Try This Tuesday: School Starts How Soon?

August 19, 2008 · 6 comments

in Autism, Daily Life, My Little Guy, Strategies

Wow, less than a week until kindergarten starts! Michael is a bit nervous about it; he has been doing his little hair twirling thing for the last few days, and I haven’t noticed that since he finished preschool in June.

Pop on over to 5 Minutes for Special Needs to see one strategy I implemented to help him get ready for this new adventure.

Laura August 19, 2008 at 5:06 pm: You’re a great mom and that was a great idea!

Here is a Transition Checklist that is always added to my son’s IEP.

The Transition Checklist is in the book: Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence: Practical Solutions for School Success by Brenda Smith Myles, 2001, p. 128 and 129.

Check all that applies to your child and put in the IEP.

You might want to add the following to the Transition Checklist if your child needs them:

Under Transition Planning Meeting:

1. Determine who will provide assistance for student when the bus arrives as school, particularly on the first day and to the bus at the end of the day.
2. Determine who will provide assistance with AM preparation, changing of classes, lunch, afternoon packing before getting on the bus in middle school.
3. Determine who will provide student with a visual schedule for the day as well as one for the morning and afternoon procedures.
4. ALL teachers will be given a copy of Accommodations and Modifications that are in the IEP.

Under Training for School Personnel:

1. Schedule several observations and done at different times of the day by an Asperger Syndrome Specialist for help with strategies and modifications in the classroom when needed. A meeting after observations will be given to discuss strategies and modifications with teachers and parents.

Under Student Orientation:

1. Obtain books for home use.
2. Place to store books in classroom.
3. Obtain agenda book to put in students binder.
4. Obtain school supplies list.
5. Obtain locker by home base and put bicycle lock on it. Practice with lock.
6. Bus procedures written up and explained to student.
7. Student will meet school personnel whom they can approach during the lunch period when encountering problems.
8. Show student where his assigned seat in the lunchroom will be (a quiet table).
9. Obtain gym locker near adult supervision and put bicycle lock on it. Practice with lock.
10. Practice dressing out for P.E. (obtain gym clothes)
11. Student will meet safe person and visit home base.
12. The Travel Pass and the procedure of its use explained, written up, and given to student before school starts. (Have time limit on use).
13. Obtain bus drivers name, bus number, and what time pick up and drop off is. Be sure bus driver knows that student is to sit directly behind him. Provide the bus driver information on the specific behavioral and emotional concerns of student.

Reply
Laura August 19, 2008 at 1:06 pm: You’re a great mom and that was a great idea!

Here is a Transition Checklist that is always added to my son’s IEP.

The Transition Checklist is in the book: Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence: Practical Solutions for School Success by Brenda Smith Myles, 2001, p. 128 and 129.

Check all that applies to your child and put in the IEP.

You might want to add the following to the Transition Checklist if your child needs them:

Under Transition Planning Meeting:

1. Determine who will provide assistance for student when the bus arrives as school, particularly on the first day and to the bus at the end of the day.
2. Determine who will provide assistance with AM preparation, changing of classes, lunch, afternoon packing before getting on the bus in middle school.
3. Determine who will provide student with a visual schedule for the day as well as one for the morning and afternoon procedures.
4. ALL teachers will be given a copy of Accommodations and Modifications that are in the IEP.

Under Training for School Personnel:

1. Schedule several observations and done at different times of the day by an Asperger Syndrome Specialist for help with strategies and modifications in the classroom when needed. A meeting after observations will be given to discuss strategies and modifications with teachers and parents.

Under Student Orientation:

1. Obtain books for home use.
2. Place to store books in classroom.
3. Obtain agenda book to put in students binder.
4. Obtain school supplies list.
5. Obtain locker by home base and put bicycle lock on it. Practice with lock.
6. Bus procedures written up and explained to student.
7. Student will meet school personnel whom they can approach during the lunch period when encountering problems.
8. Show student where his assigned seat in the lunchroom will be (a quiet table).
9. Obtain gym locker near adult supervision and put bicycle lock on it. Practice with lock.
10. Practice dressing out for P.E. (obtain gym clothes)
11. Student will meet safe person and visit home base.
12. The Travel Pass and the procedure of its use explained, written up, and given to student before school starts. (Have time limit on use).
13. Obtain bus drivers name, bus number, and what time pick up and drop off is. Be sure bus driver knows that student is to sit directly behind him. Provide the bus driver information on the specific behavioral and emotional concerns of student.

Reply
Rickismom August 20, 2008 at 12:05 am: A digital camera is my best friend! Any activity that Ricki does, any outing, any family gathering, gets photographed. Than I can instantly use those pics for :
Reading
writing sentences
speech work

Reply
Rickismom August 19, 2008 at 8:05 pm: A digital camera is my best friend! Any activity that Ricki does, any outing, any family gathering, gets photographed. Than I can instantly use those pics for :
Reading
writing sentences
speech work

Reply
Elizabeth Channel August 20, 2008 at 10:05 am: Oh how I remember those feelings right before the first day of Kindergarten. I hope it goes incredibly well, and I’ll be thinking about both of you.

On a lighter note, I tagged you for a major award! See my blog when you have a moment. No rush.

Sorry about the dental discomfort. Yuck!

Reply
Elizabeth Channel August 20, 2008 at 6:05 am: Oh how I remember those feelings right before the first day of Kindergarten. I hope it goes incredibly well, and I’ll be thinking about both of you.

On a lighter note, I tagged you for a major award! See my blog when you have a moment. No rush.

Sorry about the dental discomfort. Yuck!

Reply