What does advocating for your student mean?
The Children’s Hospital Colorado website states, “It means to speak, plead or argue in favor of and to support them. Kids’ voices aren’t always heard, and sometimes they need our help to speak up for them.” As their parent, you know them better than anyone. When it comes to school, social situations, and their future you are their spokesperson until they are able to be that for themselves.
Heather Frabbiele has two children enrolled in D49 schools and has a background in education. To Frabbiele, advocating for her children means that she is recognizing their needs and fighting for their right to have the best learning environment. She makes it her goal to defend them in all areas of their lives and make sure they know that there will always be someone in their corner who is giving them a voice when they need it.
Speaking Up in Schools
There are several moving pieces to education. Schools, teachers, and educational staff balance multiple elements while aiming to give students the best education possible. Frabbiele says, “Teachers and parents need to be able to partner together to ensure the child is receiving the support they need to be successful. Both parties need to put in the effort.”
If you feel that your child’s needs are not being met in the classroom, communicate clearly with your child’s teacher. Ask to meet to better understand what is going on in the classroom, what they see from their perspective, and areas you would like your child to receive more support in. Sometimes there will be a clear plan that can be made between teacher and parent. Other times, more steps are involved depending on the complexity of the situation.
Some students benefit from accommodations that help them have equal access to the learning environment as their peers. When meeting with your child’s teacher and school staff when more in-depth support is needed, be open to suggestions as well as speak up with ideas you might have.
Students may act differently at school than at home, so parents and school staff need to be open to the ideas of others who see the student daily and have multiple qualitative data points to present. The National Association for Gifted Children states, “Approach the teacher as an ally in your child’s education, not a roadblock.”
Involving Your Child
For your child to learn how to their voice to speak up for their needs, they should see you advocating for them in a way that makes sense. Ask your child questions about school, from what they’re enjoying learning about to what is confusing them, as well as social situations that have made them happy or have brought them down recently. If they are struggling in any way, help them to outline the reasons so that you can address it with their teacher or school. Once you decide to take that step, try letting them know that you are meeting with their teacher to make a plan for them.
As they get older, involve your child in choosing some options for plans that could be put in place to meet their needs. It’s important for them to know that sometimes plans don’t work, and they need to be flexible as well as be ready to suggest other ideas as needed.
Frabbiele described a situation in which she helped to advocate for one of her children in school. She gave her child suggestions on how to handle it and involved them in the brainstorming process. As the situation developed, Frabbiele explained how she kept open communication on the steps she wanted to take and why they were important. Now, her child has the confidence and strong voice to reach out to teachers and peers to advocate for her own needs.
Future Impact
As children see that their parents and teachers are working together to meet their needs, and that they have people who will speak up for them when they don’t have the words, they will develop the skills they need to advocate for themselves in the future. Positive and consistent communication is good for students to see between the people who are closest to them daily.
Student Accountability with Academics delves into your student’s responsibility in school and their efforts on homework.
