Whether through conducting
personal interviews or meetings with the parents or extended family,
reviewing school records, speaking with past teachers, speaking with
community agencies, or having direct discussions with the student, gaining
answers to the questions below will help you develop a picture of the
student’s world and the family and environment in which s/he was
raised:
1.
With whom does the child live
currently? (Both natural parents, single parent, foster family, relatives,
in a treatment center)
2.
Is there a step-parent,
boyfriend/girlfriend or other related or non-related adult living in the
home?
3.
If the child is living with a
single parent and partner, how often do the parent’s partner relationships
change?
4.
If the child does not live with
both natural parents, is one (or are both) in the area and available to
the child?
5.
If the natural parents are not
currently available to the child, where are they and
why?
6.
How many people are living in
the home and what are their relationships to the
child?
7.
Are there siblings or
step-siblings? Ages? Sex? Where are they living? Social, emotional, school
issues?
8.
How often does the child/family
move?
9.
Parent’s occupation? How steady
is parental employment?
10.
Is there a family history of
drug or alcohol use or abuse?
11.
Are any family members
diagnosed with any mental or educational disorders?
12.
Have any family members been on
prescribed medications for long-term physical or mental
illnesses?
13.
Have there been any deaths,
serious injuries, or significant traumatic experiences for the child or
family?
14.
Is the child or another family
member seeing a counselor or other treatment
professional?
15.
Has the child or family been
involved with the police, arrested, or involved in court
proceedings?
16.
Is there a history of social,
emotional, academic, or behavioral problems at
school?
17.
What is the parent’s view of
education and how does s/he get along with the child’s
school(s)?
This is by no means an
exhaustive list of questions that can be asked to gather information, but
the information we gather about a child’s home life, public life, family,
health, and education are all critical pieces that will help us gain a
better sense of what shaped the child’s world view and self view. This
information will aid us in the development of an effective intervention
plan. It will also help us recognize when a student is attempting to
script us or peers into certain roles, and we will be better able to plan
appropriate responses to these scripting attempts.