The Foreign Service Journal, December 2013

88 DECEMBER 2013 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT returns from an out-of-town experience. For example, the day after returning from summer camp may not be the best day to schedule an evaluation. Instead, have your child wait a day and rest prior to the evaluation. 5. Make sure your child is well-fed and hydrated. A good breakfast and plenty to drink prior to the evaluation are important. Ask the evaluator if your child can bring along a snack and beverage, as well. Some children benefit greatly from having a break time to get a snack. After the Evaluation The feedback session is one of the most important aspects of the evaluation. It provides you an opportunity not only to hear the results, but ask questions. Ask any question that you may have, and bring something to take notes. If it makes you more comfortable, ask another family member to be present to make sure you understand all of the information that is given to you. Depending on his or her age, there may be a feedback session for your child, as well. By the time children are in middle school, they are often curious regarding their performance. They may also benefit from hearing that they are capable students, but simply require accommodations, different study strategies or certain interventions to help them be as successful as possible. You will also receive a written report, and should read through it several times If it makes you more comfortable, ask another family member to be present to make sure you understand all of the information that is given to you. Continued from p. 84 From the FSJ Education Supplement June 2011 Promoting Your Child’s Emotional Health BY REBECCA GRAPPO D espite the spread of globalization and the sharp increase in the size of the American expatriate population around the world, a clear understanding of the emotional and psychological demands and implications of an internationally mobile lifestyle—for children, in particu- lar—is still at a premium. And, at one time or another, most Foreign Service par- ents ask themselves the same questions: What am I doing to my kid? Is this globally nomadic lifestyle a good thing or a bad thing? There are no right or wrong answers to these ques- tions; but there are ways to protect and promote the emotional well-being and resilience of internationally mobile children. This is excerpted from the article by the same title by Rebecca Grappo, an FS spouse and certified educational planner. The complete article can be accessed online at www.afsa.org/educationarticles.