Special Education Department
January 2021
Transition Services: Back to School Tips!
1. Validation: With all the different feelings your student is feeling, let them know that it is normal to feel nervous or anxious. It takes time for a new routine to take shape so confirm with them that it is alright to take it day-by-day! The knowledge that they are not alone in this experience will help them feel like they are understood.
2. Morning Routine: It's a good idea to create a plan with your student on how their new mornings are going to look like and start out now that they are going back into the school building. This way, your student knows what will be happening and has clear expectations that are valuable to their time under the pressure for getting ready for school. We recommend having some sort of visual to help with each task they need to get done (eat breakfast, brush teeth, comb hair, get dressed, etc.). This will also ease some stress!
3. Homework: During remote learning, students had set designated time for each class to complete their work. Now that we are back to in-person learning they may have homework or need time at home to finish projects/assignments. Allowing your student to have a designated time after school where they can sit in a quiet area and complete any work will be helpful. This time can be directly after school when they come home, after they enjoy 30 minutes of an activity they enjoy, or right after dinner. Choose a time that works best for your family's schedule!
4. Bedtime: Students may be accustomed to going to sleep later and/or waking up later during the remote learning, so the new school schedule can be difficult to get acclimated to. Just like your morning routine, we encourage family's to create a plan for their bedtime routine. Once again, having a visual for your child will be super beneficial and allow them to build their independence.
5. Positive Feedback: Make sure to give your student positive feedback and encouragement during this transition period! Little boosts of confidence can go a long way!
Community Resource: Connecting for Kids
- Have a child younger than 13 years of age
- Live in Cuyahoga or Lorain County
- Have a concern about their child
Resources are available for a number of concerns including anxiety, attention issues, developmental delays, epilepsy, and sensory issues. They also help families whose children are having difficulty making friends, struggling academically or facing a major life change such as parents divorcing. No concern is too big or too small. Connecting for Kids can help.
Connecting for Kids also offers a variety of different programs to better support families. All of their programs are provided at no cost to families.
For additional information, please check out their website: https://www.connectingforkids.org/
Academic & Intervention from Ms. Walls Classroom
Hello! My name is Brandy Walls and I am the K-6th grade Intervention Specialist at Strongsville AEA. This is my second year with Albert Einstein Academy where I have provided special education services through individual, small groups and in class assistance to students.
In the last month, I have been working with my students on their IEP goals and supporting them during virtual learning. Interventions have included a variety of writing skills, reading comprehension, sight word recognition, and different math skills for each level. We continue to work on kindness, respect, and self-confidence, which is important for everyone as we work through the many changes and challenges we have been faced with this school year.
Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family and close friends. I spend most of my time with my four boys, Jadon, Nathan, Easton, and Bryson. One of our favorite things to do is have a Nerf war in the dark and if anyone tries to hide, the dogs, Buck and Gunner, will find you every time. Most of the year I spend a lot of time outside, camping, hiking, fishing, and in the summer swimming. I look forward to getting back to these activities as soon as the winter is over.
Thank you for taking the time to read and learn more about me. I look forward to the return of our students and I hope you all continue to have an amazing school year!
Progress Reports
AASCD Testing
Spotlight From Mrs Lowry's English Class
In English 11, Mrs. Lowry's class at AEA North Olmsted learned how to properly write a narrative essay demonstrating a conflict (man v. man, man v. self, man v. nature, man v. society, etc.) Each student was asked to choose a topic and create an outline, rough draft, and final draft by following an editing rubric. This student sample describes a family Christmas tradition, and demonstrates the conflict of how he handles his feelings when the excitement of the holiday season becomes too much.
Below is Mateo's writing piece.