Communication with School, Structuring Homework Time and Other Tips for the Start of the School Year

• Presenter: Bernice Thompson

• Email: bpthompson@vestal.k12.ny.us

• 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