Busy Kids = Happy Mom: Writing to Your Child’s Teacher
School is around the corner, and I can’t wait! My older two, the twins, are starting Kindergarten in the fall. I always loved school. I loved learning something new, and finding how the lessons build on top of another. Yes, I was a nerd, and my CPA license after college just gave me the credentials to call myself a nerd.
But, my boys are different than I. They are so unique from one another, and as boys, their experience is sure to be different than mine. We are so happy with the school we have chosen for them. The school celebrates the individual, boy or girl, and will definitely help Archie and Sean gain a sense of individuality in their learning, their interests.
To help them gain that sense of individuality, I love this post via Busy Kids = Happy Mom. She recommends writing (I imagine an email would be fine too – paper can be too easy to lose) a summary of your child for the teacher. The teacher doesn’t have the years of experience with the child and rather than spend the first couple of months gaining some very basic knowledge – it will really help giving your teacher a “Heads Up”, so both the student and the teacher can hit the ground running.
This is music to my nerdy, planning ahead soul and to my mothers soul who cherishes the ability to have other people see her twin boys as unique individuals.
Your child’s gifts and talents. This allows for immediate connection. After defining your child by his gifts (important), then list your child’s struggles, but don’t stop there. Explain specific ways you have dealt with these struggles or quirks in the past. “My son struggles with focus, but in the past teachers have allowed him to do x, y and z to improve attention.” You want to be a collaborator who solves problems, together.
(adapted from Kirk Martin at Celebrate Calm)
Questions to get you started for children K – 2nd grade:
1. Your child’s past school experience.
2. How does your child approach school or learning? (apprehension or excitement)
3. How would you describe your child’s learning style? (hands-on, visual, etc)
4. What kind of environment do you think your child learns best in? (structure, more independent, calm)
5. Child’s strengths and weaknesses academically and socially.
6. Hobbies your child enjoys.
7. Goals for your child this year at school.
8. Your home situation (pets, divorce, death, new baby)
9. Any additional concerns.
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