Parenting Special Needs Magazine - February 2019
2019 To-Do List for ESE Parents Success
Michele Gianetti 2019-01-25 00:33:43
Have you ever wished you had a list of reminders of what you need to do to stay on top and be proactive with your child’s education throughout the year? Well, we asked a seasoned ESE mom (and professional teacher) to put together a list for you.
January
❏ Relax
❏ Welcome in the New Year with activities that suit your child’s needs
❏ Plan winter fun
February
❏ Get items ready for 2nd conference night, IEP, communication sheets, notes, etc...
❏ Talk to therapists to get their input for conference time
❏ Request early if you want school therapist to be part of conference
❏ Plan who will come with you to the conference – another set of ears is great!
❏ Think about holiday party at school. What will activities be? Food? Talk it through with teacher.
❏ Think about activities for week of Spring break. Plan things in pencil early!
March
❏ Finalize plans for Spring break. What things come to mind for your child?
❏ Look for local resources to find ideas.
❏ Time to think about IEP meeting.
❏ Read your IEP
❏ Get input from your private therapists if you have them
❏ Make notes on IEP of your thoughts and concerns. It is easier this way to keep track.
❏ Start looking at options for summer camps, activities, lessons, etc...
April
❏ Start calling places for summer- ask questions, put name on lists
❏ Arrange for sitters, companions and helpers for summer.- make a back-up list
❏ Schedule summer health exams: eyes, teeth, physicals, immunization boosters. Be school ready.
❏ Start making goals for summer- what do you want to accomplish at home, therapies, socially?
❏ IEP time? Get notes, report cards, progress notes ready! Bring a companion! Sign only when satisfied.
May
❏ Recheck summer plans- verify all is in order. Make a plan B and plan C. Stuff happens!
❏ Talk to you child about summer plans- sharing helps decrease anxiety
❏ Make charts with plans clearly seen. Review often.
June
❏ Be aware of transition anxiety from school to home.
❏ Make daily schedule to help with this.
❏ Talk often
❏ Plan a scheduled down time! So needed.
❏ Keep sleep schedule as close to normal as possible.
❏ Make plans together for fun activities.
❏ Do all things with a purpose!
July
❏ Do mid-summer check in; are goals met? How is your child doing overall? Mood? New skills learned?
❏ Make notes to help with letter to school in the Fall.
❏ How are summer therapies going?
❏ Buy school supplies early- decreased crowds and anxiety.
August
❏ Draft introduction letter to school- update school on all areas of child and their summer.
❏ Prepare daily communication sheets for new year.
❏ Contact bus garage if you need special seating.
❏ Tour school many times to decrease anxiety.
❏ Email teacher and all support staff; your introduction letter gets everyone on same page!
❏ Talk about school and its schedule
❏ Try to meet teacher ahead of open house night- too busy!
September
❏ Talk to school about field trips/ special events- helps to know ahead of time to plan.
❏ Make sure teachers and staff responded to your communication letter.
❏ Make schedule for after school- do together include relaxing time, break time, therapies etc.
❏ Check in with school to see how things are going.
October
❏ Have fun decorating
❏ Plan costume early- time to shop and keep it sensory friendly
❏ Ask about party/parade- usually a crazy time, good to plan well for your child
❏ Plan for trick or treat time- are they going? Where? For how long? Plan it out.
November
❏ Get ready for conference night- prep notes, communication sheets, etc...
❏ Reread IEP
❏ Start to plan holiday time
❏ Talk about plans, food, where, when? etc…
❏ Plan your food to take- never assume
❏ Time to holiday shop? How will you do this? Plan well.
December
❏ Plan fun holiday activities and crafts
❏ Shopping?
❏ Make a visual calendar of the month- decreases anxiety in all.
❏ OK not to do things.
❏ Enjoy!
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