SE News: Special Education
- January 31 - Tip of the Week & Upcoming Special Education Parent Session
- January 24 - Tip of the Week and Video Highlight "Learning Styles and Study Skills"!
- January 17 - Tip of the Week & Past and Future Special Education Meetings!
- January 10 - Upcoming Special Education Parent Meeting & Tip of the Week!
January 31 - Tip of the Week & Upcoming Special Education Parent Session
Tip of the Week
Welcome to all of our new families! We hope you are off to a great start. If you were not able to join us on January 23rd for our Special Education Parent Orientation, you may view the recording below. You will be able to familiarize yourself with our Special Education services and supports and receive lots of tips on making this a great year at GCA.
01/23/2025 Special Education Parent Orientation Meeting
Upcoming Special Education Parent Session |
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Unlocking the IEP: Classroom Supports that Fit |
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This session will cover the categories of accommodations that are available to students, when they are appropriate, and when they are not. In addition, we will highlight some of the great tools that are available to all of our students at GCA. Please note: This session will not cover specific accommodations as these are determined by the IEP Team. | |
All Special Education Families will be emailed an invitation on Monday, February 3rd with a link to register for the presentation and choose one of the time slots below. | |
Date: February 4th, 2025 Three Time Offerings! |
12:00-1:00 P.M. |
Parent Resource HubTo view previous parent sessions related to Special Education topics, visit the Special Education Parent Resource Video Library
January 24 - Tip of the Week and Video Highlight "Learning Styles and Study Skills"!
Tip of the Week!
Helping students understand their learning style is key to unlocking their potential. By identifying the correct learning style and study methods, you can help your student maximize their learning today and in the future. Check out this week's Video Resource Highlight to learn more.
Video Resource Highlights
Breaking the Barriers to Academic Success: Learning Styles and Study Skills
Parent Resource HubTo view previous parent sessions related to Special Education topics, visit the Special Education Parent Resource Video Library
January 17 - Tip of the Week & Past and Future Special Education Meetings!
GCA Parents and Learning Coaches, in case you missed us this week!
01/13/2025 SE/MTSS Eligibility Parent Meeting
Tip of the Week!
Taking care of yourself as a parent of a special needs child is the most important thing you can do to support your student. This week’s “Surviving Flu Season“ article will feature the why and how to care for you.
Surviving Flu Season
This time of year can be difficult. The weather is colder and a flu bug always seems to be hiding around the corner. When the flu hits, it throws everything off schedule and into chaos. Timelines are unmet, routines are disrupted, and everything comes to a halt. For those of us with children that have special needs, every season, month, week, or day has the potential of being “flu season.“ We never know when illness, a bad mood, or just a simple off-day will strike our carefully planned days and strategically orchestrated routines. For this reason, it is imperative that we take care of ourselves as carefully as we take care of our children. We cannot give them the support they need if we don’t have a strong foundation. The following are ways to make sure that you are caring for You and keeping that foundation strong:
1. Give yourself daily ME time. |
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Have a cup of tea and read for 15-30 minutes, relax in the tub, dance like no one's watching, or just unplug and enjoy a quiet place. | |
2. Exercise |
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This has many benefits. It is good for your health, improves your mood, increases your cognitive ability, and helps you feel more in charge of yourself. Taking care of our kids can be physical at times and we need to make sure we are up for the task. | |
3. Build your own support team |
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Make sure you can always “Phone a Friend“ (or family member) whether you need to vent, call in back-up, or get some respite by having them take the kid(s) so you can have a break. I once attended a seminar in which the speaker said we all need a lifeboat of people in our lives. When I asked how to do this with four special needs children he stated, “Get a bigger lifeboat!“ We like to think that we are the only ones who can do all that we do, but we have to realize we can’t do it alone. | |
4. Acceptance |
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Having a child with special needs means life may not turn out as we planned. We need to know the difference between the things we can fix and the things that are simply reality. Seeing this distinction and having a solid plan for the future can make parents feel empowered and in control. Understanding what your child needs and in turn, what you need, will allow you to navigate the years ahead successfully and ensure the best outcome for your child. As a parent and a learning coach for your child, there is even more on your plate than most parents. You have to wear so many hats to care for your child, so make sure that you can survive “flu season“ and are giving them your best by taking care of the one person that is most important to them, |
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Featured Quote: |
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“Self-care is never a selfish act - it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others. Anytime we can listen to our true self and give it the care it requires, we do it not only for ourselves, but for the many others whose lives we touch.“ - Parker J. Palmer |
Upcoming Special Education Parent Session |
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Special Education Department Orientation |
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If you are new to Georgia Cyber Academy or missed our session in the fall, this is the session for you. We will share how GCA serves our Special Education students, answer frequently asked questions, and provide tips and tools to make it a great year at GCA! | |
All Special Education Families will be emailed an invitation on Monday, January 20th with a link to register for the presentation. | |
Date: January 23, 2025 | Time: 6:00 - 7:30 P.M. |
Parent Resource HubTo view previous parent sessions related to Special Education topics, visit the Special Education Parent Resource Video Library
January 10 - Upcoming Special Education Parent Meeting & Tip of the Week!
Greetings Families!
We hope you had a restful break and are ready to start the second semester strong.
Parents, You Are Invited!
January 13th at 6:00 p.m.
Join us for an informative Parent Training Night focused on helping you navigate the support systems available for your child's education. This session will cover essential topics to empower you as a champion on your child's learning journey:
- Special Education Eligibility: Learn about the process used to determine if your child qualifies for special education services and how to participate in the eligibility determination.
- MTSS: Explore how Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) provides support for your child's learning.
- Psychological Evaluations: Gain insights into the purpose and process of psychological evaluations in identifying learning needs, emotional well-being, and behavioral supports.
- Child Find: Review the federal mandate requiring schools to identify and evaluate children who may need special education services, including what steps initiate this process.
Join us to learn how these systems work together to ensure every child has access to an equitable and supportive education.
Tip of the Week!
Now is the time to reflect on what went well during the first semester and what can be improved. Be sure to check out our tips below to help make this semester the best one yet.
Setting Up for Success
- Evaluate your student’s workspace. Are there adjustments that can be made to help your student focus better? Does it need to be reorganized so your student can be more productive?
- Ask your student what would help them stay on track. Involve them in setting reachable goals.
- Remember to celebrate at least one success at the end of each day! Your student is a superstar and needs reminders that they can be successful.
- If you have not already done so, make sure to add Tasks For Canvas to their Canvas account. This tool will help them find and track all of their assignments to maximize completion and help them learn time management. The directions for this are included below.
Tasks For Canvas Instructions
Are your students keeping up with their assignments? Do you or your student find it difficult to locate assignments and due dates? If you would like a great way to keep up with all assignments in one location be sure to download Tasks For Canvas. This is a great extension that will work seamlessly with Canvas to organize and track all assignments. Check out our tech team’s article at the link below. Also included below is a video introduction that was provided last year if you would like to review it.
Tasks For Canvas Assignment Tracking Extension
Click above for instructions to install the one-stop Chrome Extension for assignment tracking and organization or below to view the video.
Previously Recorded Video Introduction to Tasks For Canvas
Parent Resource HubTo view previous parent sessions related to Special Education topics, visit the Special Education Parent Resource Video Library
Need help or resources? Schedule an appointment with Jennifer Anderson, Special Education Parent Mentor
Parent Mentor
Special Programs FSPC
Special Education News Archives
Expand to see past news
- December 20 - Tip of the Week and Parent Session Recording News
- December 13 - Tip of the Week and a Community Provided Opportunity
- December 6 - Tip of the Week and Reminder about the Special Education Parent Session
- November 22 - Special Announcement from SE and Register for December's SE Parent Session
- November 15 - Tip of the Week and Upcoming Special Education Parent Session
- November 8 - It's #SchoolPsychWeek, Tip of the Week and much more!
- November 1 - Tip of the Week & Video Resource Highlights
- October 25 - Check out these Tips of the Week!
- October 11 - Tip of the Week
- October 4 - Tips of the Week!
- September 27 - Tip of the Week and Breaking the Barriers to Math Success Video
- September 20 - Tip of the Week and Community Provided Opportunity
- September 13 - Tip of the Week and Transition News and Reminders
- September 6 - Special Education Parent News and Resources
- August 30 - Parent Resource Hub
- August 23 - SE Parent Orientation Recording and GA DPH Special Needs Assessment
- August 16 - You're Invited to our Special Education Parent Orientation
December 20 - Tip of the Week and Parent Session Recording News
Tip of the Week!
Congratulations!!
You made it to the end of the semester. The Special Education Department wishes you and your family a safe and relaxing Winter Break!
We look forward to seeing you next year on January 7th, 2025.
1st Semester Parent Session Recording News |
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All Parent Sessions provided during 1st semester will be available in our Special Education Parent Resource Video Library when you return in January. |
Parent Resource HubTo view previous parent sessions related to Special Education topics, visit the Special Education Parent Resource Video Library
December 13 - Tip of the Week and a Community Provided Opportunity
Tip of the Week!
School breaks can be a wonderful time to rest and relax. They can also be a time of stress and overstimulation for our students who thrive on routine. It is important to have activities and schedules during breaks to help students anticipate each day.
I have provided a list of great family activities below. Consider creating a calendar of activities to share with your student when the break begins. This will provide them with a sense of security to help them navigate the change in their routine.
Create Cozy Memories Together! |
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Involve your student in planning a meal. |
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Let your student help you in the kitchen as you prepare meals. Let them be Sous-Chef for the Day! |
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Have a craft day and let them create something to give to others. |
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Involve your student in planning a surprise that will make someone smile. |
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Build a fort and camp out indoors. Share stories and treats. |
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Snuggle up and have a family movie day or evening. |
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Make different hot cocoa or apple cider varieties and have a tasting contest. |
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Bake cookies together. |
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Have a family game day. Let them pick their favorite games. |
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Go on a scavenger hunt indoors or outdoors. You can find some great ideas online. |
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Let your student tell or read you stories at storytime. |
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Let your student be your helper or shadow for the day. |
Check out this Emory Autism Parent Training Session!
Community Provided Opportunity |
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Hosted by:
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Title: Understanding Your Child’s Sensory Profile and Supporting Their Individualized Needs: A training for parents and caregivers of autistic children |
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Date: January 8, 2025 | Duration: 1 Hour (6:00 - 7:00 PM) |
Description: In this training, Emory Autism Center staff will present on sensory processing differences of autistic children. Participants will be given practical strategies to meet sensory needs across each sensory profile and will increase their understanding of how to integrate these strategies into daily routines. | |
Webinar Link: Supporting Your Child's Sensory Needs |
Parent Resource HubTo view previous parent sessions related to Special Education topics, visit the Special Education Parent Resource Video Library
December 6 - Tip of the Week and Reminder about the Special Education Parent Session
Tip of the Week!
Welcome back from your much-deserved break!
With only three weeks left until the end of the semester, now is the time to support your students in finishing strong.
Below are some tips that may help.
Let the Countdown Begin: Checking It Twice! |
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1. Check your students' Canvas and Grade Books for any missing assignments or assignments that can be tried again for grade improvement. |
2. Email your student’s teacher or have your student email if there are any questions about assignments. |
3. Ensure your student completes any study guides for the Interim Assessments and help them review and practice the material. You can break review time into smaller pieces so they don’t get overwhelmed. |
4. Practice the RELAX technique below with your student so they can do their best on testing days. |
R - Read the question carefully and then reread the problem to find the right answer.
E - Examine every answer choice before you choose your answer.
L - Label your answer in the passage or problem.
A - Always check your work.
X - Out answers that cannot possibly be correct.
Reminder for all Special Education Families!
Upcoming Special Education Parent Session |
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Special Education and the IEP: Unlocking the IEP |
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Would you like to be more confident when you attend your student’s IEP Meeting? Join us for this session to learn more about the make-up of the IEP team and how an IEP is developed. We will examine each section in detail and discuss how they combine to design an individualized student plan | |
All Special Education Families were emailed an invitation on Tuesday, December 3rd with a link to register for the presentation and choose one of the time slots below. | |
Date: December 10th, 2024 Four Time Offerings! |
10:00-11:00 A.M. |
Parent Resource HubTo view previous parent sessions related to Special Education topics, visit the Special Education Parent Resource Video Library
November 22 - Special Announcement from SE and Register for December's SE Parent Session
The Special Education Department would like to wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving break! We are thankful for you and your students!
Upcoming Special Education Parent Session |
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Special Education and the IEP: Unlocking the IEP |
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Would you like to be more confident when you attend your student’s IEP Meeting? Join us for this session to learn more about the make-up of the IEP team and how an IEP is developed. We will examine each section in detail and discuss how they combine to design an individualized student plan | |
All Special Education Families will be emailed an invitation on Tuesday, December 3rd with a link to register for the presentation and choose one of the time slots below. | |
Date: December 10th, 2024 Four Time Offerings! |
10:00-11:00 A.M. |
Parent Resource HubTo view previous parent sessions related to Special Education topics, visit the Special Education Parent Resource Video Library
November 15 - Tip of the Week and Upcoming Special Education Parent Session
Tip of the Week
The holidays are quickly approaching. Be sure to take some time to read with your child. You can always visit the SORA library for books with a holiday theme. You can also encourage them to write or draw about all the fun things you experience so they can save their memories.
Upcoming Special Education Parent Session |
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The Importance of Self-Determination in Special Education Students |
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Self-determination is a life-long skill that will follow your student into adulthood. Join us for this session to learn the characteristics of self-determination and why they are pivotal to your student’s success in school and in life. | |
All Special Education Families will be emailed an invitation on Monday, November 18th with a link to register for the presentation and choose one of the time slots below. | |
Date: November 21, 2024 Four Time Offerings! |
10:00-11:00 A.M. |
Parent Resource HubTo view previous parent sessions related to Special Education topics, visit the Special Education Parent Resource Video Library
November 8 - It's #SchoolPsychWeek, Tip of the Week and much more!
School Psychologists: THANK YOU for supporting our students! #SchoolPsychWeek
During the week of November 11-15th, the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and schools across the United States will recognize National School Psychology Week (NSPW). This week celebrates the contributions of school psychologists and the important role they play in schools and communities. NSPW is an annual opportunity to recognize school psychologists' work to help children thrive in school, at home, and in life. This year’s theme, “Spark Discovery,” recognizes the work that school psychologists do to help their communities seek out new ideas, effect change, and expand horizons for children and youth. Join us by taking this week to embark on a journey of discovery, explore how each person can celebrate the work of school psychologists, and learn how school psychologists help students, families, and communities every day.
Tip of the Week
Vocabulary is one of the skills that is strongly linked to literacy success. You can play a key role in building your student’s vocabulary at home.
Choosing Books to Build Vocabulary
- Is the topic interesting to the child?
- Is it developmentally appropriate?
- Choose books with repeated text or rhymes.
- Choose books with creative illustrations.
- Does the book foster connections?
- Look for rich and interesting stories and characters.
- Remember to include non-fiction books- children love them!
Strategies to Build Vocabulary at Home |
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Conversational Turn-Taking (Serve and Return) |
Listen to your child with anticipation and respond in turn. |
Allow the child to respond fully- be sure to allow extra time for children who need time to process information, and formulate a response. | |
Show interest and enthusiasm for the child's efforts. | |
The PEER Method |
Prompt the child to say something about the book or page by asking a question about an object on the page or an action in the story. |
Evaluate the child's response. | |
Expand by rephrasing or adding information to build vocabulary. | |
Repeat the child's response and have your child repeat your expansion. | |
Dialogic Reading: CROWD |
Completion- Ask the child to complete a sentence or phrase. |
Recall- Ask about details of what you read. | |
Open-ended questions- Ask about a picture in the book. | |
Wh Questions- Who, What, When, Where, Why | |
Distancing- Ask questions that connect something in the story to the child's life to access prior to knowledge. |
Community Provided Opportunity |
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Hosted by:
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Title: Home Supports for Autistic Children Who Attend General Education Classrooms: A training for parents and caregivers |
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Date: November 12th, 2024 | Duration: 1 Hour (12:00 - 1:00 PM) |
Description:
Children often come home with various homework tasks that must be completed prior to the next school day. However, homework is often a huge battle for parents to tackle with their kids, especially if a child is autistic. In this training, Emory Autism Center staff will present strategies for (1) supporting autistic children in managing the emotional regulation needs after a long day at school, (2) planning the evening to ensure homework is accomplished with less opposition, and (3) increasing the independence of autistic children with daily living tasks and chore completion. |
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Webinar Link: Communication Supports at Home |
Parent Resource HubTo view previous parent sessions related to Special Education topics, visit the Special Education Parent Resource Video Library
November 1 - Tip of the Week & Video Resource Highlights
Tip of the Week
It is said that a child who reads will be an adult who thinks.
Over the next several weeks, our Champ Chatter Special Education page will focus on strengthening literacy at home. This week we will focus on the connection between Language and Literacy.
Let's Define It
Language is the system of patterns and symbols we use to communicate.
- It may be spoken, written, or signed
- Receptive - listening, reading, watching
- Expressive - speaking, writing, signing
Literacy is the ability to read and write.
The Connection
Talking and listening to our children will help them learn to read and write. No matter how your child communicates, listening to their cues and responding to them will increase their confidence to explore different communication methods. Remember that even if they use assistive technology to read and write, they still interact with language and improve their literacy skills.
Tips To Help At Home
Parents support language development when they...
- Talk to their child and name objects, people, and events in the everyday environment.
- Talk to their child during daily routine activities such as mealtime or family time and respond to their questions.
- Draw attention to different kinds of print in everyday settings such as traffic signs, store logos, and food packaging.
- Introduce new vocabulary words during special activities such as outings to the Zoo, the park, and vacations.
- Engage their child with music, rhyming, wordplay and games.
- Read picture and story books that focus on sounds, rhymes, and alliteration.
- Read and reread a favorite book.
- Focus attention by pointing out new words or pictures while you read.
- Provide a variety of materials to encourage creativity such as drawing or painting.
- Encourage their child to tell a story and then draw it or write about it.
Video Resource Highlights
Building Blocks of Academic Success: The Ins and Outs of Reading Success
From our Parent Workshop in 2023
Writing: Letter Formation and Fine Motor Skills
Building Writing Skills
No matter where your student is in the writing process you can find a resource below. Select a tab that meets your student's needs.
Parent Resource HubTo view previous parent sessions related to Special Education topics, visit the Special Education Parent Resource Video Library
October 25 - Check out these Tips of the Week!
Tips of the Week
Did you know that talking to your student about his/her disability plays a crucial role in building self-determination and life- long success?
Helping students understand their disability enables them to understand the way they learn and empowers them to provide vital feedback about what helps and what does not. If we don’t help our students understand the way they learn and why, they will often write their own story of failure and frustration. We can prevent these feelings by simply talking to them and more importantly, listening.
See the parent’s guide below to help guide your conversations. You are able to download the document.
A PARENT'S GUIDE: HOW TO TALK TO YOUR CHILD ABOUT THEIR DISABILITY
Meet your child where he or she is...
Has he/she asked questions or noticed similarities with others who have disabilities Have age-appropriate conversations that build over time.
Focus on the child, not the disability...
Love and cherish your child and his/her unique characteristics. Recognize that your child is more like his/her peers than different. Use people-first language and language that they understand.
Be knowledgeable about your child...
Begin discussion by talking about their strengths, talents, gifts, interests and learning differences. Everyone has things they do well, what gifts and strengths do they bring to the family?
Talk to your child about their challenges, just like you talk to them about how tall they are or the color of their eyes. Everyone has challenges but it does not define who they are.
Normalizing differences with honesty, support and love will help your child reach their own dreams!
Educate don’t excuse...
Discuss role models
Stress coping and learning strategies
Know that the expectations that you have for your child greatly influence their achievements for themselves
Children with disabilities may be unmotivated due to feelings of failure, frustration and false labels (crazy, lazy, dumb)
Let them know that you feel that they can achieve!
Provide feedback for your child...
Praise progress and effort as well as results.
Give honest and specific compliments.
Your child will need to know how to correct the things that go wrong.
Point out the problem and decision they made, them help them come up with better solutions.
Help them think through positive and negative consequences.
Remember ALL students a have North Star and with support, they can navigate their way to success!
Parent Resource HubTo view previous parent sessions related to Special Education topics, visit the Special Education Parent Resource Video Library
October 11 - Tip of the Week
Tips of the Week
The transition to adulthood does not begin in high school. Skill development related to transition can begin as early as preschool and should begin no later than elementary school.
Below are some great things to teach your child to help them prepare for independence and post-secondary success.
Elementary Age Students |
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Home Living Skills |
Community Living Skills |
Job Readiness Skills |
Don’t Forget the FUN! |
Picking up toys |
Restaurant Manners |
Clearing the dishes and wiping the table after a meal |
Climbing and swinging to gain spatial awareness |
Doing the dishes |
Using public facilities |
Emptying the trash |
Playing board games to learn turn-taking |
Making the bed |
Putting their trash in the proper waste bins |
Returning toys/items to their proper location |
Playing tag to learn how to get along in a group |
Dressing and Grooming |
Identifying safety personnel to ask for help |
Cleaning a room after playing |
Running and tumbling to gain stamina and gross motor strength |
Basic Hygiene Skills |
How to pick an item to buy with the amount of money they have |
Staying on task for a set period of time |
Playing ball games to learn reaction time |
Sorting Clothes |
How to give money to a cashier to purchase an item |
Following 2 to 4-step directions. You may have to start with 1 step first. |
Playing any team sport to learn collaboration and teamwork |
Vacuuming |
How to read pedestrian and safety signs |
Answering the phone and taking messages |
Experiment with different leisure activities to learn about their likes/dislikes. |
Middle School Age Students |
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Home Living Skills |
Community Living Skills |
Job Readiness Skills |
Don’t Forget the FUN! |
Doing the laundry | Walking on public streets safely | Doing yard maintenance - raking/mowing | Participating in activities with friends |
Cooking simple meals | Purchasing items within a budget | Deep Cleaning the house - windows/cabinets/ floors | Taking classes in their interest area in the community |
Maintaining a clean room | Purchasing meals in restaurants via a server or autopay tablet | Ironing and folding clothes | Attending school events and activities |
Meal planning | Becoming familiar with public transportation options | Operating household machinery - oven, dishwasher, yard equipment | Joining a club at school |
Making Grocery Lists | Volunteering in the community | Cleaning bathrooms | Practicing be away from home by joining a friend’s family on an outing |
Cleaning common areas of the house | Joining a community organization | Working for 1-2 hours including following a sequence | Exploring different activities of interest to find a hobby |
Parent Resource Video Library
To view previous parent sessions related to Special Education topics, visit the Special Education Parent Resource Video Library
October 4 - Tips of the Week!
Tips of the Week
Building academic skills at home can be fun and educational at the same time by using the tips below.
Academic Skill |
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Build 1-to-1 Correspondence for Math Skills | Play games like Hi Ho Cherry-O, Domino's, and Country Bears |
Improve Working Memory | Play games like Memory, Go Fish, and Simon Says |
Work on Multiplication and Division | Use blocks to build sets of 2, 3, 4, etc. to see how tall you can make walls for towers or castles. Then take them down again in the same sets. |
Reading Fluency | Read books that have repetitive phrases and are simple to sound out. Take turns reading the pages to enjoy some fun time together. |
Reading Comprehension | Take a picture-walk through a favorite book and let your student tell you the story and point out all the times they were right when they described the pictures. |
Writing - Fine Motor Skills |
Let your student make letters in sand or rice. Have them trace words or connect dots to form letters. Let them make some dough and then make letters from the dough they made. |
Writing - Story Telling | Pick a theme for the month and have your student begin a story about that theme one night and then add it every night until you have a great story at the end of the month. Make even more fun by including the whole family in the storytelling. |
Parent Resource Video Library
To view previous parent sessions related to Special Education topics, visit the Special Education Parent Resource Video Library
September 27 - Tip of the Week and Breaking the Barriers to Math Success Video
Tip of the Week
Problem-solving skills and reasonable risk-taking are key steps in building self-determination and independence.
Some tips to help your student develop these skills safely are:
- Hold a family meeting to discuss problems that need to be solved.
- Have your student list possible solutions to any problems that are identified.
- Teach your student how to make choice maps that list the risks, benefits, and possible consequences when coming up with solutions.
- Allow your student to take ownership of their problem-solving decisions.
- Teach them to evaluate consequences and make corrections when needed.
- Build a safety net through family, friends, schools, and community to provide support when things don’t go the way your student planned.
**Remember that problem-solving skills take practice and trial and error are a healthy part of growing up. Have patience and lead with compassion.
Video Resource Highlight
Building Blocks of Academic Success: Breaking the Barriers to Math Success
Would you like to know what the components of Math learning are and at what age they develop? Are you looking to help your student strengthen Math skills at home? Would you like to identify and communicate the areas of struggle you see at home with your IEP team? If you answered yes to any of these questions this video is for you.
Parent Resource Video Library
To view previous parent sessions related to Special Education topics, visit the Special Education Parent Resource Video Library
September 20 - Tip of the Week and Community Provided Opportunity
Tip of the Week
Help your students imagine a self-determined future!
Help your student create their future vision by:
- Exploring some parts of the world every day through books, online tools, TV shows, etc. For example, you can go on a job hunt or a hobby hunt and point out different things people are doing.
- Allowing your students to explore through a variety of sensory methods.
- Identifying young adult mentors with similar disabilities that demonstrate success.
- Talking about future jobs, hobbies, and lifestyles.
- Developing collages, scrapbooks, or vision boards based on interests and goals.
- Finding places your students can serve or volunteer in their areas of interests.
Make it fun and have fun exploring!
Community Provided Opportunity |
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Hosted by:
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Title: Communication Supports as Home: A Training for Parents and Caregivers of Autistic Children |
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Date: September 25th, 2024 | Duration: 1 Hour (12:00 pm - 1:00 pm) |
Description: Many behaviors of children with autism are often deemed as “challenging“ and “difficult“ to handle. In this training, Emory Autism Center staff will present on the connection between behaviors and communication. Participants will learn strategies and practices for supporting functional communication in the home and community settings. | |
Webinar Link: Communication Supports at Home |
Parent Resource Video Library
To view previous parent sessions related to Special Education topics, visit the Special Education Parent Resource Video Library
Need help or resources? Schedule an appointment with Jennifer Anderson, Special Education Parent Mentor
September 13 - Tip of the Week and Transition News and Reminders
Special Education Parent News and Resources
Tip of the Week
Encourage Self-Determination in your students by letting them practice making choices.
Promote Choice Making Proficiency by:
- Helping your student identify their preferences, interests, and strengths.
- Letting your student make choices about clothing, social activities, family events, and routines.
- Allowing for mistakes and natural consequences.
- Listening to your student and valuing their input when decisions are being made.
Transition News and Reminders
For parents of students in 8th-12th grade
- Your student will be invited to Transition Homeroom on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month. This time is set aside for them to work with their Case Manager on creating and reaching their Transition goals. Please remind them to look for the Class invite and log in.
- Each Transition-age student was provided a Grade-level Questionnaire to complete. These help your students identify their interests and preferences and areas they would like to work on as they prepare for success after high school. If your student has not completed their questionnaire, please encourage them to do so as soon as possible.
Parent Resource Video Library
To view previous parent sessions related to Special Education topics, visit the Special Education Parent Resource Video Library
Need help or resources? Schedule an appointment with Jennifer Anderson, Special Education Parent Mentor
September 6 - Special Education Parent News and Resources
Welcome to all of our new families!
We hope you are off to a great start this year.
If you were not able to join us on August 20th for our Special Education Parent Orientation, you may view the recording below. You will be able to familiarize yourself with our Special Education services and supports and receive lots of tips on making this a great year at GCA.
You can view and download the presentation slides below. If you attended live or watched the recording, please remember to complete the attendance form.
Tip of the Week
Assignment completion is a major factor in success at GCA.
Are your students keeping up with their assignments? Do you or your student find it difficult to locate assignments and due dates?
If you would like a great way to keep up with all assignments in one location be sure to download Tasks For Canvas. This is a great extension that will work seamlessly with Canvas to organize and track all assignments. Check out our tech team’s article at the link below. Also included below is a video introduction that was provided last year if you would like to review it.
Click above for instructions to install the one-stop shop Chrome Extension for assignment tracking and organization or below to view the video.
Parent Resource Video Library
To view previous parent sessions related to Special Education topics, visit the Special Education Parent Resource Video Library
Need help or resources? Schedule an appointment with Jennifer Anderson, Special Education Parent Mentor
August 30 - Parent Resource Hub
Parent Resource Hub
Thank you to our instructional team for sharing the resource below for great tips and resources for working with your student outside of the classroom.
Skill Area | Try This! |
---|---|
Reading |
K-5: Pick out 1-2 books to read together a day! Try using SORA to find a book your student is interested in! 6-8: Try relating reading options to your student's interests. Reading an online article about gaming tips is still reading! 9-12: Encourage your student to try different genres of books. Try encouraging audiobooks - many are inside of SORA. |
Math |
K-5: Have your student help you in everyday math like cooking measurements, counting steps, asking questions about time, reviewing multiplication facts, etc. 6-8: Include your student in family purchases, calculating tax, budgeting/saving for items they want, and determining if they have enough money. 9-12: Consider opening a joint savings account, practice making a household budget, and look at utility bills together. |
Writing |
K-5: Have students practice writing letters of the alphabet and their first and last names. Help children write letters to family members or friends, give children story starters, and let them write their own short stories. 6-8: When your student needs help with an assignment or needs to communicate with their teacher, have them create the email with your support. 9-12: Practice writing a cover letter and resume for job applications. Review and practice outlining/writing essays from the CommonApp for college apllications. |
Support Programs - Sign In Through Your Student's Clever: |
Supports Across Grade Bands: |
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Parent Resource Video Library
To view previous parent sessions related to Special Education topics, visit the Special Education Parent Resource Video Library
Need help or resources? Schedule an appointment with Jennifer Anderson, Special Education Parent Mentor
August 23 - SE Parent Orientation Recording and GA DPH Special Needs Assessment
Missed us this week?
Parents, learning coaches and students thank you for joining us for this week’s Parent Orientation. If you were unable to attend, you can view the recording below.
You can view and download the presentation slides below. If you attended live or watched the recording, please remember to complete the attendance form.
We want to hear from YOU!
The GA Department of Public Health launches the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs assessment to gather feedback and recommendations from families across the state.
Your participation will help to identify What Matters Most to Georgia Families Caring for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs! This is an opportunity for families to influence the priorities and focus of maternal and child health programs in the state, and is part of a comprehensive, statewide assessment the program conducts every five years as part of federal Title V funding. The survey covers a range of topics, including access to health care services, child and family well-being and quality of life, health care financing and community resources. The survey will be open until September 6th.
August 16 - You're Invited to our Special Education Parent Orientation
Special Education Parent Orientation
We will share how GCA serves our Special Education students, answer frequently asked questions, and provide tips and tools to make it a great year at GCA!
This is a targeted session, parents and students receiving Special Education services will be sent meeting link and details by email.
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