Tip of the Week

January 6, 2014

Learning how to self-advocate

The ability to self-advocate is an important skill for students of all ages. Help your child identify those times when he feels stuck or doesn’t understand something, then encourage him to problem-solve how he might go about getting some extra help. Many teachers offer “office hours” for students before or after school to provide extra support. Friends and classmates are often great resources, as are older siblings and even – gasp! – mom and dad. The ability to recognize his needs and communicate those needs to others is a skill that will serve him well throughout his life. It takes lots of practice so the sooner he begins to practice these self-help skills, the sooner he can begin to improve them!