Transitioning From Elementary School

to Highcrest Middle School

Special Education Services for Students With IEPs

March 6, 2018

Tonight’s Goals

● Put some faces to the names of the people helping the transition to HMS

● Help you understand how HMS works● Explain how special education services look● Give you a chance early on in this process to

ask questions● Take a tour of HMS (optional)

Introductions

Overview of Highcrest

● All students have ONE homeroom teacher● FOUR homerooms in a “house”

○ Core Academic Team○ Learning Behavior Specialist (LBS)

● Nine 40-minute class periods○ 5 Core Academics (Reading/Writing, Math,

Science, Social Studies)○ Physical Education○ Creative Arts (Music, Drama, Art, Digital Media,

Comp. Thinking, and Creative Communication)○ Academic Strategies/World Language

● Lunch/Recess (with only 5th graders)

Making a big school seem smaller

Example Schedules

Before Homeroom:

BandOrchestra

Chorus

Periods Homeroom Homeroom

1 Social Studies Social Studies

2 Creative Arts Creative Arts

3 Math ELA

4 Science ELA

5 Lunch Lunch

6 Physical Education Physical Education

7 Academic Strategies / World Language

Academic Strategies / World Language

8 ELA Math

9 ELA Science

Homeroom:

Every day in the AM

Communication● LBS and homeroom teacher (primarily)● Informational updates from homeroom

teacher● Frequent progress reports from House

(most are bi-weekly) ● Schoology = Website

○ Resources○ Class information○ Online Calendar

● Assignment Notebook

Special Education at Highcrest

● The models we will describe are about the services offered (not places)

● Services are not different than what is offered in the Elementary Schools

● What is different is how it looks within a student’s day

→ Further description of D39 Special Education Services can be found on the D39 Website under Student Services

Inclusion Classes● Co-Taught Classrooms where LBS collaborates

with general education teacher and provides instruction within the general education classroom

● Follows 5th grade curriculum; However, student needs drives instruction and delivery

● Accommodations & Modifications are also addressed as needed in the gen. ed. classroom

Essential Classes● Known to the adults as Instructional Classes: Offers

small group instruction for remediating academics in a self-contained setting

● Direct specialized instruction outside of general education with its own curriculum

● Offered in Reading, Writing, and Math→ based on student need and data

Supportive Model

● Designed to support students with emotional & behavioral needs as necessary

● May be ongoing or time limited for sensory breaks, instruction, or immediate crisis

● Supports students with management of behavior plans and completion of academic work

Comprehensive Model

● Offers a comprehensive program of academics, social and life skills

● Provides individualized support for instructional level learning goals

● Provides instruction for meaningful opportunities to expand social skills

Related Services● Per a student’s IEP, related services can include Speech,

Social Work, OT, or APE

● Related services are provided in therapy office and/or in gen. ed setting

● Related service providers pull from non-core classes and work closely with LBS

● Assistive Technology is support to personnel

● IEP team decision, supports may look different as Highcrest is a different setting but we will meet you child’s needs

Academic Strategies (AS)● In lieu of world language--what does this mean for your

student? ○ Daily for 40 minutes○ Taught by their LBS

■ Time for student to develop relationship with LBS○ Small groups of students

● Opportunity for pre-teaching, re-teaching, specialized instruction, executive functioning, and work completion

● Study strategies and skill building● Work on IEP goals● Work on academic assignments/projects/tests

** Students benefit from this important class in their day!

AS from Parent Perspectives

● “AS helped my son feel prepared to be successful in 5th grade. Having a daily period to check-in took a lot off of my plate, and eased my concerns as a parent”

● “We were also skeptical about him missing out on a Foreign Language because he was recommended to take Academic Strategies. As it turns out, he loves AS. He can get a head start on homework or study for an upcoming test all while in a small quiet group setting with peers similar to him”

AS from 5th graders’ perspectives● time to work on homework / time to ask questions● learning about study strategies is fun● get more individual attention because the class is small● get new ideas and strategies to help with taking tests● we get to take a break every now and then● we like being in class together so it’s nice to work together in AS● makes me less stressed about school because I have time to do work● learning new writing techniques (how to write complete sentences,

combining sentences)● learning test taking strategies● helping keep my binder clean and organized● reviewing what we do in class helps refresh my memory● lets me get a head start on my work and projects● help understand things, especially in science and social studies

“AS help me feel less stressed. And sometimes we have fun Fridays”

Let’s Learn More about AS

Re-evaluations• Every 3 years

• IEP team determines necessary components of the re-evaluation

• IEP team meets to review evaluation results and discuss educational needs

The Transition Process● Behind the scenes - Coordinators meet with 4th grade staff, set

up observations, review data, and discuss specific HMS programs

● Individual Transition meetings will begin in Spring● Specific Parent Requests: The HMS form will be sent out

after spring break● Elementary School visits during the day (End of Spring)● 5th grade Orientation: In August- the week before school

starts (meet Homeroom and tour school)● Opportunities for individual tours/visits can be arranged and/or

based on student need

Individual Transition Meeting● Elementary IEP team meets with a representative

from Highcrest to review current IEP

● Once student needs are established, team discusses supports needed at HMS

● Often this requires revisions to the IEP

● Student participation in World Language or Academic Strategies will be finalized at this meeting

Our Recommendations● Trust the transition process (a lot of us working for YOU)

but let us know what we can do → we are here for YOU!● Individual meetings are key→ bring your questions then!● It is only beg. of March→ don’t think too much about HMS

yet● Academic Strategies is extremely beneficial● Getting on Schoology early in the year is helpful / let your

child teach you about Schoology● Keep emphasizing with your kid, there is a lot of “NEW”

next year; a lot of “NEW” for everyone; a lot of the “NEW” is great and part of middle school!

● Get involved in activities in and out of HMS

Get Involved● Band/Orchestra/Chorus

○ Before School a couple days a week (awesome concerts throughout the year)

● PTO Clubs ○ Student Council, Service Over Self, Chess, Minecraft, Volleyball,

Art

● Science Olympiad● Sports

○ Cross Country, Wrestling, Track and Field

Everyone is new to HMS

● Transition is the focus of the first few days and weeks● Homework the first week: practice your lock● Helping students develop new friendships● Cafeteria - sit by homeroom● Learning the school / Meeting new teachers● Organization ● Learning the iPad● Learning Schoology

The rest of the evening…● 5th grade parents’ thoughts● Questions for us?● Tour of HMS

Linda Moric:moricl@wilmette39.orgThank you for coming!