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Talking with Teachers

Below is a summary ofimportant factors that can make a positive difference in the readjustment of an internationally mobile child. Experience dealing with evacuated families highlights three common themes:

• Foreign Service families need to know that they are not alone,
• the school should know who the Foreign Service are and that someone cares, and
• the school should made new Foreign Service families feel welcome.

For Returnees and Evacuees

• As for any new student, the first day of school and the first impression can have a significant impact on their attitude towards their new circumstances. A teacher's welcoming smile will make a huge difference!
  
• Ask the teacher if it is possible to give your child preferential seating toward the front of the room. Psychologically this helps them to feel more a part of the group instead of marginalized towards the back of the room when they are new.
  
• Ask if the teacher can find a "buddy" for the student to help them learn the ropes. It doesn't matter if the child is six or sixteen; no one wants to feel alone, especially during a traumatic transition.
  
• If the child is returning to the area and has previously attended your school, especially under evacuation status, it would be most helpful for the child's adjustment to return to a familiar situation. If they reenter your school, placing the child in a class with a previous friend could be extremely beneficial.
  
• Tell the teacher about your child. Provide the teacher with information about the child's background and prior experiences. Teachers should note that Foreign Service children and the experiences they have to tell serve to enrich classroom instruction. One student wrote that she was watching "Lawrence of Arabia" as part of her World Geography class, and saw the scene where the army raced its camels across the desert for a prolonged period of time. Having lived and camped in the remote deserts of Arabia, this student knew a thing or two about camels and wanted to interject that if they didn't slow down, both the army and the camels would die! This presented an opportunity for the teacher to draw out such information and allow the student to validate her experience.
  
• Parents and teachers need to communicate any concerns they may have, in a timely way, and carefully watch for signs of stress or falling school performance. Don't wait for a normally schedule school conference. It is very important to all involved if a parent-teacher conference takes place BEFORE regular conference days are scheduled. Perhaps individual pieces of a puzzle, when put together, will provide a more comprehensive view of how well the child is adjusting. While most Foreign Service children adjust well, the Family Liaison Office knows of students of all ages who fall through the cracks upon their return to the United States. There are as many scenarios as there are students.  The downside of transition is that some children may suffer depression, some may become physically ill, others go from being excellent students to failing students. It is, therefore, critical for parents and professionals to share information sooner rather than later.
  
• Tell the teacher that your child has come from an American-International school overseas and may be unfamiliar with the new testing culture that is becoming a part of stateside American schools. They may be unfamiliar with testing procedures and strategies.
  
• Ask the teacher to communicate any signs of stress that the child may exhibit:
  • Inability to focus in class
  • Regression in behavior of young children
  • More frequent episodes of crying or anger
  • Sadness or depression
  • Withdrawal
  • Anxiety
  • Physical illness
  • Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
  • On rare occasion, self-destructive behavior
    
• Establish rapport with the teacher so that you have frequent and productive communication in order to support the child's transition.

FLO Weblinks for Parent Advocacy: Talking with School Personnel

• Parent Advocacy: Talking with School Personnel
• Talking with Teachers
• Talking with Boarding School Personnel
• How Boarding Schools Can Assist Foreign Service Students
• Talking Your School Global

Information provided by the Family Liaison Office
Contact the Family Liaison Office