Support Services Shouldn't Feel Like Punishment
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Summary:
Woah, this episode was difficult to record! It brought up emotions that I didn't know I still had about my daughter's experience with receiving support for reading in elementary school.
As a parent, I remember I initially agreed to the services, but later I had to sign my daughter out of some of them due to the stress it was causing her. It broke my heart to see my daughter feeling like she was being punished for needing extra help in reading. Support services should never feel like a punishment to a child, and it is crucial to ensure that our children feel supported and empowered in their educational journey.
One of the challenges my daughter faced was being pulled from her area of strength, which was math, to work on her areas of weakness. This stole her joy for learning, and even now, looking through the paperwork from the past, I am overwhelmed with sadness.
If my daughter had an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a 504 plan in place, my plan of action to ensure her appropriate education would have been a little bit different. As IEPs and 504s have their own, rules and regulations. But, overall in ALL situations, parent and teacher relationships and teamwork make all the difference. I'm so thankful my daughter's teacher helped me make our creative plan work!
And... although I acknowledge the challenges faced by teachers with overloaded caseloads and staff shortages, it is important to consider appropriate scheduling that supports the whole child, including their strengths and weaknesses, as we approach the end of the school year and plan for the next.
Side Note: Emotions run high for parents, including myself, when trying to articulate what is needed for an appropriate school day for their child. In our Master IEP Coach® Network, we have a saying that "coaches hire coaches." Asking for IEP help can feel tough, but working through the IEP system by yourself is even tougher. Find IEP Resources to Help You Here
Episode Notes:
- (01:00) I remember my own experience with my daughter's recommendation for receiving RTI services. I agreed to the services initially but later signed my daughter out of some of the services due to the stress it was causing her. Support services should NEVER feel like a punishment to a child. RESOURCE: Build Your Own Master IEP Coach® Toolbox Here
- (02:58) Being pulled from her area of strength (Math) to work on her areas of weakness, stole my daughter's joy for learning. My emotions even now, looking through the paperwork from the past, have me overflooded with sadness knowing that my daughter was feeling punished by needing extra help in reading. RESOURCE: Master IEP Coach
- (06:20) My daughter did not have an IEP or a 504 plan, otherwise my plan of action to ensure my daughter had an appropriate education would have been different. I absolutely acknowledge the challenges faced by teachers with overloaded caseloads and staff shortages, but no matter what... we need to consider appropriate scheduling to support the whole child, including their strengths and weaknesses, as we approach the end of the school year and plan for the next.
- (8:54) Emotions run high when parents (including me!) are trying to articulate what is needed for an appropriate school day. We have a saying in our Master IEP Coach® Network that "coaches hire coaches". Asking for IEP help can feel tough, but working through the IEP system by yourself is even tougher! Find IEP help or become an IEP expert to help others, here.
Links Mentioned In This Episode:
