special education services for elementary school to
TRANSCRIPT
Transitioning From Elementary School
to Highcrest Middle School
Special Education Services for Students With IEPs
March 6, 2018
Tonight’s Goals
● Put some faces to the names of the people helping the transition to HMS
● Help you understand how HMS works● Explain how special education services look● Give you a chance early on in this process to
ask questions● Take a tour of HMS (optional)
Introductions
Overview of Highcrest
● All students have ONE homeroom teacher● FOUR homerooms in a “house”
○ Core Academic Team○ Learning Behavior Specialist (LBS)
● Nine 40-minute class periods○ 5 Core Academics (Reading/Writing, Math,
Science, Social Studies)○ Physical Education○ Creative Arts (Music, Drama, Art, Digital Media,
Comp. Thinking, and Creative Communication)○ Academic Strategies/World Language
● Lunch/Recess (with only 5th graders)
Making a big school seem smaller
Example Schedules
Before Homeroom:
BandOrchestra
Chorus
Periods Homeroom Homeroom
1 Social Studies Social Studies
2 Creative Arts Creative Arts
3 Math ELA
4 Science ELA
5 Lunch Lunch
6 Physical Education Physical Education
7 Academic Strategies / World Language
Academic Strategies / World Language
8 ELA Math
9 ELA Science
Homeroom:
Every day in the AM
Communication● LBS and homeroom teacher (primarily)● Informational updates from homeroom
teacher● Frequent progress reports from House
(most are bi-weekly) ● Schoology = Website
○ Resources○ Class information○ Online Calendar
● Assignment Notebook
Special Education at Highcrest
● The models we will describe are about the services offered (not places)
● Services are not different than what is offered in the Elementary Schools
● What is different is how it looks within a student’s day
→ Further description of D39 Special Education Services can be found on the D39 Website under Student Services
Inclusion Classes● Co-Taught Classrooms where LBS collaborates
with general education teacher and provides instruction within the general education classroom
● Follows 5th grade curriculum; However, student needs drives instruction and delivery
● Accommodations & Modifications are also addressed as needed in the gen. ed. classroom
Essential Classes● Known to the adults as Instructional Classes: Offers
small group instruction for remediating academics in a self-contained setting
● Direct specialized instruction outside of general education with its own curriculum
● Offered in Reading, Writing, and Math→ based on student need and data
Supportive Model
● Designed to support students with emotional & behavioral needs as necessary
● May be ongoing or time limited for sensory breaks, instruction, or immediate crisis
● Supports students with management of behavior plans and completion of academic work
Comprehensive Model
● Offers a comprehensive program of academics, social and life skills
● Provides individualized support for instructional level learning goals
● Provides instruction for meaningful opportunities to expand social skills
Related Services● Per a student’s IEP, related services can include Speech,
Social Work, OT, or APE
● Related services are provided in therapy office and/or in gen. ed setting
● Related service providers pull from non-core classes and work closely with LBS
● Assistive Technology is support to personnel
● IEP team decision, supports may look different as Highcrest is a different setting but we will meet you child’s needs
Academic Strategies (AS)● In lieu of world language--what does this mean for your
student? ○ Daily for 40 minutes○ Taught by their LBS
■ Time for student to develop relationship with LBS○ Small groups of students
● Opportunity for pre-teaching, re-teaching, specialized instruction, executive functioning, and work completion
● Study strategies and skill building● Work on IEP goals● Work on academic assignments/projects/tests
** Students benefit from this important class in their day!
AS from Parent Perspectives
● “AS helped my son feel prepared to be successful in 5th grade. Having a daily period to check-in took a lot off of my plate, and eased my concerns as a parent”
● “We were also skeptical about him missing out on a Foreign Language because he was recommended to take Academic Strategies. As it turns out, he loves AS. He can get a head start on homework or study for an upcoming test all while in a small quiet group setting with peers similar to him”
AS from 5th graders’ perspectives● time to work on homework / time to ask questions● learning about study strategies is fun● get more individual attention because the class is small● get new ideas and strategies to help with taking tests● we get to take a break every now and then● we like being in class together so it’s nice to work together in AS● makes me less stressed about school because I have time to do work● learning new writing techniques (how to write complete sentences,
combining sentences)● learning test taking strategies● helping keep my binder clean and organized● reviewing what we do in class helps refresh my memory● lets me get a head start on my work and projects● help understand things, especially in science and social studies
“AS help me feel less stressed. And sometimes we have fun Fridays”
Let’s Learn More about AS
Re-evaluations• Every 3 years
• IEP team determines necessary components of the re-evaluation
• IEP team meets to review evaluation results and discuss educational needs
The Transition Process● Behind the scenes - Coordinators meet with 4th grade staff, set
up observations, review data, and discuss specific HMS programs
● Individual Transition meetings will begin in Spring● Specific Parent Requests: The HMS form will be sent out
after spring break● Elementary School visits during the day (End of Spring)● 5th grade Orientation: In August- the week before school
starts (meet Homeroom and tour school)● Opportunities for individual tours/visits can be arranged and/or
based on student need
Individual Transition Meeting● Elementary IEP team meets with a representative
from Highcrest to review current IEP
● Once student needs are established, team discusses supports needed at HMS
● Often this requires revisions to the IEP
● Student participation in World Language or Academic Strategies will be finalized at this meeting
Our Recommendations● Trust the transition process (a lot of us working for YOU)
but let us know what we can do → we are here for YOU!● Individual meetings are key→ bring your questions then!● It is only beg. of March→ don’t think too much about HMS
yet● Academic Strategies is extremely beneficial● Getting on Schoology early in the year is helpful / let your
child teach you about Schoology● Keep emphasizing with your kid, there is a lot of “NEW”
next year; a lot of “NEW” for everyone; a lot of the “NEW” is great and part of middle school!
● Get involved in activities in and out of HMS
Get Involved● Band/Orchestra/Chorus
○ Before School a couple days a week (awesome concerts throughout the year)
● PTO Clubs ○ Student Council, Service Over Self, Chess, Minecraft, Volleyball,
Art
● Science Olympiad● Sports
○ Cross Country, Wrestling, Track and Field
Everyone is new to HMS
● Transition is the focus of the first few days and weeks● Homework the first week: practice your lock● Helping students develop new friendships● Cafeteria - sit by homeroom● Learning the school / Meeting new teachers● Organization ● Learning the iPad● Learning Schoology
The rest of the evening…● 5th grade parents’ thoughts● Questions for us?● Tour of HMS
Linda Moric:[email protected] you for coming!