Special Education Scoop
January 2024
In This Issue
A Note from the Executive Director
How to Translate the Smore Newsletter
Destination Life Transition Fair
ECSE Corner
Speech Spot
Straight Talk Parent Videos from Texas Special Education Support Website
Transition Junction - Navigating Transition Resources
STAR Caregiver Trainings
Texas Driving with Disability
Supplemental Special Education Services
Medicaid Interest List/Waiver Sign Up
Resources
Important Dates
Dear Special Education Parents and Guardians,
I hope this message finds you in good health and high spirits as we embrace the beginning of the spring semester. As we embark on this new chapter, I want to extend a heartfelt welcome to you and express my enthusiasm for the journey ahead. Together, let's make the upcoming months a period of growth, achievement, and finishing the school year strong.
Communication Channels:
Communication is the cornerstone of a successful partnership. We encourage you to maintain regular communication with your child's teachers, support staff, and our special education team. Feel free to attend scheduled meetings, and remember that we are here to address any questions or concerns you may have.
Support Services:
Our team is dedicated to providing the necessary support services to ensure your child's success. Whether it's academic, emotional, or behavioral support, our goal is to create a nurturing environment where every student can thrive.
Feedback and Collaboration:
Your feedback is invaluable to us. We appreciate your input and collaboration as we work together to enhance our special education services. Your insights help us continually improve and tailor our approach to meet the evolving needs of our students.
Gratitude for Your Partnership:
In closing, I want to express my sincere gratitude for your ongoing partnership. Your trust and collaboration are vital elements in our collective efforts to provide the best possible education for our students receiving special education services. Together, let's make this spring semester a period of growth, achievement, and strong finish to the school year.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful and successful spring semester ahead.
Warm regards,
Somer D. Niemann
Executive Director Special Education
Translation Option
Para traducir el boletín informativo [Smore] a otro idioma, vaya a la parte superior del boletín y seleccione traducir. A seguida, seleccione su idioma.
To translate the Smore Newsletter into a different language, go to the top of the newsletter and select translate. Then select your language.
Destination Life Regional Transition Fair and Conference
The Destination…Life Regional Transition Fair and Conference helps Central Texas families prepare and support their student(s) with disabilities for life beyond high school. Families can expect to gather information and gain access to experts on how to help their student(s) with disabilities ranging from early childhood through high school to successfully transition to adulthood.
La Feria y Conferencia Regional de Transición Destino a la vida, ayuda a las familias del centro de Texas a preparar y apoyar a sus estudiantes con discapacidades para la vida después de la escuela secundaria. Las familias pueden esperar recopilar información y obtener acceso a expertos sobre cómo ayudar a su(s) estudiante(s) con discapacidades que van desde la primera infancia hasta la escuela secundaria para tener una transición exitosa a la edad adulta.
All families are encouraged to attend. Please visit the Destination Life Website for more information. The event is being held February 24th from 9-1:30 at McNeil High School in Round Rock.
ECSE Corner
Engaging your preschool child in learning activities at home isn’t as challenging as it might seem. In fact, if you ask an early childhood educator what they enjoy most about teaching young children, many say that they absolutely love how curious this age group is about the world around them. It’s true! If you’ve ever spent time with a young learner, their enthusiasm is contagious and it’s evident that learning can happen anywhere and anytime. Education doesn’t happen strictly within the confines of the classroom. Yes, kids learn about the world around them through their teachers, but they also learn through their families and caregivers. Even when school isn’t in session, families can provide their young children with rich learning experiences centered around many “every day” activities if they have a few simple strategies in their toolbox.
Let’s take a look at 5 ideas for engaging preschool children outside of the classroom.
- Watching TV
- Going on a Walk
- Preparing Food
- Reading a Book
- Singing Songs
#1 Watching TV
Are we encouraging families to spend all day in front of the screen with young children? No. However, we recognize that screen time is a part of the day for most kiddos. With a few simple understandings, families can make this time meaningful and use it as an opportunity for engaging your preschool child.
Research has shown that screen time benefits young children the most when families ask and answer questions during a program and have rich conversations about what they’re watching together. In other words, whenever parents engage with their kids, it’s beneficial. For example, TV can help young children learn about a variety of subjects and concepts. Kids get to explore subjects, places and animals that they might not have access to otherwise. TV can also inspire “unplugged” play after the program is finished. If a child watches a show about a trip to a farm, maybe the child pretends to be a farmer and take care of animals after the show. Finally, TV can provide models for positive agendas such as healthy living or taking care of the environment. If parents are intentional about the programs they choose and how they interact with their child while watching TV, screen time becomes an active, rather than passive, activity.
#2 Going on a Walk
When young children don’t have access to a playground, public pool, or backyard, it might feel pointless to venture outside. Yet, for young children, even a walk down the street or around the block can be an adventure! There are so many ways to embed learning when taking a walk with little ones. Families and caregivers can work on colors, language, creative expression, literacy, science, math, and more!
One method of engaging your preschool child when taking a walk is to point at and label objects, plants, and animals or you can play “I Spy.” This will help young children increase listening skills and develop vocabulary. Talking about the weather outside addresses science concepts. A scavenger hunt can connect to math by counting found objects. Taking photographs of interesting flowers, bugs and birds gives kids opportunities for creative expression and can link to literacy when the photographs are printed and made into a homemade book. When you take a walk with a young child, there’s always something to discover!
#3 Preparing Food
Cooking in the kitchen with little ones can feel overwhelming, right? With all of the knives, the hot surfaces, and the mess, it can feel like a recipe for disaster! However, families shouldn’t throw in the towel without considering the benefits to inviting young children into the kitchen. Preparing food with little ones provides naturally occurring opportunities to work on fine motor skills, cognitive skills, social skills, and academic areas such as math and science. And what’s even more exciting is that parents can include young children in the kitchen without even turning on the oven!
When including young children in food preparation activities, parents might consider assigning age appropriate or ‘bite sized’ kitchen tasks such as mixing, pouring, putting groceries away, or tearing lettuce for a salad. Appointing a child as ‘official taster’ for whatever is being prepared can be fun for them and may broaden their palate. Consider also that children don’t need to complete an entire task. They can do part of a task, such as laying out bread slices for sandwiches, or using cookie cutters on dough that has been rolled out for them. If it’s safe and appropriate for children to help with cutting, there are nylon safety knives that cut vegetables, but not skin. Finally, even if young children aren’t ready to be a chef’s assistant, inviting them to sit on the kitchen floor and explore different cooking equipment like pots, pans and safe utensils builds fine motor skills and is fun for them, too!
#4 Reading a Book
One of the best ways that families can connect with their children at home is through reading books. Many parents have reading “routines” with their young children, such as snuggling up with a book before rest time or bedtime. These routines and rituals not only provide comfort and connection, but also provide opportunities to embed some foundational literacy skills.
According to emergent literacy expert, Dr. Laura Justice, there are 3 simple strategies that families can incorporate into their reading time which will set their kiddos up for later success in reading. Pointing at the print while reading is an easy way to help young children pay attention to different print types and functions. Asking questions that challenge young children to make predictions and connections to text builds reading comprehension skills that they will use for the rest of their lives. Finally, noticing interesting words while reading and giving “child friendly” definitions goes a long way in expanding a young child’s vocabulary and engaging your preschool child. Perhaps most importantly, reading every day with young children will start them on the path to developing a lifelong love of books!
#5 Singing Songs
Why is singing such a mainstay in early childhood classrooms? Besides the fact that singing and dancing are really fun, neurobiologists have found that music activities literally mold the mind by engaging brain synapses. Pretty cool, right? Whether or not a child is able to sing along or do all of the movements, music is powerful!
There are so many skills that children can develop through singing including motor skills, shapes and colors, letters and vocabulary, and more! A good thing to remember is that when children are young, participation in singing can look many different ways. Some children might dive right in with singing and moving and others might start out as “watchers.” It’s all good! Adding props, like a wooden spoon for a microphone, or homemade instruments like paper plate shakers can help children feel more included if they’re not ready or able to sing and move. When families pay attention to these strategies and considerations, engagement and fun are sure to follow!
Reference: https://blog.esc13.net/5-ideas-for-engaging-your-preschool-child/
Speech Spot
Although the bulk of language development occurs in the early years, people are always acquiring language throughout their lives as they read. Adolescents should be encouraged to read a variety of content. Here are some ideas to encourage your teen to read:
· Set an example. The best way to create a culture of reading in your home is to read as much as possible. The more kids see their parents reading, the more likely they are to follow suit.
· Let your teen choose. Let your child read whatever they find engaging, whether it’s manga, beauty and fashion, or music. While you may not find these topics to be your favorite, avoid any urge to censor their choices. Reading is reading.
· Look for books at your teen’s level. There are books targeted for reluctant teen readers. Also consider using assistive technology, such as audiobooks.
· Discuss what your child reads. Talk about what your child reads. Ask questions and create an environment of deep discussion and critical thinking.
· Find a series. Following the same characters or themes through many books encourages teens to go continue reading.
· Leverage interest in current events. If your child is interested in sports, politics, and/or celebrities, there will always be something to read.
· Furnish your home with a variety of reading materials. Leave books, magazines and newspapers around.
Straight Talk Parent Videos from Texas Special Education Support Website
Straight Talk Parent Videos from Texas Sped Support Website
This is a collection of videos from a parent of a child with a disability on various topics such as planning for you child’s future now, connection between behavior, defensiveness and trauma and importance of communication between families & teachers.
Transition Junction - Navigating Transition Resources
It's not uncommon for parents to face challenges when seeking support services for their children from outside agencies. Turnover, changing laws, funding, eligibility, and waitlists, are just a few examples of the many obstacles that can make it difficult to connect your child with the support they need throughout their education.
As someone who has worked in transition for students with disabilities for over 24 years, I understand the key role that community services can play in your child's success. By prioritizing robust and goal-oriented services that place the student at the center of the planning process, we can work together to achieve positive outcomes.
To make the process easier for you, we offer Parent Consultation meetings where we can share information about community services. To schedule a meeting, please email me at christoper.visness@pfisd.net with your student's name, campus, and case manager. Our Family Specialist or I will then follow up with you to arrange a convenient time.
Additionally, I'd like to share a helpful resource from Region 13 called the Roadmap to Texas Transition Resources, which provides information on community services in Texas. We also have a Spanish version available - Acerca de la Guía de recursos para la transición en Texas. Lastly, you may visit our Destination Life Website or attend our in-person event on February 24th from 9-1:30 at McNeil High School in Round Rock.
Strategies for Teaching based on Autism Research (STAR) Caregiver Trainings
We are excited this year to share with you caregiver trainings by partnering with STAR Autism Support.
We began our ECSE - Elementary series in October.
October 26th - Behavior: Increasing Desired Behaviors at Home and in your Community
November 9th - Visualize It: Using Environmental Supports Effectively
We began our secondary series in December.
December 7th - Identifying Strategies That Work
All recorded trainings can be found at: https://starautismsupport.com/round-rockpflugerville-parent-caregiver-trainings
Upcoming STAR Elementary Caregiver Trainings
January 25th - Understanding: Caregiver Supports for Increasing Receptive Language
February 15th - Communication: Caregivers Supports for Teaching Expressive Language
April 25th - Making the Most Out of Mealtime
To pre-register and receive the Zoom link, check out the flyers below.
Upcoming STAR Secondary Caregiver Trainings
January 18th - Puberty and Adolescence: Preparing Yourself and Your Child
February 22nd - Thriving in a Social World
To register, and receive the Zoom link, check out the flyers below.
Texas Driving with Disability Program
What is the Texas Driving with Disability Program?
This Texas trail-blazing program focuses on improving the interaction between law enforcement and drivers with disabilities that have unique communication needs. Visit the website below for more information.
https://gov.texas.gov/organization/disabilities/texas-driving-with-disability
Supplemental Special Education Services
Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES) are $1,500 one-time on-line grants for eligible parents/caregivers of eligible students served by special education that have been impacted by COVID-19 school closures.
Families of eligible students can use the on-line accounts to obtain educational materials and resources and/or services such as additional speech therapy or other specific services.
Visit this website for information on how to apply to see if eligible: https://tea.texas.gov/academics/special-student-populations/special-education/supplemental-special-education-services-sses
Medicaid Waiver Information for Caregivers
What is a Medicaid Waiver? A Medicaid waiver allows the state to assist individuals and provide some long-term services to those with disabilities. Most of these waivers assist after adulthood, however please look at slide deck to see what waiver can provide and what are the age ranges. If an individual meets eligibility requirements, they can receive services they need in their own homes or other community settings, instead of having to go into a nursing facility or institution. You may apply and/or qualify for both Medicaid benefits, as well as Medicaid Waiver programs.
In Texas, there are several different waiver programs that offer a broad range of home and community-based services to people with disabilities and elderly citizens. There are different rules and funding amounts for each of the different waivers.
You do not need to be on Medicaid to be placed on the interest list. Most of the interest lists take years until a person is able to be considered for services. It is important to get on the interest list as early as possible.
Important Dates
January 9th - March 8th - Third Nine Weeks Reporting Period
January 15th - Staff/Student Holiday
February 16th - Student Holiday
February 19th - Student Holiday
February 24th - Destination Life Transition Fair
March 11th-15th - Spring Break
March 29th - Staff/Student Holiday
April 1st - Staff/Student Holiday
May 27th - Staff/Student Holiday
May 29th - Last day of school (early release)