| The sun is beginning to shine, and the fresh smells of | | | | happens to them in the future. |
| spring are upon us. This time of year is always a | | | | Make decisions as a team. It is important for |
| favorite of mine, whether I am at school working | | | | educators and parents alike to make informed |
| with my students or walking through the park with | | | | decisions regarding placement for the coming school |
| my son. As a special educator, this time of year is | | | | year. Having received input from the child, parents |
| always busy in the school systems. Special educators, | | | | and educators should discuss the best options for |
| parents, and support staff alike generally meet | | | | success. |
| together for an annual Individualized Education Plan | | | | Make a plan for the summer. It is very useful for |
| (IEP) for the coming school year. For those of you | | | | students with disabilities to see a visual of how the |
| who are unfamiliar with them, IEPs are usually | | | | transition will take place. You can draw a map for the |
| completed in the spring for students receiving special | | | | summer, or write important dates on a calendar (for |
| education services. When preparing for IEPs, it is | | | | example when school ends, summer events, meeting |
| essential for parents and educators alike to think | | | | the new teacher, when school will begin again, etc.). |
| about the conclusion of the current school year and | | | | Guide the child through the transition. It will be |
| the beginning of the next, and how they will support | | | | important to guide the child in how to say goodbye |
| the child during this time. | | | | to this year’s teachers and classmates |
| During moments of transition from grade to grade, | | | | appropriately. It will also be important, especially for |
| classroom to classroom, or school to summer, many | | | | parents, to guide their child through their summer |
| children with disabilities begin to feel uncertain about | | | | routine whether at home, on vacation, or attending |
| what is to come for them in the future. This | | | | summer school. |
| uncertainty can lead to increased in anxiety, which | | | | Gear up for the coming school year. During the |
| can be manifested in many different ways. As | | | | several weeks prior to the start of school, it is |
| educators and parents, it is very important to plan | | | | beneficial to take your child to his or her school, |
| not only for the upcoming school year, but also for | | | | introduce him/her to the new teacher, and allow him |
| the transitions in between. Here are several | | | | her to familiarize him/herself with the new |
| suggestions to make those transitions easier and less | | | | surroundings. It may also be beneficial to set-up a |
| stressful for everyone involved: | | | | time to meet with the new teacher(s) to discuss the |
| Communicate with the child that the school year is | | | | child’s needs, and what he or she can expect |
| coming to an end, and that summer will be | | | | during the first days of school. By doing this, you will |
| approaching. This is a good time to discuss moving on | | | | be able to help prepare your child for what he/she |
| to a new teacher, saying good-bye to the current | | | | can expect when school begins again. |
| teacher, and ways for maintaining friendships over | | | | In following these steps, transitions from school to |
| the summer. | | | | summer and then to school again can be less |
| Include the child in the planning process as it draws | | | | stressful and more enjoyable for everyone involved. |
| near. It is important to ask him/her what he/she | | | | As educators and parents, it is important for us to |
| would like to learn and from whom in the next school | | | | support our children, and guide them in successfully |
| year. For educators, asking for student input is very | | | | dealing with transitions. |
| important. We want our students to feel | | | | “Nothing is secure but life, transition, the |
| empowered, that they have an impact on what | | | | energizing spirit. |