Parent Involvement in Education Helps to Meet Differentiated Learning Needs

by Linda Wacyk

Topics:

Discipline, Learning Styles, Parents and Schools, School Policy and Education Issues

Most days I like babies, but this kid was getting on my nerves.

He was cute enough, and for the first 10 minutes or so, he had charmed our group as we toured a famous Colonial Williamsburg landmark. The baby was clearly not as impressed as the rest of us, however.

Tantrums in Children

As the tour progressed, his cries of boredom and frustration escalated; they echoed through the historic halls, making it nearly impossible for our group to enjoy the tour.

We all took turns shooting increasingly disgusted looks at the child's mother-looks that said, "Don't you know we paid good money for this? Why in the world don't you remove that child?" The mother, however, seemed unlikely to leave. Her focus was entirely on her unhappy child. Of primary importance to her was satisfying his needs while staying close to the rest of her family.

I wonder if she knew that this dilemma would characterize her life as a mother for many years to come. It seems that all of parenting is a delicate balance between meeting our own children's needs while helping them fit into a larger society. This is especially true at school.

Differentiated Learning

Finding balance is easy to do for kids whose learning types "fit" the program of the local school. Even the best schools, however, can't perfectly meet the needs of all children.

Like the little guy in Williamsburg, there are always those who just don't "go with the flow." They may learn more quickly or more slowly than other students; they may be at odds with a particular teacher or curriculum; or they may simply not thrive in the typical school setting.

Parent-Teacher Communication

Parents of these kids can -- and should -- be advocates who raise a warning flag to say, "Hey, what are we going to do to help this child succeed?"

Thankfully, a growing number of education options are available to families. A few examples are dual enrollment, distance learning and programs designed for kids with special needs.

Finding such solutions requires thinking "outside the box" and often asks schools to do more. It also requires parents to balance their child's needs with the budget and capabilities of their chosen school.

Unfortunately, some parents, like the frazzled mother on our tour, forget to respect the needs of others while focusing exclusively on their own kids. On the other hand, too many educators resent activist parents and their legitimate needs. They refuse to find creative solutions and offer instead high-sounding rhetoric about their concern for helping all children succeed.