In special education, family involvement is crucial for the holistic development of children with disabilities. By maintaining regular contact with families, educators can inform parents about their child’s progress, address concerns promptly and foster trust and partnership.
Graduates of the online Master of Arts in Education (M.A.Ed.) – Teacher as Leader in Learning & Behavior Disorders (LBD) program from Northern Kentucky University (NKU) possess the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate this vital aspect of their role as educators. This article explores the dynamic between teachers and families, highlighting some benefits and challenges.
The Role of Communication in Enhancing Collaboration
In addition to keeping families informed about their child’s academic progress, educators play a vital role in helping families understand their child’s learning needs. Educators are often the first to notice when a child exhibits behaviors that do not align with expectations for their age, gender and other factors. Whether or not you are an expert on the subject, the next step would be to contact the family and suggest an assessment.
At this point, educators must open the lines of communication with the family. This includes providing families with information about their child’s specific needs at school, learning styles and instructional strategies that support learning at home. Teachers and parents can create a symbiotic environment of growth as a team.
Writing for Edutopia, Sharon Eicher expresses the value of educators and principals who provide families with timely and appropriate resources and support: “It would be helpful if school staff referred parents to the appropriate state advocacy organization listed by the Center for Parent Information and Resources. This would steer parents toward a group that could help them to find answers.”
Eicher drives the point further by drawing on her own experiences in Kansas, where “our parent group, Families Together, answers questions, holds informational and training sessions for parents and education advocates, and shares documents to inform parents. No one in the school environment let my family know that this group existed, and it took us several years to find it. During that time, we felt isolated and confused. If only a teacher, principal, or district staff member had shared this information.”
Supporting Families Throughout the Learning Journey
By empowering families with knowledge and resources, educators enable them to become advocates for their children’s education. This perspective aligns with the principles outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which recognizes the importance of involving families in educational planning and decision-making.
In today’s digital age, technology offers educators new opportunities to facilitate communication and collaboration with families, especially in online learning environments. Platforms like Waterford provide educators with tools and resources to support families of children with disabilities remotely, ensuring continuity of learning and support outside the traditional classroom setting.
NKU’s online M.A.Ed. – Teacher Leader – LBD program emphasizes the importance of family-centered practices, which view families as essential partners in the educational journey of children with disabilities. Courses such as Working with Families of Students with Disabilities equip educators with strategies and resources to establish and maintain meaningful communication channels with families.
Navigating Challenges and Maximizing Benefits
While collaboration with families offers numerous benefits, it can also present challenges. The assessment and evaluation process is generally seen as one of the biggest hurdles to overcome. Emphasizing the importance of teacher involvement in this step, the authors of Virtual Lab School write that “[f]amilies with preschoolers with special needs may go through various evaluation processes and may ask you to complete questionnaires or provide input at the request of a doctor, specialist, or teacher.” Therefore, taking notes and keeping track of the child’s behavior and activities is helpful.
Other challenges, such as time constraints and differing expectations, are also common. To overcome these challenges, educators employ various strategies recommended by experts in the field. It’s paramount to maintain a positive and proactive approach to supporting children with disabilities and their families by setting mutual goals and providing ongoing support and resources to families.
Learn more about Northern Kentucky University’s online Master of Arts in Education – Teacher as Leader in Learning & Behavior Disorders program.
