By Anna Stewart
The first thing to remember is that educators and parents are both there because they share a common element and that is the education of a child. And both parties know that education includes social-emotional health, citizenship, and interpersonal skills along with academic success. Personalizing the student/child is a way to keep the individual presence foremost in everyone’s mind. Bringing a picture to a meeting, having artwork or classwork to show and eventually having the student/child attend their own meetings are ways to keep the child at the center of all discussions.
Next is to work through your own biases, filters, and beliefs so that you can see the child and his or her family in an objective way. This means letting go of judgment about their parenting styles, culture, background, language, or social economic status as well as any differences in your values. You don’t have to share the same values in order to work toward the same goal. This may take the form of making sure you have a translator for a meeting but within that, not assuming parents can’t understand or dumbing down info. Treat families as you would like to be treated-w with respect, integrity, and honesty. We hope there is never and ‘us’ and ‘them’. Remember everyone is there for the child.
Understanding what a parent’s vision and dreams are for their child is important to ask about. Parents can add a written statement to their child’s file. The question is not if it is “realistic" but how to get as close as possible to making it come true. Their vision should be the filter that all IEP goals and placement should be seen through. Educators don’t get to decide for a student what their adult life is going to be; their role is to help them be ready for it!