’s an excellent idea to join forces with your kid’s educators and create an action plan that will help your child. You just need to prioritize your list and talk about the most important things at the start of the meeting to avoid running out of time.

Be Tactful While Discussing Concerns

If you feel some of your kid’s educators treat him wrongly or aren’t as forthcoming with you as you’d like, make sure to bring them up. However, do it tactfully and courteously because you want to work with them for your child’s benefit, not burn the bridges.

In case you plan to discuss an issue or disagreement, it’s wise to come prepared with solutions and suggestions. Remember to set aside differences, if any, as you would like to have a positive tête-à-tête to pave the way for your kid’s academic success.

Final Words

Preparation is the key to having a productive and successful parent-teacher conference. Gather information about your kid’s attendance, grades, and behavior. Note down a list of talking points and questions for the conference.

At the meeting, have a positive outlook and work with your kid’s teachers to create an effective action plan for the child’s benefit.

If you run out of time, request to set up another meeting or follow up with a phone call or email. The use of these tips will surely make your child feel more supported and help him become a thriving student.

The post Preparing for a Parent-Teacher Conference appeared first on The Tech Edvocate.

Learn About Education Policies and Laws

Your child’s institution and the district it belongs to is a public trust. This means it aims to benefit all the people in your community through its service. When it comes to exercising your power and voice, you first need to understand the education laws and policies governing your school district. Many times school officials think that they can enjoy impunity assuming that community members and parents don’t know the intricacies of education policies and laws. However, the truth is that these public officials are bound to adhere to these policies and laws. Therefore, if you call them and say that one of their activities is non-compliant with federal, state, or local practices and standards, they either have to rectify the activity or experience legal hazards.

Be a Part of Your Local School Board

Local school boards are responsible for interpreting state laws and establishing similar policies for their districts. They also develop strategic plans to advance education in their districts. A local school board advocates for the rights and concerns of the local citizenry and represents the state in educational subjects. While the local school board is obligated to execute state educational policies, it can also challenge those policies using appropriate channels if it gets the feeling that the state’s regulations aren’t beneficial for students and institutions in its district. Therefore, you can truly make a difference by joining the school board. In the majority of school districts, the mayor appoints a certain number of school board seats, while the rest are filled by election.

Exert Your Influence

If you don’t have the enthusiasm or time to carry out the responsibilities of a school board member or fail to win a seat, you can still hold the school board accountable. You can reach out to school board members and share your opinions, attend school board meetings, and give your statements on education-related matters. This will help you leave a powerful impact on the way the school district operates.

Be a Part of the School Site Council

The majority of schools run a site-based school council comprising teachers, administrators, and parents. The school’s principal selects and appoints these people who regularly assemble to vote and discuss agenda items related to the school. You can try to get such a position by asking the school’s principal.

Join the Parent-Teacher Association

PTA is a local organization involving parents and teachers that work together to cause changes in a school. Joining is open to all parents. Talk to the school’s principal or your child’s teacher for more information.

Now that you know what should be done to advocate for your community’s K-12 students, it is time to do your bit.

The post Advocating for K-12 Students appeared first on The Tech Edvocate.

Previously, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) had set a general screen time limit: two hours in front of any screen for kids over age 2. Today, defining screen time has become difficult. However, AAP recommends that consistent limits on the use of any media should be levied on kids and teens 5 to 18 years. Since all screen time cannot be equal, parents need to decide how their teens use screens. For example, time spent on educational activities is not equal to time playing games. For teens and kids of all ages, screen time should not be replaced with the time needed for sleeping, eating, being active, studying, and interacting with family and friends.

To help families curb kids use, groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization have disseminated a new screen limit guidelines. The AAP guidelines focus on setting healthy guidelines to prevent kids from using their devices in an unhealthy manner.

Guidelines By AAP:

​​The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) asks and encourages parents to help their children develop healthy media use habits early on. 

For children below 18 months, the use of screen media other than video-chatting should be discouraged.

Parents of children 18 to 24 months of age should use apps that have been vetted by experts and use them together with children.

For children older than two years, keep the screen use to no more than 1 hour or less per day of high-quality programming. Co-play and find other activities to do together is healthy for the body and mind.

All children and teens need to sleep 8-12 hours, depending on age. Designate media-free time together (e.g., family dinner) and media-free zones (e.g., bedrooms). Children should never sleep with devices in their bedrooms, including TVs, computers, and smartphones.

AAP encourages parents to create personalized media use plans for their children. These plans should take into account each child’s age, health, personality, and developmental stage. Create a Family Media Use Plan and remember to communicate the plan to other caregivers so that media rules are followed consistently.

Guidelines By WHO:

​The World Health Organization has released guidance for how much screen time children under five should get, i.e., not very much.

The children under one should not have any screen time while those under five should not spend more than one-hour watching screens every day — and that less is better.

Tips for limiting your kid’s screen time:

• Research videos and computer games before letting your kids get them. Check the ratings, which can run from EC (early childhood) to AO (adults only.) Teens should be limited to games rated T (for “teens”) or younger. 
• Preview games or play them with your teen to see what they’re like. 
• Ensure that kids have free-time activities that do not include tech, like spending time with friends and playing sports.
• Turn off all screens during family mealtime and at bedtime. Also, keep devices with screens out of your teen’s bedroom after bedtime, and don’t allow a TV in your teen’s bedroom. 
• Treat screen time as a privilege that has to be earned. It is only allowed after chores, and homework is done.
• Spend screen time with your kids to make sure what they are watching is appropriate.
• Use parental control on the TV and computer devices to block your teen’s access to inappropriate material.
• Teach them about internet safety and social media smarts, and make sure they know the dangers of sharing private information online.  
• Place computer devices in a common area where you can monitor their use.

The post Know When to Say When With Screen Time for Kids appeared first on The Tech Edvocate.

What a lot of us may not know is that engagement and involvement are distinct. This text seeks to help you understand the difference

What is the Difference?

While involvement involves taking part in the activities already determined by the school, engagement entails the parent taking a step further and being part of the decision-making process. Parental engagement involves partnering with parents in making choices and creating activities that are aimed at the child’s best interests.

Parents need to feel like they have a say in how their child is treated or educated. This establishes a positive relationship as well as trust between the school and the parent. It also enhances the parent’s relationship with the child.

Here is What Parental Involvement Looks Like

• Volunteering in the classroom or within the school environment
• Communication with the teachers through events such as parent-teacher conferences or even being available whenever the school requires it.
• Keep parents in the loop about any student assignments from class and their role in these tasks, if any.
• Chaperoning school events such as dances, field trips, and even camps

As per the definition of parental involvement, these activities are determined by the school.

Parental engagement is the additional input that parents add to the school or classroom. It may take the form of:

• School programs are aimed at families that may need assistance or are in crisis. Such an arrangement could be in the form of arranged visits to a learner’s home.
• Developing and facilitating programs for parents such as training in digital skills. Additionally, gifted learners tend to have more academic needs to help bring out the best in them. Therefore, such programs could also aim to train parents of children with special needs so that they can work together with the teachers.
• Involving parents in decision-making on matters such as learning activities or even the school diet.
• Encouraging parents to help children with homework.

Parental engagement and involvement actions work hand in hand for the best possible outcomes for a student’s academic performance. One cannot be fully effective without the other. Most of the efforts towards parental engagement revolve around an appropriately structured school site council. This arrangement brings together teachers, administrators, and parents to work on the affairs of the students. The body can achieve a lot of change in school matters, especially when there are many parents showing exceptional involvement in the school.

The post Parental Involvement and Engagement: Analyzing the Difference appeared first on The Tech Edvocate.