As an education student, a common sentiment was you would learn more on the job than you would in a college lecture hall. But what about the things you learn in neither? It goes back to the saying you don’t know what you don’t know, but what if this means students suffer in the process.

One of these topics is dyslexia, dysgraphia, or dyscalculia.

Students need positive relationships at school. I have witnessed firsthand as a parent, teacher, and administrator when this does and doesn’t happen. We had a year where our daughter’s teacher didn’t work to build a relationship. He went through the motions of being a teacher and we saw her effort wane as a result. She completed her work but you could tell she wasn’t as connected.

The subject of my last few blogs have dug into emotional support for our children. Please remember, our children will be tired both physically and emotionally! We need to give our children grace as they transition. Going back to school should not just be a relief for caregivers but an opportunity for our children to grow.

Back to school 2021 is quickly approaching, bringing conflicting emotions for each one of us. Putting aside the unknown about whether or not our children will be in-person, hybrid, remote or even focusing on masked or unmasked, what do you want to see out of this year?

How do we prepare?

Anxiety that begins to interfere with everyday functioning can happen to our children as well. For example, children may consistently blurt out in class or constantly talk. More often than not, the adults misread this behavior. This could lead to the belief that the student is a behavior problem, is being disrespectful, lacks focus, or more seriously showing signs of A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder) or A.D.H.D. (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

Even the students who are very attentive and respond promptly with every request may be responding this way as a learned response from trauma. You may be very pleased with these types of students but you may not be aware of the anxiety or fear they are harboring based on a traumatic experience in their life. This child could be conditioned to make the adults around them happy because they may live with an alcoholic parent who becomes verbally and/or physically aggressive when they don’t comply.

Explain to me we are pushing so hard to get back to the schooling that so many complained about prior to the pandemic? Why are we afraid to admit something new may be working for some students?

One of these responsibilities is ensuring your child is receiving the correct supports at schools. There usually comes a time when you have to reach out to the school with questions and concerns.

The year begins promising and you believe this is it and things are going to start clicking for your child. Then as predicted the concerns arise like a load of bricks falling from the sky.

How people define inclusion is broad, but ultimately many describe it in terms of exclusion, so the challenge is to not focus on what it doesn’t mean, but what does it truly means to be inclusive.

What may have begun as just an outlet became a resource, providing a feeling of connectedness for many. These parents will be the first to share that they are not experts on autism, but they willingly offer their experiences and learns.

April brings us to Autism Awareness Month. Children with autism are extremely amazing individuals and as this month begins, I am flooded with all the wonderful students and families I have been connected with throughout my career. You are there to not only witness the amazing moments but to see the challenges.

Educators continue to be placed in an impossible position. As I have stated in previous posts, our education system is in massive need of an overhaul and should not solely lie on the shoulders of the educators. We are asking and requiring educators to meet an insurmountable task and have to acknowledge the stress and pressure that causes. This will and has led to burnout.

I’m here to help and offer a variety of support options. Whether you need a sounding board to share your experiences or assistance in communicating with school, I work with you to develop an individualized plan for you and your child. The initial consultation is always free, so don’t be afraid to take that leap!

Let’s imagine how different the experience for our students would have been last March if schools would have already had a robust remote learning plan in place that accounted for a device, internet, and trained staff. Believe it or not, some schools were able to make this transition a reality as they had planned well before the pandemic began.