Just For Teachers

Tips For Teachers:

Help A Child Return To School
After Being Diagnosed With Cancer

For The Hospitalized Child

• Maintain active contact with the student (phone calls/letters/recorded messages)
• Provide classroom opportunities for students to understand cancer and the child's treatment
• Arrange for the school reentry team to make a classroom presentation (if possible)
• Send classroom/school cards/greetings to the student
• Include the student in classroom activities
• Keep other classmates updated with the child's progress, when appropriate
• Provide opportunities for the child to participate or contribute to classroom projects
• Allow older students and adolescents to determine "what" and "how much" information can be shared with classmates
• Assist and communicate with the student's tutor
• Provide distance learning via computer/video camera, when available

For The Child's Return (General)

• School Reentry Team's Classroom Presentation and/or Faculty Presentation
• Review the Student's Individualized Educational Plan, "I.E.P." , if necessary
• Discuss comprehensive evaluation with the child's parents if warranted. ( Children with cancer are covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and/or 504 of the Rehabilitation Act "other health impairment")
• Communicate with student/staff/parents/health care team
• Prepare classmates for the student's return (changes in appearance: weight gain or loss, scars, casts, wheelchairs etc.)
• Maintain contact with Parents (daily logs, phone calls, progress reports)

Classroom Accommodations

• Determine which accommodations would be appropriate (e.g. extended test time, extended completion time, fewer assignments, separate testing area)
• Implement modifications, be sure not to single the student out, do not place unnecessary restrictions
• Offer innovative learning strategies (e.g. audio cassettes to assist with reading
• Provide adequate time to transfer from class to class (elevator pass if necessary)
• Do not punish the student for poor handwriting
• Help organize the student's notebook, keep log of daily assignments
• Use the "buddy system" to review assignments
• Allow the student to sit up front
• Allow the student to have bathroom, water, and/or snack breaks as necessary
• Allow the student to wear hats, bandannas, hair pieces (waive the no cap policy)
• Offer the student a quiet place to rest, if needed
• If necessary, modify physical education class

For more information please click on to school reentry program . Please refer to available community resources for additional information.