Dear Parents

Don't send your kid to school with a lunch box full of unhealthy snacks. We will refrain from feeding your child those, and may eat some ourselves.

Always send extra clothes with your child, accidents are bound to happen whether the child is potty trained or not. Plus they are ALWAYS messy when they eat. You should know this, unless you feed them yourselves. In that case, don't do that too.

Don't spoil your child. This makes our hard work futile.

Encourage your child to use his/her voice, by talking to them, excessively even.

Learn sign language and use it with your child even if he/she is verbal. Visuals are always effective.

Don't EVER, ever send your child to school when he/she is sick. That is just unacceptable.

No matter how nice we are to you in face to face interactions, we judge your habits with your child(ren).

Don't immediately take the side of your child, listen to the classroom staff too.

Communicate with us, whether through notes, texts, emails, calls, etc. Every piece of information, no matter how trivial seeming, is vital to us.

Bringing a child late to school or taking them out early can be destructive or at the very least disruptive. However some cases are understandable, but effects still ensue.

Never give into bad behavior of any kind. Reinforce good behavior. They are all capable of learning it.

Provide supplies, otherwise it will come out of our pockets.

Be involved. Find out how special ed/autism classrooms work and use some or all of those procedures in your home. It is full of complex and simple structures that are used constantly and consistently and prove to have great results but are only hindered, if not destroyed by parents at home. Truth be told.

Be honest.

Be aware of tantrum triggers and convey them to us. Practice what works best as a redirection.

Don't give your child excessive attention [whether positive or negative], this is probably the worst cause for bad behavior.

Always remain calm. Don't yell and definitely don't hit.

Donate to schools or education. Vote yes for budget/tax raises, otherwise we will lose our jobs and your child will lose valuable sources of education. I have already experienced the effects of the majority of Arizona voting no. Take a good look at my paycheck.

Ask questions. Find out what you should be doing.

Listen to staff if they highly feel your child has been misdiagnosed so he/she can get the proper care and education. Unfortunately I've seen this more than enough. A parent should accept the diagnosis if there is enough evidence for it. Accepting something false or denying the truth will only be detrimental to the child and the parents will pay for it.

Believe that we always try to do our best with your child. If we feel something is not effective, we will better our methods with trial and error until a more effective option is being used.

Realize that we work extremely hard. Take our work home with us everyday. And love your child as if he/she is one of ours. Know that I will die for any of my students, past or present, regardless how well I know him/her.

Don't assume.

Let us know if your child won't be coming to school and why. We always want to know why.

Be aware that your child, no matter how low or high functioning, is aware of what you and others are doing and saying. They still learn by imitation just like any other child. In worst cases, they will reveal to us some disturbing stuff that goes on at home. And we are, by law, required to report it.

Be consistent.

Cases of children being highly drugged is a cause for alarm and concern. Is this really necessary?!

If your child is having major digestive issues, obviously something needs to be changed in their diets.

Special ed children don't do well going back and forth between divorced parents. Have some control and make smooth transitions. Don't ever take it out on the child. They can adapt, however it does affect their coping negatively and we see this clearly at school.

Trust us.

Being special is NOT a bad thing.


More to come when they fill my head and my heart.