Importance of parent teacher collaboration for helping children with autism

 One of the most important mantras in a special education classroom is parent-teacher collaboration. It is critical for students’ success. Collaboration has many benefits as both parties are working towards a common goal of improving students' lives and preparing them for the future.

That means both the parents and teachers act as one team to help the child. I am going to give a few strategies for children to do better in school.

We are on the same team.

The most important thing teachers must know parents are experts on their children as they tend to spend maximum time with them. They know their strengths, weaknesses, motivators and triggers. It is critical if teachers are facing any problems in the classroom in terms of behaviour or skill regression parents are the first people teachers need to get in touch with. They are in a better position to let the teachers know if any changes are going on in the child’s life or maybe they are experiencing any sleep or health-related issues. This will help both parties to brainstorm and come up with a possible solution to help the student.

It helps with skill generalization.

Special education classrooms have students performing at all different levels. Many of our children require intensive support for learning and require staff who understand how to program for skill generalization. Skill generalization occurs when our children can demonstrate skills learned in one-to-one settings in new settings and situations.

Skill generalization is very important for children to make maximum gains and maintain skills for the future. Parents can play important role in this. It is very essential teachers keep parents updated on the kind of skills kids are working on in the classroom. The teachers can share some ideas parents can use at home to work on the same skills in different environments with different materials.

Parents like to get feedback 

Some children on the spectrum are nonverbal. They are unable to tell their parents about their school day. There must be some kind of communication that is daily facilitated between home and school may be a daily communication book.

Getting feedback about their children is important for parents when their children are nonverbal. They often get told the things their children are not able to do. Parents will appreciate a quick phone call or a text from the teachers to tell them something positive their child did. This might not seem significant to school staff but it will mean a lot to parents.

It helps with conflict management.

There will be times when pay and teachers will not agree on things. Having a positive relationship with parents will help both in solving disputes amicably. This is critical for students’ success.

In today’s world technology has made it so much easier to be in touch. This will help with student success which is ultimately the common goal for both parties.

Teachers must keep open lines of communication and work together with parents to support children’s development and learning.

Make materials for parents.

Teachers have access to all cool tools which they use to make student materials and visual supports for the classroom. They can make an extra copy of the visual schedule or other visuals which can help the parents at home to maintain consistency between home and school.

I hope these strategies are helpful to maintain good parent teacher collaboration which will benefit all students with autism.