Some Thoughts About Working With The Schools

WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL

Our world has been changing, By that I mean we are just beginning to talk about Elizabeth’s transition from middle school to high school.  I find it exciting on one level and frightening on the other.  My thoughts go from ” I hope Elizabeth will be understood” to ” I hope that the new teacher and I will have the great relationship that I have now” to ” I am so happy to know how to advocate for my child”   The last skill has been one learned and fine tuned with the very experiences of my life with Elizabeth. Continue reading

A New School Year

Tuesday is our first day of school, I said in the entry before all the work it takes to prepare for a school year. but now that the year is starting I realize again all that will go into the school year. communication is the key to making good choices for your child. How can you really gauge how their day is going unless you are kept informed. How can you know what you need to follow-up with at home unless you are kept informed and above all how can you make any changes or adjustments unless you are kept informed. I used to think that the conference time was a good time to ask questions but then when you think about it those usually occur in last Fall somewhere in early November and by then the year is well underway and any changes or thoughts you could have done or said early on are now going to be done or heard near the holiday time. It is hard to affect a change, in my opinion, as the school nears the holiday time as the whole demeanor of the school and the children are entering holiday mode. You may have think about the mode you want to use to communicate: email, daily log sheets, notes each day…but think about starting early then your pattern is set before the year really gets underway So I guess as I see my Elizabeth getting herself mentally ready for the year and ready for day number one, I get myself ready also. Wishing you all a good beginning to the 2012-2013 school years….SEE YOU BACK SOON FOR MORE

New School Year Prep Is Done!!!!

I just finished organizing myself for the start of the new school year!! It takes a fair amount of organization for the average child to get ready to begin a new year but for a child with special needs it is even harder!! I feel I must stay 2 steps ahead of where she is. I think it is so important to let the teachers know what you have been able to accomplish since the summer began, I love to write down all the things we did in these 3 months, it helps them to know I also want the school to be made aware of any behavioral modifications I did this summer, such as in the case of a 15 year old, working with her to think before she speaks and to try to be appropriate in all situations. I know this may sound like something that will come naturally but with dyspraxia it does not naturally occur and we need to help Elizabeth think through situations and make proper choices. I am proud as ever of all she has learned this summer and I want to share it with the school for that reason and also to have everyone start the year on the same page and begin to work with even higher expectations for our beautiful child. GOOD COMMUNICATION IS KEY TO A GOOD YEAR! Best of luck to you for a good start to the new school year.. PLEASE COME BACK SOON FOR MORE