Transitions
Transitions
Back to School Tips:
Remember the final goal is for your student to be happy, successful, & to function independently in today’s society. Preparing yourself & establishing a partnership with the child and his parents are the best way to achieve that goal.
Preparation & Tips for School Administrators & Educators in the Middle School Setting By Dr. Sheryl Kaufman Educational Journeys, LLC. (843) 342-9769 / (973) 714-4446
Educating a child with special needs can be a challenging but also extremely rewarding time! The essentials in making this a rewarding experience for all involved are communication, personal connections, and collaboration. Teachers and parents need to collaborate in designing programs that can challenge the child with special needs to build on the skills they have and develop the ones they lack. When you work together as a team, you will begin to see the child acquire life skills and knowledge, gain friendships, and achieve increased independence. When it is communicated to you that you will be receiving a child with special needs, make sure you are prepared, supported, and informed. Do some research into understanding autism or the special needs that the child may have. Ask if it is possible to set up a class taught by a special needs professional that may assist you in techniques.
Making sure you prepare for a rewarding experience includes: •
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Always understand the motto “If you’ve met one child with autism, you’ve met one child with autism”. This holds true with any special needs – what works for one student may not work for another. If the parents do not provide you with a portfolio, ask them for one to assist you. This includes a medical history, behavioral plan, goals and visions of the family for the child, motivators, likes and dislikes, samples of their work from the past year, etc. Take the time to read over the portfolio and ask as many questions as you feel may assist you.
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Provide incoming parents of middle school children with a background of yourself and your educational experiences.
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Ask that the parents provide any helpful titles of books and videos or websites about special needs, autism, sensory integration, or anything that they think may be helpful to you. Choose a reliable student to be a mentor and buddy to help create peer interaction and socialization.
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Make a point of getting to know the child. A personal connection is a must.
Ask for parental guidance with adaptations and modifications for the first week as you get to know their child.
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Keep in mind that you will need to closely monitor comprehension of material. Many students with autism excel at memorizing information without processing, generalizing, or understanding it.
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Meet often with parents and administration as a group. Build a support team to proactively and quickly solve problems. You should plan to meet at least monthly in the beginning of the year.
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Know and discuss parental expectations regarding their child such as homework and completing assignments.
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Decide the best method for quick and reliable communication between parents and school personnel. This could be in the form of a communication book, e-mailing, texting, or whatever works best for you and the parents collectively.
Hints for Setting Up Your Classroom & Teaching Methods: •
Keep it structured. Children with autism do best with a strict routine.
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Use visuals. Some children learn better by seeing what they are taught rather than by hearing it.
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Posting a schedule using pictures or text will help students understand what is happening next and ease the transition. Transitions can be tough.
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Reduce distractions. Try to keep your classroom as clutter-free as possible. Remember when dealing with the child’s behavior to look at your actions first. Choose your words wisely.
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Use rewards before consequences. Positive reinforcement always works better than negative and the child with special needs is no different.
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Try to use creative teaching. Think outside of the box – that is how most children with autism learn!
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Don’t sweat the small stuff. Choose your battles and always remember, misbehavior is not personal. Behavior is a method of communication and the child may be overstimulated and not know how to verbalize their needs to you in that moment.
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Establish independence slowly. Each child moves at their own pace.
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