SPED Transition is happy to announce the launch of our new one-stop SPED Transition website! Our new SPED Transition website can be found by clicking here . The website features a wealth of information on the Inspire SPED Transition program, an archive of Inspire Transition newsletters, a regularly updated list of student and parent workshops, and a collection of outside Transition resources.

Please take a minute to explore our new website and reach out to your Transition teacher with any feedback or questions!

The California Department of Education, Special Education Division, works closely with the federal and state funded parent organizations to increase parent participation and collaboration between parents and educators to improve the educational system.

Parent Training and Information Center - Each PTI is a parent-directed, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization funded by the U.S. Department of Education, authorized under the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and often enhanced by private sources. Every state in the United States has a funded PTI.

California Community Parent Resource Centers - The CPRC, as described in 20 United States Code 1472, will help ensure that underserved parents of children, ages birth through 26 with disabilities, including low-income parents, parents of limited English proficient children, and parents with disabilities, have the training and information the parents need to enable the parents to participate effectively in helping their children with disabilities.

SB 511, Family Empowerment Centers - Senate Bill 511, enacted as Education Code 56400-56414 , established the FECs funded by IDEA state set aside. The FECs provide services to families with children with disabilities who are from the ages of 3 to 22. The intent of the legislature is to ensure that parents, guardians, and families of children and young adults with disabilities have access to accurate information, specialized training, and peer-to-peer support. Each FEC is a non-profit 501 (c)(3). Funding for the FECs is based upon a specific formula. A rate of $150,000.00 allocated annually to each center to provide the basic services. Additional funding for each FEC is determined according to school enrollment of the region served.

Math word problems tend to be especially challenging for students with Learning Disabilities (LD). Students with LD often lack "Concept Imagery", or the ability to visualize the whole problem by creating a complete mental image. They often jump right into calculations and computations without understanding what the problem is asking or what they're looking for.

These types of students may also struggle to understand the words or wording within math word problems correctly. The inability to correctly interpret and understand wording greatly impacts their math reasoning skills and often leads them to make the wrong calculations and arriving incorrect conclusions.

Remembering and manipulating information and details in their working memory is another challenge some students with LD face as they try to see the whole picture. Slow processing of information, followed by frustration and anxiety, will often lead them to try and get through math word problems as quickly as possible – which is why they often jump straight into computations in their attempt to make it to the finish line as quickly as possible.

SQRQCQ (Survey, Question, Read, Question, Compute, and Question) is metacognitive guide the provides students with LD with a logical order for solving math word problems. It provides just enough direction to guide them through the reasoning process without overwhelming them. SQRQCQ is also a mnemonic that is easy for students to remember and which they can fall back on when completing homework or taking tests.

Step 1 - SURVEY the Math Problem

The first step to solving a math word problem is to read the problem in its entirety to understand what you are being asked to solve. After you read it, you can decide the most relevant aspects of the problem that need to be solved and what aspects are not relevant to solving the problem. The idea here is to get a general understanding.

Step 2 - QUESTION

Once you have an idea of what you're attempting to solve, you need to determine what formulas, steps, or equations should be utilized in order to find the correct answer. It is impossible to find an answer if you can't determine what needs to be solved. Basically, what are the questions being asked by the problem?

Step 3 - REREAD

Now that you've determined what needs to be solved, reread the problem and pay close attention to specific details. Determine which aspects of the problem are interrelated. Identify all relevant facts and information needed to solve the problem. As you do, highlight them and then write them down.

Step 4 - QUESTION

Now that you're familiar with specific details and how different facts and information within the problem are interrelated, determine what formulas or equations must be used to set up and solve the problem. Be sure to write down what steps or operations you will use for easy reference.

Step 5 - COMPUTE

Use the formulas and/or equations identified in the previous step to complete the calculations. Be sure to follow the steps you outlined while setting up an equation or using a formula. As you complete each step, check it off your list.

Step 6 - QUESTION

Once you've completed the calculations, review the final answer and make sure it is correct and accurate. If it does not appear logical, review the steps you took to find the answer and look for calculation or set-up errors. Recalculate the numbers or make other changes until you get an answer that makes sense.

From managing impulsive behavior, resisting distractions, and learning the art of delayed gratification, to regulating emotions in the face of conflict and feelings of discomfort, self-regulatory behavior is key to success in all areas of our lives, and since children with poor self-control tend to exhibit more behavioral problems than their self-disciplined peers, teaching children self-control is very important for the long-term success.

But how do we teach our kids the art of self-discipline and self-regulation without spending all of our free time battling meltdowns, temper tantrums, aggressive behavior, and feelings of defeat?

The good news is that learning how to teach children self-control isn’t as difficult as it sounds. Yes, it takes time, patience, and dedication on the part of the parents and caregivers, and there will be days that your child may not comply with your wishes, but the long-term benefit of working with your child to help develop his self-regulating behavior far outweighs the short-term pain.

Here are some strategies and activities to teach children self-control:

Be clear about rules and expectations

This is especially important in young children. By explaining what the rules are, what’s expected, and what is and isn’t appropriate, and taking the time to give your child regular reminders, you are setting him up for success. The easier the rules are, and the more consistently you reinforce them, the easier it is for your kids to meet your expectations.

Follow a predictable routine

By setting clear boundaries around different activities – learning, independent play, outdoor time, quiet time, eating, etc. – you can help teach the different types of self-regulation needed for learning and beyond.

Remind! Remind! Remind!

The younger a child is, the more easily he can (and will) be distracted, so taking the time to give him reminders at regular intervals will go a long way in helping him learn the art of self-control.

Use positive reinforcement

Positive Reinforcement is a fabulous technique parents and caregivers can use to increase the likelihood that a child will repeat a desirable behavior. Sticker charts are a simple, yet effective, form of positive reinforcement that can be extremely motivating for kids.

Always follow through!

As parents, we often hear about the importance of being consistent and following through with consequences. If you fail to follow through, your child won’t take you seriously, learn accountability, or figure out the difference between right and wrong. And while this makes perfect sense, what many parents forget is that the same holds true for rewards. If we neglect to make good on our promises, we take away the motivation our children need to make positive changes to their behavior, which can significantly impact our ability to teach our children self-control and self-discipline.

Model positive behavior

Another important, yet often overlooked parenting strategy is the importance of being a good role model. Our children look up to us and oftentimes want to mimic every single thing we do, and when we take the time to actively demonstrate our own self-regulatory behavior, we are setting our kids up for success.

Make self-discipline fun

When it comes to teaching self-control, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Every child has a different temperament, and what works for one may not work for another. The good news? There are HEAPS of great self-discipline activities for kids that feel more like play than work, offering a fabulous, stress-free way to help children with self-control issues.

Here are 3 fun self-control activities and for kids and parents!