The Gap Between The Classroom and Home Setting

Greetings. As a special education teacher, I always looked forward to a child's IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) meeting or a parent conference meeting because this was my opportunity to interact directly with each child's parents.

During those meetings, I would share with each child's parents how their child was progressing on their goals and objectives and what goals and objectives needed to be continued. It also was important for me to discuss with each child's parents some of the teaching techniques and tools that I'd used successfully with their child.

I would encourage parents to try some of the same teaching techniques at home with their child. What I found is that parents really needed a hand with setting up a variety of teaching tools (picture schedules, behavioral plans, environmental arrangement) in their home. I could show parents what I had developed and how it should be used with their child, but for parents to actually make it, it took time they did not have. This was discouraging for me because I didn't have the extra time or resources to make teaching tools for parents to use with their child in the home.

Please, your comments and ideas are important!
Ms. C