Home

Working as a Team

As most children going through divorce are in elementary school, they are often looking for support from caring adults while their parents are distracted and unable to tune in to their needs.

While teachers have the most day-to-day interaction with students, other school personnel have an opportunity to observe them in other settings. No single person sees the whole picture. If a child's behavior in the classroom, or elsewhere in the school is worrisome, it is helpful to adopt a team apporach. Observations can be shared and a more rounded picture of the child can be formed.

Members of the "team" can include:
--Teacher
--School Nurse
--Coaches
--Extracurricular activities personnel
--Bus drivers, lunch attendants, playground supervisors
--Psychologist
--Principal

After observations are shared, it is important that one person serves as the main communicator with the child, addressing the behavioral issues of concern. As children of divorce have often developed a distrust of aduts, even at an early age, initially this person should be the one with whom the child is most comfortable.

That person then becomes responsible for checking in with the other members of the team for updates on the child's progress. An improvement noted by one member of the team may herald a general upturn in the child's progress, and similarly a significant downturn seen by one member can serve as a heads-up warning.

Knowledge of negative changes in behavior provides an opportunity for the point person to coordinate efforts to help the child. That may mean a quiet word every day with the teacher, encouragement to join in on the playground, or help in e-mailing a parent.