Family Journal IIIFamily Journal III

Introduction for the New Introduction for the New TeacherTeacher

Casey O’BrienCasey O’Brien

MichaelMichael

►Michael is a 17 year old sophomore in Michael is a 17 year old sophomore in H.S.H.S.

►He lives with a traditional familyHe lives with a traditional family Father, mother, and two sisters (18 & 15)Father, mother, and two sisters (18 & 15)

►Parents both work (his mother works in Parents both work (his mother works in special education)special education)

►One sister is a senior and the other a One sister is a senior and the other a freshmanfreshman

Michael – Educational HistoryMichael – Educational History

►Diagnosed around 3 years old with Diagnosed around 3 years old with autismautism

►Switched schools a few times early on Switched schools a few times early on due to lack of services availabledue to lack of services available

►Has been at his current school system Has been at his current school system since the 6since the 6thth grade grade

Educational History – cont.Educational History – cont.

►At 13 the school requested he attend At 13 the school requested he attend the high schoolthe high school Parents believe this was one of the best Parents believe this was one of the best

decisions they had ever madedecisions they had ever made He was larger than his peers so his size He was larger than his peers so his size

and development was similar to the high and development was similar to the high school studentsschool students

Had P.E. everyday, interacted, and lost Had P.E. everyday, interacted, and lost weightweight

Educational History – cont.Educational History – cont.

►High SchoolHigh School He is well liked in schoolHe is well liked in school Most students stick up for him because Most students stick up for him because

they have come to know him through his they have come to know him through his sisterssisters

He participates in some general education He participates in some general education classes such as choir where a peer takes classes such as choir where a peer takes him to choir class and backhim to choir class and back

Michael - StrengthsMichael - Strengths

►Michael is very good at solving Michael is very good at solving problemsproblems He likes to fix electronicsHe likes to fix electronics

►He works well on computers and other He works well on computers and other electronic deviceselectronic devices

►He enjoys pleasing others and will go He enjoys pleasing others and will go out of his way to do soout of his way to do so

Michael - InterestsMichael - Interests

►SwimmingSwimming►Videos/moviesVideos/movies

He loves BarneyHe loves Barney

►Christmas – Santa and RudolphChristmas – Santa and Rudolph►He can spend all day playing in bounce He can spend all day playing in bounce

houseshouses►Michael loves eating chicken nuggets Michael loves eating chicken nuggets

with chipswith chips

Michael – DislikesMichael – Dislikes

►He does not like the outdoorsHe does not like the outdoors His mother believes it has to do with the His mother believes it has to do with the

soundssounds

►Birds, chickens, & geeseBirds, chickens, & geese His mother believes the unpredictability of His mother believes the unpredictability of

them flying over his head bothers himthem flying over his head bothers him

►StormsStorms►RidesRides►VegetablesVegetables

Michael – Life SkillsMichael – Life Skills

►He can make some food and prepare He can make some food and prepare drinks for himselfdrinks for himself

►Shower independently Shower independently ►Shave, use the restroom, & brushes Shave, use the restroom, & brushes

his teethhis teeth►Dresses himselfDresses himself

Michael – Self-managementMichael – Self-management

►He is very systematicHe is very systematic He likes things in particular ordersHe likes things in particular orders

►He is great at following schedulesHe is great at following schedules Write out a schedule for him and he will Write out a schedule for him and he will

follow itfollow it

►Good with following listsGood with following lists

Michael – Community Michael – Community Participation and Participation and

Recreation/LeisureRecreation/Leisure►Michael and his family are very active in Michael and his family are very active in

their churchtheir church They go Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s, and They go Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s, and

Sunday’sSunday’s Michael goes to Sunday schoolMichael goes to Sunday school

►He participates in activities and pays attention He participates in activities and pays attention very wellvery well

►Best Buddy’sBest Buddy’s Michael’s favorite part of this program is Michael’s favorite part of this program is

participating in the parade with his buddyparticipating in the parade with his buddy

Michael – Academic Skills and Michael – Academic Skills and InvolvementInvolvement

►Enjoys choirEnjoys choir His sisters are great supports at school, His sisters are great supports at school,

but he can get worked up and excited to but he can get worked up and excited to be around thembe around them

►He loves his job at the school library He loves his job at the school library stacking booksstacking books

►He has functional math skillsHe has functional math skills Sometimes he needs support making Sometimes he needs support making

sense of numberssense of numbers

Michael Academic Skills and Michael Academic Skills and InvolvementInvolvement

►He loves reading books He loves reading books Dr. Seuss are his favoritesDr. Seuss are his favorites

►He likes performing any tasks that He likes performing any tasks that have to do with technology have to do with technology

Michael – Motor and Mobility Michael – Motor and Mobility SkillsSkills

►He has good mobility and motor skillsHe has good mobility and motor skills He had surgery to correct bowing when he He had surgery to correct bowing when he

was younger that has helped his legswas younger that has helped his legs

Michael – Teaching Strategies Michael – Teaching Strategies and Supportsand Supports

►His family is very involved with himHis family is very involved with him His mother and father are very His mother and father are very

knowledgeable about process and are knowledgeable about process and are active participants in his educationactive participants in his education

His sisters are equally involved and are His sisters are equally involved and are great supports at schoolgreat supports at school►Their involvement increases his social skills Their involvement increases his social skills

and relationships through interactions with and relationships through interactions with their friendstheir friends

Michael – Teaching Strategies Michael – Teaching Strategies and Supportsand Supports

►He is no longer on medication for He is no longer on medication for aggressionaggression He has improved about self-regulating his He has improved about self-regulating his

behaviorbehavior If he becomes upset have him walk to calm If he becomes upset have him walk to calm

him downhim down

►Add as much technology possible Add as much technology possible He loves working on computers and is more He loves working on computers and is more

engaged when activities involve themengaged when activities involve them

Michael – Teaching Strategies Michael – Teaching Strategies and Supportsand Supports

►He can become frustrated when He can become frustrated when working on difficult tasksworking on difficult tasks Some support may be needed to help him Some support may be needed to help him

work through themwork through them However, he does like solving problems, However, he does like solving problems,

so letting him stay involved is importantso letting him stay involved is important

Family InvolvementFamily Involvement

►Keep the family involved in his Keep the family involved in his progress, successes, and difficultiesprogress, successes, and difficulties They are great about continuing his They are great about continuing his

education at homeeducation at home

►They are concerned about his They are concerned about his transition from high school to post-transition from high school to post-educationeducation Continue to work with them to identify Continue to work with them to identify

goals and solutionsgoals and solutions