IEP meeting prep

IEP meetings and such can really be a very intimidating and stressful time for parents/caregivers.  I have heard so many stories, and often can see the anxiety parents carry over IEP meetings, in particular.  That's not to say that they are all terrible, though.  I know many wonderful teachers who are very much invested in their sweet students, and come to meetings with their best interest in mind as well.  Sometimes, though, effective communication and general understanding of needs/goals/etc can be difficult. 

In searching the web on "IEP meeting tips/preparation", I found some good resources out there so be sure to do your research beforehand.  I came upon some video segments (which had checklists to accompany them), and was excited to suggest these as a resource for some of my parents UNTIL I realized that these were more geared toward and catered around laws and such that don't necessarily apply to our state.  So, be sure to make note of that in your own research to be sure the info is applicable to your area.

I do want to mention the option of having an advocate help you with preparation for meetings (and even to be present with you in the meeting).  Below is the name and contact information of an advocate I know of who recently presented on IEPs and advocacy at the same seminar which I was presenting (on Music Therapy for Children with Autism).  Kelly had lots of great pointers and tips (see below for some of those).  Kelly is advocate of one of my clients, actually, and my client's mother mentioned how great it was to have an advocate present in the IEP meeting (and in helping with preparation as well). 

Kelly L. Herrick, LPN, BS
(843) 330-2709
enchantedacreshorses@yahoo.com
(Kelly is also a pediatric nurse and director of the Exceptional Rider Program at Enchanted Acres)

Kelly's IEP tips:

• Request a draft of the IEP if possible (b/f the meeting)
• Request a copy of educational testing, data used to assist with the preparation of the IEP
• Be prepared! Be on time!
• Prepare an agenda that will address all of your concerns
• Compile a brief written list of items you would like the team to review.  Submit it to the appropriate school district representative in advance of the meeting
• Do not feel rushed to sign the IEP.  You can always take the IEP home to go over prior to signing it
• Read the minutes/summary notes and ensure they are correct
• Send a follow up letter stating all that you understood to be offered and request that IEP team notify you in writing if anything is incorrect
• Follow up!

I know it's the summertime, and it's nice to not have to think about IEPs for the moment, but this will help you when you begin IEP preparation during the school year  ... don't let it sneak up on you!

Jessica

a school social story

You have heard me mention the use of social stories.  Carol Gray has many wonderful social stories that I highly recommend.  (Search her on this site for blog postings on her). 

Anyhow, I have created a school social story (click on link to view and/or print).  Included are pictures to go with each scenario mentioned.  This is a good tool to implement when a child is being first introduced to school, returning from summer break or a holiday, or when he/she is demonstrating anxiety related to going to school.  This could help to prepare and acclimate your child. 

You may want to introduce this in a fun way ... in a song, a game, a story, a chant ... keep in mind what would work for your child.  Remember to build positive associations.

After introducing this, you may want to review it on a consistent basis (it can become a morning ritual).  You may even want to print and laminate a copy for your child to keep with him/her.

Feel free to contact me for other ideas on how to implement this.
Jessica

Music Therapy and Special Education

MUSIC THERAPY AND SPECIAL EDUCATION

* Music Therapy is considered a related service under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
* When music therapy is deemed necessary to assist a child benefit from his/her special education, goals are documented on the Individualized Education Program (IEP) as a related service intervention.
* Music therapy can be an integral component in helping the child with special needs attain educational goals identified by his/her IEP team.
* Music therapy interventions can address development in cognitive, behavioral, physical, emotional, and social skills. Music therapy can also facilitate development in communication and sensorimotor skills.
* Music therapy can offer direct or consultant services as determined by the individual needs of the child.
* Music therapists can support special education classroom teachers by providing effective ways to incorporate music into their academic curriculum.
* Music therapy involvement can stimulate attention and increase motivation to participate more fully in other aspects of the educational setting.
* Music therapy interventions apply the inherent order of music to set behavioral expectations, provide reassurance, and maintain structure for children with special needs.
* Music therapy can adapt strategies to encourage a child’s participation in the least restrictive environment.

-American Music Therapy Association, Inc.

School Preparation

Good afternoon!
I have mentioned this resource in a previous blog, but wanted to mention it again as it relates specifically to back to school preparation. The book entitled Social Skills Activities for Special Children (by Darlene Mannix) includes several school related concepts.

Today, I am not simply referring to cognitive based concepts (teaching cognitive skill), but rather, am referring to activities that teach/familiarize the child with classroom/school expectations, appropriate behavior in classrooms/cafeteria/bus, schedule of events in school, and purposes of various school related activities and persons.

As mentioned previously, activities in this book include applicable worksheets, pictures, lists, etc. Implementing some of these activities prior to the start of school is a great way to prepare your child. We should be cautious not to overwhelm the child with numerous activities from the book (although there are lots of good ones) as this may result in increased school related anxiety. This would go against our purpose here of trying to increase confidence and feelings of security related to school. I would simply pick a couple of the most pertinent activities (those that pertain to your child the most and/or those areas in which your child needs the most preparation). I would do only one of these activities at a time/per day. Again, make this as enjoyable as possible.

Some examples of the kinds of activities I am referring to in this book include Entering the Classroom, The Bus Driver, Special Teachers (library, computer lab, PE, music, etc), When the Teacher is Talking, Getting the Teacher's Attention, The School Counselor, among others.

Jessica

NOTE: Jessica Grooms is in no way responsible or involved in your ordering process of any materials recommended or listed here. Ordering materials is done independently by you.

School Fun

Yesterday we spoke a little on the subject of back to school preparation. In light of that, I am posting this list of school-related jokes that you can share with your child. This is another way of building positive associations with school as well as getting them back into thinking about school. This may also help with some of the anxieties a child may have relating to school. Are you ready? Here we go ... have fun!


Q: What did the ground say to the earthquake?
A: You crack me up!

Q: Why did the music teacher need a ladder?
A: To reach the high notes.

Q: What kind of plates do they use on Venus?
A: Flying saucers!

Q: How do you get straight A's?
A: By using a ruler!

Q: What did the pen say to the pencil?
A: "So, what's your point!"

Q: Why did the kid study in the airplane?
A: Because he wanted a higher education!

Q: How did the music teacher get locked in the classroom?
A: His keys were inside the piano!

Q: What do elves learn in school?
A: The elf-abet!

Q: What did you learn in school today?
A: "Not enough, I have to go back tomorrow!"

Q: Why did the teacher wear sunglasses?
A: Because his class was so bright!

Q: What object is king of the classroom?
A: The ruler!

Q: Why were the teacher's eyes crossed?
A: She couldn't control her pupils!

Q: When do astronauts eat?
A: At launch time!

Q: What did the pencil sharpener say to the pencil?
A: Stop going in circles and get to the point!

Q: How does the barber cut the moon's hair?
A: E-clipse it!

Jessica

Preparing Your Child for "BACK TO SCHOOL"

Summer break is notorious for late nights, loose schedules, and coming/going with the wind. Oh how we love summer break! As the beginning of a new school year approaches, it is a good idea to begin to prepare our children before the actual day before school. It is tricky, really, because on one hand you don't want your child to feel as though his/her summer break is being cut short. On the other hand, you want to make the transition into a new school year as smooth and easy on your child as possible (whether or not he/she sees it as that).

With this in mind, I think the delivery on this is very important. Implement some or all of the strategies below, but do so in a manner that does not imply a count down to doomsday. For instance, remind your child that even when school starts, his/her summer is not over. There will still be days of pool/beach fun, picnics in the park, fishing/crabbing, playing in the sprinkler on the front lawn, and so on. Reminding my own child of these things has always gone a long way in helping him to not dread the start of school so much. Below are some tips that I have always recommended. Again, remember the delivery!

TIPS for BACK TO SCHOOL transitioning:

1) At least one week prior to the start of school, begin scaling back your child's bedtime. Why not just start this a couple days before school starts? Well, your child's body clock needs time to adjust to a new bedtime and arise time.

2) If you find that your child's diet and eating habits have significantly changed with the summer (i.e. drinking more cokes, eating more junk, eating at non-meal and non-snack times during the day, consuming more sugar/candy), begin to get your child back on a more healthy way of eating that is more conducive to helping your child to be attentive, less impulsive, and better able to concentrate in school.

3) Also, begin having more structured eating times (whether snacks or meals). Try finding out what time your child will be having lunch at school this year, and begin giving your child his/her lunch at that time 1-2 weeks prior to school. That way your child will not have those distracting hunger pains in class before lunch.

4) Be aware of any comments your child makes related to his/her feelings about going back to school. Recognize any anxieties he/she may be experiencing and offer advise to either help him/her feel prepared and/or soothe his/her concerns. It may be a situation in which your child simply needs some reassuring words or it may be a situation where he/she needs a step by step plan to implement.

5) If able, when shopping for school supplies, allow your child to pick out something extra (not on the supplies list) for school. This may be a special pack of pencils/pens, a cool notebook for writings/HW log, a cool binder, etc. Put the item(s) aside for school (do not allow these to be used beforehand). That way your child will look forward to using the item which will, in some small way at least, help him/her to look forward to school.

6) Plan a "Back to School" activity with your child for him/her to look forward to. Key word here is 'PLAN', letting your child know ahead of time (not just the day before ... give him/her the chance to look forward to the activity/associate this 'fun' with back to school). You may decide to cook your child's favorite meal for dinner on the first day of school. Or, you may decide that you will plan something special for the weekend after the first week of school.

7) Be sure to have your child's school preparations ahead of time so that there is as little last minute chaos as possible. This would include clothes shopping, school supply shopping, organizing, etc. This helps your child feel prepared, and as a result, more secure about starting school. Sometimes we have to wait on certain things such as buying a book bag or school clothes as our budgets allow so just be sure to prepare what you are able to ahead of time.

8) If your child faces a special need and/or set of circumstances which affect his/her learning or school experience, I encourage you to read up on materials which offer assistance, advise, and/or strategies for these. There are so many wonderful materials out there! The Internet is one (be sure to always check the source, though!). Also, go to your local bookstore and look in either the "Special Needs/Special Education" or "Psychology" sections. We parents always want the best for our children, and often times (without realizing it) put it all on ourselves to come up with the answers and remedies. Let these wonderful resources help you!

Here are some other great tips from other resources:

9) Decorate and embellish. As a craft project, let your child decorate his school notebooks. Have stickers, markers, colorful paper, crayons, and other craft items available. Encourage your child to personalize their school supplies. Not only will your child enjoy the process and create something they like to look at, they will also be able to easily spot their items.

10) Young children always feel more comfortable if they know what to expect. Before the new school year begins, family members can explain to children how their daily routines will change. Precisely describe what the morning routines will be in age-appropriate terms. Some children may enjoy creating a pictorial chart to include each step of the morning schedule.
- National Association for the Education of Young Children

11) Try getting up earlier a couple of days before the new school year begins and explain why you're doing it. This may prevent your child from being confused, groggy, cranky, or refusing to get out of bed on the first day of the new program.
- National Association for the Education of Young Children

Hope these help!

Jessica

Social Skills Activities for Special Children

Hello and Happy Thursday! There is a book that I have thumbed through various times before, and it has remained on my 'wish list' of work related items. I have been a fan of this book, and have had the opportunity to implement some of the activities in the past, however, I am so glad to have my own copy of the entire book! The book, which I ordered through my local bookstore, is called Social Skills Activities for Special Children (Second Edition) by Darlene Mannix. The author has taught both general and special education, and has written several best-selling books for special educators.

Upon first thumbing through the book, I began to wonder if the activities were really only for the classroom, however, I quickly thought otherwise. This book is brimming with a great variety of very applicable activities and focuses that apply to various environments (not just for school use). Although I am a therapist and not a teacher, I am so glad for the sections of the book which are more specific to classroom/school related subjects and environments. The reason being is that I often times work with my clients (when applicable to the client) on peer and school related behaviors, schedules, and other endeavors. This provides me with great material for these activities.

Nearly every activity included in this book also has a worksheet that goes along with it. I loved this! The main activity focus topics include Understanding the Teacher's Role, Classroom Rules and Responsibilities, When You Have Problems, Learning and Working with Others, Making Friends, Keeping Friends, Understanding Social Situations, Positive Personality Attributes, Getting Along with Others at Home, Everyday Etiquette, and Relating Appropriately to Other School People. Each of these topics has a long list of wonderful activities to go along with it.

Many of the activity worksheets include visuals such as pictures of scenarios and/or word bubbles, and are somewhat like reading a comic. I am anxious to Hmmm ... did I mention that already? :)

I encourage you to click on the link above so that you may take a look inside the book at some sample activities as well as the activity lists in the table of contents. I will say, though, that the sample activity worksheets that you do get to see (on that site) do not give you a very good idea/representation of the visuals included in many of the activities. Just know that they are there.

Have a great day!

Jessica

NOTE: Jessica Grooms is in no way responsible or involved in your ordering process of any materials recommended or listed here. Ordering materials is done independently by you.