THIS JUST ISN'T THE RIGHT FIT... But what is?

So, you all are aware by now that I have a dyslexic son.  You are also aware that he’s had a very difficult time being successful in school due to a number of reasons that have converged at the worst possible time, least of which is the burgeoning onset of puberty and the development of a lasting self-image combined with the loss of a consistent role model.  The majority of the problem sets squarely on the fact that Jordan has been in a school that just isn’t the right fit.  

Children’s bodies, minds, emotions and spirits combine to make unique individuals, and it is the responsibility of us, as parents, to ensure that as with anything else, the school fits the child and not the other way around.  This mix affects the kind of environment in which each child learns best.  After all, when you think of it, schools aren’t any more “one size fits all” than a pair of shoes or pants.  Unfortunately, we seem to spend more time and effort evaluating our cars and appliances than appraising the quality of our children’s schools.   

    

When considering a school the question boils down to the following:  which qualities, in their unique combination within your child, really matter for choosing a school?  Which of your child's strengths will assist him in with meshing with certain teachers, peers and expected ways of learning?  Which of your child's weaknesses can be addressed at school, and which cannot?  When your child's and family's needs fit well with what your child's school offers, you can then say that you have found a great fit!  Until then… keep looking. 

Fortunately, there are a number of characteristics that come to mind in terms of finding that “great fit”.   Not every characteristic is important for matching every child to the right school. You'll need to decide which ones are really important for your family. Most children and families will have only a small number of characteristics that are top priorities for selecting a school.  For me, the choice boils down to how my child learns and how the school is able to accommodate his learning style and learning accommodations and services. 

• What Your Child Learns:  These are aspects of your child that affect what subjects and at what level of difficulty your child should be taught at school.  These include your child's basic learning capability, other capabilities, and interests.
• How Your Child Learns:  This is a biggie!  These are aspects of your child that affect how a school should teach and interact with your child both in and outside of the classroom.  These include your child's learning styles, motivation, physical and mental health challenges, behavior challenges, learning disabilities and disorders, and self-understanding.
• Social Issues:  This includes the need for social contact with particular friends from the child's perspective.
• Practical Matters:  This includes essential extracurricular activities that may be compelling choice factors for some children.

Good luck on your journeys as you search for the right academic environments for your most precious gifts.  My journey is exhausting and seems endless, but I promised my son that I will go Way Beyond Z on his behalf... so the trek continues.  Have a Way Beyond Z Day!