✓ Talk to your child: find out how he or she feels about school, as well as his or her likes and dislikes.

✓ Speak with your child’s teachers: find out if your child is having difficulty with homework, is unable to complete work independently, begins but can’t complete assignments, or has difficulty recalling the related instruction during the school day.

✓ Observe and listen to your child at home: does he or she complain about physical illnesses or invent excuses in order to stay home from school?

✓ Does your child have friends and maintain friendships?

✓ Does your child talk about or know the names of classmates?

✓ Does your child only use negative comments when talking about school?

✓ Develop a profile of your child to share with the school staff.

✓ Get organized!

✓ Start a home file to include an accurate journal of meetings, phone calls, letters, etc.

✓ Put every request, concern and objection inwriting to all involved.

✓ Compile a binder with tabs for evaluations, IEPs, samples of current performance (such as writing samples, classroom tests, projects, activities and homework) and written communications. Include a chart listing all evaluations by date, evaluator, test given, major areas of concern and recommendations.

✓ Make two copies of all evaluations/reports, one to keep as an original and one to use as a working copy.

✓ Be sure to bring this file with you to all meetings regarding your child.