Transition to High School: Tips for Success Sandy Kempf – Effective Practice Specialist for Transition Joann Noll Parent Education and Diversity Awareness

Learn at least one planning tool, idea or brainstorm that you can incorporate into your child’s transition plan to High School

What are you most concerned with regarding transition to High School? What do you hope to gain/learn from this training? Who’s in the room?

Anxiety Fear Withdrawal Anger from Life Changes: Growing through Personal Transition by Spencer and Adams.

Are difficult for everyone…disability or not Are going to happen Must be planned and organized Creates anxiety for everyone involved…including the student, parent, teacher, paraprofessional and administrators

Take a Deep Breath…It Will be Fine!!!!!

What to Consider/Do When Planning for High School

Relationship Building

Independence (accessing building, collecting materials and homework, etc.)

Self Advocacy

Self Regulation

Turn to your elbow partner and talk about what skills you learned in during High School that you use today!

Team Approach Long Term Vision Involve Your Child Will talk more about transition planning and IEP process later, also we offer Transition and the IEP Process Training

What are the class options? Work experience options? Technical School?

Reach out to: Other Students Counselor Special Education Teacher

High School textbooks Course outlines School website

Discipline Procedures School Code of Conduct

Dress Code Dismissal Procedure

You and Your Child Your Child with Staff Your Child with a Older Student Video Modeling

1) Walk their schedule 2) Find out if students actually use the lockers! 3) If so, make a plan for when they can stop by the locker 4) Become familiar with the Gym Locker Room – review the rules when changing 5) Summer School/ESY 6) Recreation Council

Bell schedules How much time allotted for transition between classes?

Cafeteria

Bus

Physical Education (P.E.)

Substitutes (teacher, bus, para)

Commons area procedure

Counselor, Principal or Special Ed Teacher’s room.

Hidden Curriculum

After School Activities

Dress for Success

Sometimes it’s not an If, but a When… Prepare so you can prevent

Attend New Parent Coffee Parents of Older Kids Parent Advisory Council (PAC) Me!

Intro Letter

Who the student is What are their strengths/interests/motivators Some things they should know Some interventions/accommodations/tricks that work Bottom line - What do they need to know off the bat for a successful school year

Special Considerations to Consider: Establishing Communication Style between Home and School Having receiving Team observe the student in 8 th grade

Arrange for quick 1:1 meeting with the student before the start of school Ask for a Team Meeting Before School Start or Shortly after it start to discuss accommodations and communication

Don’t Forget about: PE Teacher School Librarian Other Specialists Guidance Counselor

Don’t Forget about: Cafeteria Workers Bus Driver Front Office Staff

Peer Buddies Earlier Transition between Classes Preferential Locker Placement

 About dreams, hopes, strengths  Focuses on positive support systems  The Future’s Plan takes into consideration the student’s likes, interests and skills.  The Future’s Plan helps guide future IEPs.  Helps describe the support needed and designs a plan for getting that support by Involving outside agencies and supports in the community  Can look different ways to different people and that’s okay  No IEP team decisions or discussions are made.  More open-ended

A group of people getting together who know and care about your child and to share a vision of what their future should look like. Family, siblings, friends, staff, Regional Office Casemanager and other professionals can be a part of this experience. It is a time to share strengths, gifts and talents.

Before the student turns 16… We begin to develop an IEP that addresses transition from school to adult life. We identify POST-SECONDARY GOALS.

IEP Goal Examples to Reach the Post-Secondary Goals: Independence Reading Behavior Multi-Step Directions Social Skills

Social Skills: community outings, volunteering Independent living: alarm clocks, money management, homework, chores, restaurant orders Remember, appropriate social behaviors and independence are the most critical components to success!!!!!

Summer options – Recreation Council Overnight camp JCC and St. Louis ARC Volunteer Programs Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP) – 16+ Summer Jobs

High school inclusion: Equity and Excellence in an Inclusive Community of Learners Restructuring High School for All students Taking Inclusion to the Next Level. The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander From Pre-School to High School : how parents and teachers can help break the cycle of violence Inclusive High Schools Learning from Contemporary Classrooms Help 4 high school Practical Strategies for Including High school Students with Behavioral Disabilities A Buffet of Sensory Interventions Solutions for Middle and High school students with Autism Spectrum Disorders My Future, My Plan Teenagers with ADD and ADHD a Guide for Parents and Professionals

All My Life's a Circle Using the Tools: Circles, Maps and Path Miller’s MAP Rediscovering MAPS: Charting Your Journey & New MAPS Training Video: Shafik's MAP Facilitation for Inclusion with PATH & MAPS The PATH & MAPS Handbook: Person-Centered Ways to Build Community

Helping Your Child with Homework Helping Children Develop Friendship and Social Skills Bullying Prevention Planning for the Future: Dealing with My Greatest Fears Transition and the IEP Process

Were they addressed?

Learn at least one planning tool, idea or brainstorm that you can incorporate into your child’s transition plan to High School