As we start off 2020, we are excited to share with you the January Special Education with Care newsletter! In this newsletter, you'll find some great information on:

• Extended School Year
• Academic Crafts
• Going Back to School After the Holidays
• Positive Reinforcement

Extended School Year (ESY) services are special education services that are provided to a student with a disability during extended school breaks. A student must qualify for ESY in order to receive ESY services.

ESY services are designed to assist the student in working toward the same goals and objectives that the student works on during the school year and are only provided in those areas on the current IEP that the student has demonstrated:

• regression of skills during an extended school break
• limited ability to benefit from re-teaching of skills after an extended school break
• or in which the student is in a critical stage of learning

For students who may require ESY services, the IEP team will meet to review data and determine eligibility for ESY services. If student qualifies for ESY services, the IEP team will which services are necessary and the amount of service minutes needed for the student. ESY services are determined on an individual basis.

If you have questions about ESY for your child, please contact your Special Education Teacher/Case Manager.

Looking for new ways to further engage your student? Check out these grate paper craft ideas from The Spruce Crafts! Crafts include:

• Recycled Paper Project
• Camping Scavenger Hunt
• Paper Plate Clock Activity
• Tape Shapes Game
• Sunflower Plant Diagram
• Paper Snake
• Paper Quilt
• Octopus Counting Craft
• How to Make Mini Teepees

https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/educational-paper-craft-resources-2585067

Looking for ways to spruce up science activities at home? Check out this great video that includes 18 easy magic tricks and science experiments that you can try at home.

Note: Requires parent supervision

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwOY6RgrDKQ&t=352s

After taking a few weeks off of school, it can be challenging for students to get engaged in learning and back into the swing of things. Here are some ideas on how to transition back into school:

• Preview school day expectations and assignments with your student.
• Have students engage in reading and reading activities by offering books that interest them.
• It's easy for children to stay up later than normal during break times. Try to ease your student back into their typical schedule and make sure they get enough sleep.
• Help students get excited for learning by taking inventory of their school supplies and having them help organize or replenish their learning areas.
• Check in regularly with your student to see how they are feeling and ways that you can support them.

Positive reinforcement can be a strong tool in motivating students and encouraging positive behaviors. Positive reinforcement focuses on rewarding students for what they do well while focusing less on punishing or reprimanding students for misbehavior.

Examples of positive reinforcement include:

• Positive praise for specific behaviors such as "Great job Johnny for working hard and finishing all of your math problems!"
• Listening to music while working.
• Material reinforcements such as earning stickers or other small rewards.
• Use of verbal or non verbal praise such as high-fives, smiles, or handshakes.

For more great tips on how to utilize positive reinforcement, check out this great article by Emily Hamm!

https://www.classcraft.com/blog/features/positive-reinforcement-classroom/

https://www.inspirecares.org/your-feedback