SSD Ritenour Dispatch
September 2021
Strategies for Success
This month the resource teachers at Iveland Elementary, pictured L-R Michaela Cummings, Bridget Linders and Megan Moore, would like to share some behavior and practicing skills strategies to use at home to encourage our students to be successful at school as well as at home.
Home Strategies for Behavior
1) Set a schedule. Keeping a schedule with your child will help your child:
- Feel in control of their environment
- Feel safe, secure, and comfortable
- Know what is happening now and what comes next
2) Follow through on your promises and rules and stay away from empty threats.
Say what you mean and mean what you say.
If you tell your child/student(s) that they can pick a favorite book to read after they finish their math assignment, make sure you stick to your end of the bargain.
If you tell your child that he can go on the computer after his sister has a turn, make sure he gets a chance to do that.
Have consistent rules that teach your children that they need to stick to their end of the bargain as well.
For example, if you have a rule such as “Homework first, then TV.” stick to that rule by making sure your child completes homework before watching TV. Stay away from empty threats such as “If you don’t stop I am going to leave you here” or “I’ll throw all of your toys away if you don’t clean them up.”
3) Be a role model for good behavior.
If you want your child to treat others with respect, you do the same. If you want your child to be an honest person, set an example of honesty for them.
Home Strategies for Practicing Skills
Math- You can practice a number of math concepts with a simple deck of cards. If your child is learning number sense (greater or less than) have them identify which number is bigger or smaller as you each turn a card over (just like when playing war). You can also practice addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Turning over two cards at a time, your child can add, subtract, or multiply the numbers.
Reading- If your family loves watching TV or movies together at night, incorporate these simple strategies to help support their reading. Start by turning on the subtitles. During a commercial break, ask your child to discuss the characters and setting. Help them identify what the problem is, and then the solution as it is reached. At the end, ask your child to retell the story. Make sure they include all key details and tell each part in the order it happened.
Social Skills- At school your child will be using the Zones of Regulation to express and monitor his or her emotions during the school day. Check in with your child each morning before school, and again when they get home. Are they in the blue zone (sad, tired), green zone (happy, ready to learn), yellow zone (anxious, frustrated), or the red zone (angry, feeling out of control)? We want our students green- good to go. Look for patterns in the feelings your child is expressing. Reach out to his or her teacher if they are often reporting feelings of blue, yellow or red.
Lunch and Learn Series
Special School District’s Family and Community Outreach, Social Work, Parent Education and Diversity Awareness (PEDA) and Communications departments have teamed up to offer a virtual Lunch & Learn series for SSD families and stakeholders. The series, which will involve community organizations sharing information about their work, will take place on the first Wednesday of each month during the 2021-22 school year, from 11:30 AM - Noon.
Representatives from nine community organizations will participate in order to increase awareness about each agency and make connections with those who may benefit from their programs and services throughout the SSD community.
Organizations represented in the Lunch & Learn series include:
- The Community Action Agency of St. Louis County (CAASTL) – Oct. 6
- Operation Food Search – Nov. 3
- Behavioral Health Response – Dec. 1
- Easterseals Midwest – Jan. 5
- The Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis – Feb. 2
- Team Activities for Special Kids (TASK) – March 2
- St. Louis ARC – April 6
- St. Louis County Library – May 4
SSD Parent Leadership Institute - Fall 2021
The Parent Education and Diversity Awareness (PEDA) Program invites families and community members to visit our Family and Community Resource Center at the Learning Center in Hazelwood. The program is excited to offer a diverse collection of materials, including many new books that are ready to be shared.
PEDA will be hosting the Parent Leadership Institute (PLI) this Fall. This program, which is offered at no cost to participants, is designed for parents and family members who are the educational decision makers for a child with a disability. The three sessions will be held on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 22, Sept. 29, and Oct. 6, 2021, at SSD Central Office, 12110 Clayton Road, 63131. To learn more about this program and/or apply to be part of it, please visit this link: Parent Leadership Institute | Fall 2021.
PEDA is also happy to announce that there will be a second Parent Leadership Institute in the Spring of 2022. We will be announcing dates in the very near future. Please check in with us if you have any questions!
We are in the process of planning our Fall workshops and will be sending out dates and topics very soon. As always, PEDA Is here for you if you need assistance navigating special education, community resources, and so much more – don’t hesitate to reach out!
Parent Advisory Council
The SSD Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is comprised of families advising and collaborating to improve the education, confidence and social outcomes of each student served by SSD. The PAC consists of five parents or guardians – one member and four alternates – from each of the 22 St. Louis County school districts and from each of the five SSD special education schools. The parents or guardians of students receiving special education services in that district or school elect SSD PAC members.
Get Involved with the SSD PAC:
Network and communicate with other parents of children who receive special education services
Become as informed as possible about special education services
Improve communication between your local school district and SSD
Create a positive understanding and awareness of students with disabilities
Establish a network of advocacy for local, state and national disability issues
Complete this online form to learn more about getting involved with the SSD Parent Advisory Council.
Upcoming Dates
September 6
No school Labor Day holiday
September 8
Parent Advisory Council meeting at 7pm
September 9
Early Release Day (K-12)
October 6
Lunch and Learn from 11:30am - Noon
Special School District of St. Louis County
Angi Fouste, SSD Director of Special Education
Email: aafouste@ssdmo.org
Website: www.ssdmo.org
Location: 12110 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO, USA
Phone: 314.989.8100
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SSDStLCo
Twitter: @SSDStLCo
Ritenour School District
Leslie Mueller, Special Education Coordinator - Kratz, Marvin & Wyland
Emya Williams, Special Education Coordinator - Iveland, Marion & Buder
Gloria Perry, Special Education Coordinator - Hoech & Ritenour Middle
Nathan Dwyer, Special Education Coordinator - Ritenour High
Website: https://www.ritenour.k12.mo.us/
Location: 2420 Woodson Road, Overland, MO, USA
Phone: 314-493-6010