Ask “Sandwich” Questions

Partnering with your child’s school is essential, and this great tip from ParentCompanion.org will help the school personnel feel like they are part of your child’s team.

What is a sandwich question? It’s basically two pieces of bread with meat in the middle, right? Imagine that the pieces of bread are positive statements, and the meat is the substance of your concerns. Make sure that your concern (the meat) includes a question with it. That helps start a conversation. Here’s an example:

• “Thank you for everything you do for my son.”—first piece of bread

• “I’ve noticed that Jose is having a hard time reading. What are you doing in the classroom that works?

How can I support you in this at home?”—meat in the middle

• “And thank you for talking through this with me.”— second piece of bread

In this way, you are not just stating a concern, but you are using a team approach. Always use positives that are genuine. Source: ParentCompanion.org

POSITIVE STATEMENT (bread)

YOUR CONCERNS IN A QUESTIOS (meat)

POSITIVE STATEMENT (bread)

https://www.parentingspecialneeds.org/article/importance-of-parents-and-professionals-partnering/

https://www.parentingspecialneeds.org/article/teachers-school-professionals/

More Family-School Collaboration and Partnership Ideas

• How Parents Can Work Together to Help Their Child With Their Education
• School Success Tips from Parents & Professionals
• The Importance of Parents and Professionals Partnering
• Parent-Professional Partnerships {Tip 28 of 31}
• What Special Education Teachers and Professionals Want You to Know
• Family-School Collaboration Focusing on Quality of Life for All
• IEP… I Do’s Building a Viable Home-School Relationship – It’s like a Marriage
• Know Your Rights in the IEP Process: What Do those Procedural Safeguards Really Mean?
• Beyond the IEP Team: 6 Tips for Parent Participation at School
• Getting Involved with Positive Behavior Support at Your Child’s School
• Whether it’s Your First IEP or You’re a Pro: 10 things to Cover at the Meeting
• Embracing Your Child’s Best Ways of Learning 12 Different Ways to Learn
• Developing Your Own Network

This post originally appeared on our July/August 2022 Magazine