Communication with School, Structuring Homework Time and Other Tips for the Start of the School Year
• Presenter: Bernice Thompson
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 757-2281
Vestal Family Training Mission Statement
Parents will be provided with opportunities to meet regularly with other parents and professionals in a group setting. The Vestal Family Training Program will provide parents with information about child
development, and appropriate information regarding Autism Spectrum Disorders. Also, the program will
assist parents to understand the needs of their child.
New Beginnings
Tips for Starting Out the
School Year
Get Organized
Organize notebooks and folders- Color Code- Label
Organize your own notebook- IEP - Tests/Graded Work- Meeting Notes - Behavioral Log- Doctor Notes - Bus Notes- Important Contact Numbers- Teacher/Therapist Notes
Meet With Teachers
Elementary
-African Rd. 757-2311
-Clayton Ave. 757-2271
-Glenwood 757-2391
-Tioga Hills 757-2366
-Vestal Hills 757-2357
Meet With Teachers
Middle School
- Meetings are arranged through the
guidance office.
757-2335 757-2336 757-2337
Meet with Teachers
High School
- Meet with your child’s Special Education Teacher 757-2281
- Group meeting with all teachers - Arranged through guidance 757-2214
- Distribute letter to teachers
Introductory Letter to TeachersImportance
Opens communication
Allows for greater detail than in IEP
Helps to provide consistency between home and school
Introductory Letter to Teachers
What to Include
Child’s likes/dislikes Strategies you or previous teachers
have found helpful Your concerns, comments, questions Behavioral needs/concerns Sensory needs/difficulties Contact information
Other Ways to Communicate with the Teacher or Therapists
Home-school notebook Email Notes Phone calls Team meeting – monthly/quarterly Volunteer
*Tip: Ask how therapists and teacher are collaborating
What to Communicate
Provide Information
Overview of child Ongoing updates Changes (sleep, attitude, diet,
medications) Medical issues Additional therapies
Seek Information
About teachers Daily activities About child’s day How you can support your child at home
Too much information can be difficult to convey on daily basis
Email tends to be the easiest and most convenient way to receive and convey information
What to Communicate
What to Communicate
Share Data
From Home Evaluations Notes and observations from others
Be Proactive
Don’t let concerns build Establish regular communication Request feedback
Is it possible to have too many meetings, or to share too much
information?
Yes, if it is not serving the purpose to help your child progress
Yes, if it takes away from prioritizing needs
Yes, because too much can lead to overwhelming feelings and/or mistrust
Don’t Forget to Talk with the Bus Driver!
Roger Warren, Supervisor of Transportation
757-2251
Look for Social Opportunities
ElementaryTry to get list of classmates to
arrange play dates
SecondaryTry to get information on extra
curricular activities in the school
Establish Good Morning and Afternoon Routines
Mornings: Get up at the same time daily Follow each step the same (shower,
dress, hair, breakfast, teeth, shoes, coat, bus)
Afternoons: Have a time and place to relax and
another to do homework Have a reinforcing activity to do after
homework
Look for Areas to Build Independence
Getting dressed Making bed Making lunch Packing book bag
Use visuals, checklists, chaining
Schedules
Create a daily school schedule for your child
List academics, specials, lunch, recess, bus
Discuss how changes may have to be made
Teacher may be able to help develop such a schedule
Stressed by the Start of the School Year?
Reminders of ways to de-stress:
Exercise Connect with others Visualization Mantra/Affirmation Take breaks and “recharge” Create a calm environment
Amidst All the School Chaos
Try to be relaxed and positive
Your child will feed off of your energy.
A Survival Guide to:
Homework
Benefits of Homework
1. Improves academic achievement
2. Develops good study
habits
3. Teaches time management
Benefits of Homework
4. Develops self-discipline and independence
5. Develops responsibility and accountability
6. Provides an appropriate intervention
for students with diverse needs
Benefits of Homework
7. Provides a meaningful communication
link between home and school
8. Integrates the efforts of school and
home
9. Provides preparation for study, practice
in skills, and extension of knowledge
Opposing Views of Homework
Unhealthy; can deprive kids of outdoor play and sunshine
Young children have limit to amount they can learn through self-study
Can create anxiety,
increased frustration, lower self-esteem
Opposing Views of Homework
Socially undesirable
Impacts family time
Can interfere with other activities and sleep
Homework Strategies - Planning -
Schedules and routines
Motivation
Location
Timers
Breaks
Work System
Getting Started
Provide help with: Organization of materials Attention/focus
Once child gets going: Allow independence where possible Teach when errors are made rather
than “fix”
When Frustration Occurs
Model appropriate behavior when frustrated
Provide a break with sensory outlet
Skip problem and go back to it later
Call teacher if possible/email/write a note to the teacher
A Note About Frustration
* When child is at frustration level, ability to learn greatly diminishes.
* Sometimes you may just have to send the work back to school incomplete.
* Attach a note to the homework explaining the situation to the teacher. Working with the teacher, assignments may be modified to meet the needs of your child.
* Beware of doing the work for the child. This can increase acting out behaviors.
Other Homework Tips
Work with teacher/aide to get correct materials home
Home communication notebooks can help to clarify assignments
Check Blackboard or teacher internet sites
Larger assignments Start right away Help to organize
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