Do you know what your child is learning?
At Brain Learning, we meet hundreds of families each year trying to provide answers to questions about children’s development and learning. I always admire those families who spend the necessary time in their children’s education. After all isn’t time the most valuable thing we can give our children?
Today there are many indicators of how much children are learning in school. For many children data is consistently used to provide feedback to teachers and the child herself. In a given semester a child might be tested at the beginning, middle and end of a four month period, in all subjects. Did you know that as a parent you can have access to all of that information? For children with disabilities these indicators are not always the best information for providing feedback about learning. Some children require individualized instruction and measures to ascertain and demonstrate that learning is taking place.
Children with disabilities can have an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP), where goals specify that she is or is not learning? In many instances “progress” on IEP goals doesn’t quit tell the whole story. Before leaving the IEP meeting, make sure that at home you too can measure or observe your child’s progress on the goals or in the subject matter. Make sure that you completely understand the IEP goals so that you can take part in the learning process of your child. Work samples are another important measure of academic learning. Ask for work samples frequently in order to understand “what” your child is learning. While observing at home, pay close attention to the error patterns for clues to help your child at home or how to help ensure your child’s needs are met at school.
Finally, it is important to understand the significance that you play in your child’s learning. Always take the time to check in with your child and her teacher to ensure that learning is taking place. Whether your child has a disability or not she needs the support of all the adults in her life to achieving her potential.
Rienzi Haytasingh
