Do you ever find it hard to speak up for your own needs with a teacher, coach, or parent?
If so, you aren’t alone! Self-advocacy is one of the more challenging skills a student can learn, and often it’s one that a student learns late in their academic career.
Those are some of the reasons I am so proud of one of my clients! She has had an assignment hanging over her head for a while that will always be more difficult for her than the teacher intends.
This week, she and I took a perfect look at that assignment, figured out why she hasn’t done it, and determined what we think the teacher’s purpose was in assigning it. Then she wrote a fantastic email to her teacher asking what she needs to fulfill the assignment’s spirit and get it done.
Wanna’ know what she wrote? Watch this six-minute video to learn more about her situation and see exactly what she said!
Check it out:
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this! Did she say the right things? Do you think the email will get her the outcome she’s looking for?
Have you tried advocating for yourself? What were the results? What would help you do this better? Or, if you haven’t hadn’t the courage to ask for what you need, what do you think is holding you back?
Hit reply and let me know! I’d love to hear from you.
Wishing you a great week!
I think the email was great from this student. I do hope the teacher accepts the suggestion.
We are embarking on a discussion with my son’s middle school on math accommodations. He has dyslexia but math is really a struggle this year.
One other comment — my 4th grader has ADHD and dyslexia. If he sees an assignment – ELA or Math – that has too many slides (more than 10) he avoids doing the assignment. The school identified the ADHD but not the executive function challenge. I think we are going to ask for some type of alternative to the assignment. I’ve looked at some of the assignments and it turns me off as well. He has a 504 and is hybrid learning (2x per week in classroom). I’ve spoken to the teacher about shorter assignments or simplifying the instructions but the multiple steps is a good point. He also does not like showing his math thinking(working out a problem on paper). Appreciate your thoughts.
Gretchen, this is so helpful and I have sent it to my daughter for help with her ADHD son. They have been struggling with assignments, especially when he was home during the sequestering. Thank you for what you do. Peg Runnels
Amazing, absolutely amazing!!
I like it when the student is straightforward and comes up with a plan or solutions to the struggle and also explains the reasoning behind the struggle.
I think it is a powerful letter and I hope the student will get the accommodations they need. If not, write another powerful letter. Good luck!