"You're Going to Love This Kid" by Paula Kluth

Chapter 4 review: "Connecting with Families"

"...buidling partnerships with families is as or more important than anything else teachers can do in the classroom." (p. 59).

"They can provide more rich and detailed information about a student than any professional we can ask or any report we can read." (p. 57).

We should remember this when we interact with parents. They provide information and insight that we don't have. When we are having a problem with a student we should consult with the parent as soon as possible. They will have information that may be pinnacle in solving the problem.

"If families are ignored, dismissed, or otherwise prevented from participating in the education of their child, the student's education will suffer." (p. 59).

Involving parents in meaningful discussions and decision making in the educational setting is not just a "good idea", it is fundamental to a successful school experience. It's not just something we should consider, it is something we must do.

We must also work to understand the diversity of the students we serve. Student demographics have changed over time, while teacher demographics have remained relatively unchanged. The bulk of the teacher workforce is still female and Caucasian. We need to work to diversify the teacher population, while working toward increases in our understandings of diverse cultures.

We must also seek to understand culture's impact on how a family views disability. Some cultures view disabilities as a part of the human experience, while other cultures view disabilities as medical conditions or in a generally less favorable light.

We must also reevaluate our understanding of "difficult parents". I believe "difficult parents" are not really difficult parents at all...they are good parents in difficult situations. In fact, they are probably great parents. If they didn't care about their children and their children's educational needs, they wouldn't feel the need to spend energy on being "difficult". Their children have often been outcast and excluded. Professionals have constantly and consistently tried to disenfranchise and disconnect their children from the inclusive educational experience. These parents have learned the only way professionals will respond is if they become "difficult". However, this can change if we embark on a collaborative educational journey with these and all other parents. This can change if we seek and value their input and expertise.