| Would you like to help your child that has a disability | | | | program, in order to be a successful reader. Stand up |
| and is receiving special education services, have the | | | | and ask for a change in curriculum, if your child requires |
| best school year yet? Would you like to know about 5 | | | | it. |
| things you can do, to help your child make this school | | | | You can do this by: |
| year a success? This article will discuss 5 ways to | | | | A. Asking for pre testing at the beginning of the school |
| help your child excel this school year. | | | | year, and post testing at the end of the school year. |
| 1. Open lines of communication with special education | | | | This will tell you where your child is starting |
| personnel. | | | | academically, and how much they have learned over |
| You can do this by: | | | | the school year. |
| A. Start a communication notebook; a steno pad and | | | | B. Discuss homework with your child's teacher; and |
| rubber band work well for this. When a page is finished | | | | anything you can do at home to increase their learning. |
| rubber band it to the cover, that way when you open | | | | C. Keep copies of schoolwork, positive ones and |
| the steno book, you will come to a blank page, or a | | | | things that you think your child needs more help on. |
| new message. Encourage disability educators to write | | | | Write letters when you need to, especially if you |
| in the book daily; what has happened, what child has | | | | believe that your child needs more special education |
| learned, positive comments about behavior etc. You | | | | services. |
| can also write messages about your child; sick, tired, | | | | 4. Learn about positive behavioral supports and how |
| learned something new, difficulty at home etc. By doing | | | | they are successful in increasing positive school |
| this you and disability educators will be able to | | | | behavior, while decreasing negative school behavior. |
| communicate on an ongoing basis. | | | | Share the information that you learn with school |
| B. Visit your child's classroom the first week of school; | | | | personnel, and insist on the use of positive behavioral |
| and talk to the special education staff, that are working | | | | supports, rather than punishment. |
| with your child. Tell them what works for your child, | | | | You can do this by: |
| what upsets them, and your willingness to work | | | | A. Reading a book or attending a training, that |
| together for the benefit of your child. | | | | specifically promote the use of positive behavioral |
| C. Call your child's teacher occasionally to check in, and | | | | supports and plans. |
| see how things are going. Is your child learning, are | | | | B. Many disability organizations have information about |
| they struggling in a certain subject? | | | | positive behavioral supports on their Websites. |
| 2. Express the importance to all disability educators, of | | | | 5. Tell disability educators when they are doing positive |
| having high expectations for your child. With | | | | things with your child that are working. This is done for |
| appropriate instruction, children with autism or other | | | | three reasons: The first reason is because teachers |
| disabilities can learn academics at a similar rate to | | | | need to hear when things are going well, and your child |
| children without disabilities. | | | | is learning. The second reason is that you are |
| You can do this by: | | | | documenting what is working for your child for future |
| A. Discussing this on your visit during the first week of | | | | school years. The third reason is that if you tell school |
| school. Children will live up to our expectations; whether | | | | staff when you are happy, they are more likely to |
| low or high. | | | | listen when something goes wrong, and you are not |
| B. Write a letter to your child's teacher expressing how | | | | happy. |
| you believe that your child can learn academics, and | | | | You can do this by: |
| are looking forward to working with the school for the | | | | A. Verbally telling school staff when you are pleased. |
| benefit of your child. Include things that have worked | | | | Also write letters that will be kept as a part of your |
| for your child. | | | | child's school record. |
| 3. Make special education personnel accountable for | | | | By doing these 5 things you are increasing your child's |
| your child's learning. Some children with learning | | | | chances of having a wonderful productive school year. |
| disabilities or autism, may need a multi sensory reading | | | | |