You may be wondering where to begin on this topic? So far, we've sent our son to public schools, but we are planning on private schools for middle school and up. Since our son is going to be a third grader, our educational journey is still at the beginning.
But we have learned how to successfully manage our son's IEP? What's that, you might ask? Well, we didn't know either until we had to face it. It's an Individualized Educational Plan. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Well, it depends on who's helping you with it and your level of comprehension and commitment. You have to know what things might be included in an IEP and decide what's right for your child. You also have to learn diplomatic ways to request the services your child needs.
Some parents demand what their child is "entitled" too. That's one way to advocate for your child, but there are better ways. From our experience, a teamwork approach is the most effective. You figure out areas of compromise, and you politely but firmly stick to your guns on key issues--and you do whatever it takes to support the teachers and school staff. If you help with your child's education, they will likely do everything they can to help your child. It's that simple.
But we hear over and over that parents are either unrealistically demanding or not involved enough with their child's education. We'll talk about ways you can help whether you're a stay-at-home parent or working outside the home. There are always things you can do to educate your child.
