Ask a Teacher
Q:  My daughter has been at the same school from kindergarten to 4th grade. She is in
special education with a paraprofessional to help her with school work and transitions
during the day. We have been given the choice of whether to stay at this school or
transfer to a new school being built in our neighborhood. We are torn as what to do.

A. That is a tough decision to make. You will need to answer a few questions to make it easier.  

  • Can the same paraprofessional transfer with her?

  • How much does change affect your daughter?

  • If change this extreme does occur, how long does it take for her to acclimate?

  • Does she know any of the teachers she will have during the day?

  • Does she have any friends or buddies also transferring? If so, and they are in the same
    grade, can they be in the same class?

  • Some schools change classes for different core subjects when in 5th grade; is that the
    case at the new school? at the old school?

  • Are any of her siblings transferring?

  • Would you be able to take her to the new school and let her walk around the new
    environment to see her reaction?

  • If she rides a bus, how will that change?

  • Have you asked her how she feels about it?

I am sure these questions may prompt some others you might have. Hopefully this will allow you
to make a decision you feel comfortable with.
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Nancy has been an educator for 30 years and is currently a special education teacher.  
She is the former Center Director of LearningRx in Little Rock, Arkansas. She has
received local, state, and national recognition for her development of Downfeld
Phonics, a multi-sensory reading program.  Nancy also wrote curriculum for an
educational technology company.   

Nancy is a single mother of three children:  one with learning differences, one gifted,
and one who has to work for his grades.  Not only does she know what it is like to teach
all these different learning styles at school, but she has the experience of dealing with
all aspects of each twenty-four seven.  
Copyright © 2010 Nancy Downing. All rights reserved.
Photo © Raycan | Dreamstime.com
Paraprofessional
                   by Nancy Downing