Talking with the school and bringing in support
How to prepare for a meeting, when to talk to a professional and how to get everyone pulling in the same direction.
2 min read
Before the meeting with the school
- Write down what you see at home, with dates if you can.
- Ask your teen how they want you to represent them.
- Go ready to listen, not only to present your side.
During the meeting
- Start with what's going well, not with the problem.
- Ask "What are you seeing at school?" before you draw conclusions.
- Look for concrete agreements, with a date to review them.
After the meeting
- Tell them what was discussed, without changing anything.
- Ask what they think about what was said.
- Don't turn the meeting into a lecture.
When to bring in a professional
- When the difficulties persist and don't improve with the family's support.
- When there are signs that the problem is more emotional than academic.
- When the resistance to school is intense and ongoing.
- When you suspect a learning difficulty that no one has picked up on.
What kind of support can help
Type
School counselor
What it's for
The first point of contact inside the school
Type
Learning specialist or educational psychologist
What it's for
To evaluate learning difficulties and support your teen with them
Type
Therapist who works with teens
What it's for
When there's a significant emotional component
Type
Tutor
What it's for
For extra help with a particular subject
Family, school and professional
When all three are moving in the same direction, the process tends to be easier to get through. When one is missing or working against the others, it gets complicated. The most important thing is for your teen to know that all three are on their side.
A question to take with you
What would your teen want the school to know, and what would they rather it didn't?