Transition Newsletter April 2024
APRIL 2024
Wants and Needs
This month, the students at West Campus are working on learning the differences between wants and needs as well as the many areas this concept applies to our adult lives. In the classroom, we are discussing what needs really are. What do we NEED to survive? Needs are things like food to eat, water to drink, clothes to wear, and a safe place to live. Our wants are things we would like to have, but we could live without. We WANT things like toys and treats.
Knowing the differences between wants and needs helps our students to develop essential daily living skills while also empowering them to make choices about how to spend their time and resources. Financially, understanding the differences between wants and needs will help our students to better learn how to spend their own money responsibly.
In the community, we are discussing the importance of making sure we have what we need before spending money on something we may want. Understanding wants and needs also facilitates social interactions by helping students to navigate social expectations as well as having an awareness of the needs of others.
Overall, a strong understanding of the differences between wants and needs is crucial for our students to develop essential life skills and achieve greater independence.
Conversations with Students
As we discussed wants and needs this month, we asked the students what they would want if they were to win the lottery.
What would you want to buy if you won the lottery?
Emerson: I would buy a lifetime supply of flarp.
JJ: I would buy a house next to my parents, all the food I like and a new PC with video games.
Jane: Three smoothies a day for life.
Irving: I would buy a house.
Alex: I would buy a dolphin.
Tyler: I would buy a house in Jacksonville, IL.
John: I would buy seven Muppets.
Hannah: I would buy tickets to a Taylor Swift concert.
Elliana: I would buy a bank and a sailboat.
Nicolette: I would buy blue eyeshadow.
Julia: I would buy a van and a club.
Upcoming Calendar
Psychology with Poladian
Hi Everyone, happy spring! I cannot believe it is already April! This month at Transition we have been focusing on Needs and Wants in our lives. Within social group sessions, students have been learning about Rights and Responsibilities within this context.
Students are learning that a Right is something that is considered fair and supported by the law; a Responsibility is something that you are required or expected to do.
An example of a Right:
- To be treated with kindness and respect.
An example of a Responsibility:
- To treat others with kindness and respect.
Having rights also means having responsibilities. We have the right to do many things. However, we have the responsibility to consider others when we exercise our rights. Every day we use our rights and have a chance to be responsible.
Please feel free to continue the conversation around rights and responsibilities with your students this month!
Speech Tips with Sam and Sherry
For our young adults at Transition, distinguishing between needs and wants is a crucial step towards independence in order to manage resources effectively and prioritize their goals.
As a family, you can talk with your student about the differences between needs and wants. You can even comment on needs and wants while at the grocery store, for example, you can discuss how you need fruits, vegetables, and water to stay healthy and survive but that maybe every now and then you want soda or pop as a preference. Throughout everyday activities such as shopping, running errands, cooking, cleaning, etc., needs and wants can be discussed with students. Some examples include:
Needing warm winter clothes, wanting a specific brand or color
Needing to eat dinner each night, wanting to go to a restaurant for dinner
Needing to go shopping for toiletries, wanting to get coffee while out
Needing to cook dinner, wanting to order delivery
This is also a great time to talk about perspective taking and how wants differ from person to person based on preference. Talk with your student and family about what is important to them, what they value, and what they might want. You can then further the discussion by outlining what they need to achieve their goals.
Vocational Spotlight with Diana
Hello, and happy spring! I am excited to share that in this month's vocational groups the students will explore careers, understand that jobs require special tools within that career, and learn about how the jobs match their likes and strengths. Together we are researching and discovering more key information about the type of career or job title a person wants to do in the future. Following these lessons, we will also take some time to learn about the education and/or training a person requires to obtain the role in real life. Some sentence starters throughout the lesson will be:
- When I finish Transition, I want to be…
- I would need these tools to…
Lastly, students will grow to understand the need for a job that can support them socially, financially, and productively in the future.
Photo Highlights
Helpful Resources
Register by clicking on the flyer above.
AAC and Special Education App and Product Sale
LAMP Words for Life and TouchChat are 50% April 24th-May 4th!
Parent Series
As part of our 2023-2024 Parent Series, we are requesting parent volunteers to spearhead a parent focus group. We are looking for parent volunteers to meet three to four times throughout the year to review and give feedback on our Transition Roadmapping and Resources. The Transition Roadmapping and Resources will guide our district's implementation of transition services for years to come, so we want to invite you in as an important part of the stakeholder group.
If you can attend, I would ask that you keep these days and times available to participate in the parent series. There is an option to meet virtually, so if you cannot physically make it to West Campus, no worries!
Here is a list of the dates, times, and items that we will cover. While it may look like a lot, your input at the table is really what I am hoping for in this process.
300 S. Waukegan Rd.
Lake Forest, Illinois 60045