Dear PON Members and Partners:

With parent-teacher conferences happening at many schools this time of year, it's a critical opportunity for families to connect with educators and share valuable information about our children. In our latest article, "I am the parent. I know my child best," Dr. Shulamit Ritblatt shares how a leading psychologist of our time, Urie Bronfenbrenner (1917-2005), summed up the critical role of parents saying: “Every child needs at least one adult who is irrationally crazy about him or her.”             

We encourage you to read the blog and consider the eight practical recommendations to establishing strong partnership with teachers and schools beyond parent teacher conferences. Parent advocates' journeys begin by accepting their powerful role as parents or caregivers with all its rights and responsibilities, observing children's behavioral cues, establishing ongoing communication, monitoring student learning, volunteering, and other ways to help educators get to know their children on a deeper level.

As always, we welcome your input and hope this resource helps you feel further empowered to zealously advocate for your children.

Araceli Simeón
Sneak Peek
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The night before my daughter started transitional kindergarten, I could not sleep. I tossed and turned from side to side and wondered restlessly how my child was going to react to this major transition and milestone. How is she going to behave? How am I going to leave her there?
 
I woke up as if from a nightmare with a pounding heart and sweating. While sitting up in bed trying to regulate my breathing and regain my calm, I tried to figure out the cause of my distress.
 
I realized that I worried about leaving my girl with strangers (even if professionals) who do not know her. They do not know what scares her and what can help her calm. They do not know that she needs time to get used to new places and situations. That she needs time to think before she gives an answer…...
About the Author
Dr. Shulamit Natan Ritblatt, Professor Emerita in the Department of Child & Family Development at San Diego State University, is an expert in early childhood social-emotional development, focusing on family engagement, mental health, learning readiness, prevention, and early intervention, utilizing relational, reflective, and trauma-informed practices to support the healthy development of children and their families. 

She is the founder and CEO of delibrainy LLC https://delibrainy.com/ a company that provides research-based bilingual programs and services to support the social-emotional wellness and learning readiness of young children. She created the Circle of Education® http://www.circleofeducation.com/, a social-emotional wellness, family engagement, learning readiness, and behavioral health program for young children birth to 8. She is the author of multiple articles and books, her most recent being, “From Trauma to Resiliency: Trauma-Informed Practices for Working with Children, Families, Schools, and Communities.”