What's a hot topic for you right now?
On yesterday's live show these were 3 of the Hot Topics we talked about.
1. Tips for wrapping up the school year: Don't have next year's teachers re-invent the wheel.
Yes, moms and dads for many families the school year will be ending in the next couple months. Your kids will be bringing home backpacks with broken crayons, a half-empty glue bottle and other well-used school supplies.
AND guess what, there are some ways you can mine some gold nuggets of information from the staff that worked with your child this year, and share it with new staff next year. This is where the don't have next year's teachers reinvent the wheel comes in.
* Have a conversation with this year's staff and capture what worked well or ask the staff to write a summary of helpful tips for next year's teacher.
* Download a free eBook I wrote for you, Secrets Behind Successful Special Education Transitions: Preschool Through High School
2. Teacher-training for Trauma-Informed Care/Options to Crisis Prevention Institute
*Training for staff can be written in your child's IEP in the Supplementary Aids and Services section. Read on.
§300.320(a)(4) and stipulates that each child’s IEP must contain:
(4) A statement of the special education and related services and supplementary aids and services, based on peer-reviewed research to the extent practicable, to be provided to the
child, or on behalf of the child, and a statement of the program modifications or supports for school personnel that will be provided to enable the child—
(i) To advance appropriately toward attaining the annual goals;
(ii) To be involved in and make progress in the general education curriculum in accordance with paragraph (a)(1) of this section, and to participate in extracurricular and other nonacademic activities; and
(iii) To be educated and participate with other children with disabilities and nondisabled children in the activities described in this section… [§300.320(a)(4)]
*Recommended Resources:
Ukeru is a restraint-free, trauma-informed approach for individuals with complex mental health needs. Click here.
Lives in the Balance, Discover more about Dr. Ross Greene's Collaborative & Proactive Solutions. Click here. The Assessment of Lagging Skills and Unsolved Problems (ALSUP) is used in many schools that no longer use a deficit based lens when viewing children and their behavior.
Mona Delahooke's work helps us shift from seeking compliance to supporting a child's body-based and emotional needs with responsive relationships. Check out resources on her website. Click here.
Classroom180: A Framework for Creating, Sustaining, and Assessing the Trauma-Informed Classroom was developed by Heather Forbes. She provides training for parents and educators. Click here.
3. Vocational Rehabilitation Services for High Schools Students
We know when disabled individuals have the appropriate support and services they can be valuable employees. How are students eligible for Voc. Rehab. services? What can those services look like? Check out these resources.
* Other resources for high school students – Project Search prepares youth with intellectual disabilities for competitive employment. I'm Determined has a variety of transition guides to help students develop self-determination skills and to plan for their future after high school.
Check out the replay to hear more discussion on other hot topics like restraint and seclusion, how to verify if educators received the support promised, and
much more!
