Parents in Partnership

About two months ago, I decided to start a project for myself. I had noticed a increasing number of children over the years developing significant signs of stress and anxiety. I am hoping to work out a way in which as a teacher and a parent I can support the children in my care, so that they can experience the success that they deserve but without experiencing the levels of stress that seems to come with it these days.

As I do with all things, I started off focused, very determined and driven. Initially, I had set myself the goal of reading on great text on learning, happiness and success a month. My enthusiasm got the better of me however, and within the first four weeks I had read four! The amazing 'When the Adults Change, Everything Changes' by Paul Dix, 'Lost Connections' by Johann Hari, 'Mindset' by Carol Dweck and the surprisingly inspiring 'Happy' by Ferne Cotton.  All of these books fascinated me and gave me so much to think about.

The result, though, has been that I now haven't blogged for three weeks no, because my brain was so full of ideas and thoughts from these books, that I thought I would burst. Thankfully now, term has finished and I've had some time to reflect and get my head around what I am trying to do.

I am fortunate as I see this situation from both sides of the table, as a parent and as a teacher. What I have noticed in my reading to date is that there seems to be a focus at present on texts being directed at school or at parents, but at the moment I haven't come across a text that explores the co-dependent relationship that I believe needs to exist and be developed between schools and parents.  There maybe books out there on this, but I haven't come across them yet.  So now I am going to re-read these texts and a raft of others that I have already selected, but I will try to break them down in to key areas and ideas for parents and then for teachers.

As a parent, you can't support your child fully if you don't have the help and the support of the school and unfortunately I have first hand experience of this. Likewise, as a teacher, you need parents to engage with and be onboard with what you are trying to achieve otherwise you the progress you can make is very limited. 

I think it is fair to say that all the adults I have come across in school settings, both teachers and parents, have wanted what was best for the children; if we can work together, what we can achieve in relation to both success and mental health is limitless.