Transition to High School: Tips for

SuccessSandy Kempf – Effective Practice

Specialist for Transition

Joann Noll

Parent Education and Diversity Awareness

Workshop Goal

Learn at least one planning tool, idea or brainstorm that you can incorporate into your child’s transition plan to High School

Before We Get Started…

What are you most concerned with regarding transition to High School?

What do you hope to gain/learn from this training?

Who’s in the room?

Normal Emotional Reactions to Change and Transition

AnxietyFearWithdrawalAnger

from Life Changes: Growing through Personal Transition by Spencer and Adams.

Transitions…

Are difficult for everyone…disability or not

Are going to happen

Must be planned and organized

Creates anxiety for everyone involved…including the student, parent, teacher, paraprofessional and  administrators

Take a Deep Breath…It Will be Fine!!!!!

Planning for Success

What to Consider/Do When Planning for High School

Tip 1: When to Start Planning?

Tip 2: What’s the First Step?

Relationship Building

Start with Your Current Teachers and Administrators in the Middle School

Ask Current Administrative Team to Help with Introductions

Meet with Administrators in the High School

Tip 3: What Skills Should We Be Focusing On?

Independence (accessing building, collecting materials

and homework, etc.)

Self Advocacy

Self Regulation

Why are These Skills so Important?

Activity

Turn to your elbow partner and talk about what skills you learned in during High School that you use today!

Tip 4: Planning for the Next Four Years

Team Approach

Long Term Vision

Involve Your Child

Will talk more about transition planning and IEP process later, also we offer Transition and the IEP Process Training

Read Course Guidebook 

What are the class options?

Work experience options?

Technical School?

Insider InfoReach out to:

Other StudentsCounselorSpecial Education Teacher

To Understand Expectations, review:

High School textbooks

Course outlines

School website

Tip 5: Read Student Handbook 

Discipline Procedures

School Code of Conduct

Read Student Handbook 

Dress Code

Dismissal Procedure

Tip 6: Tour the Building

You and Your Child

Your Child with Staff

Your Child with a Older Student

Video Modeling

Tip 7: Things to do the Summer before:

1)Walk their schedule2) Find out if students actually use the

lockers!3) If so, make a plan for when they can stop

by the locker4)Become familiar with the Gym Locker

Room – review the rules when changing5)Summer School/ESY6)Recreation Council

Tip 8: Go Through the Yearbook

Tip 9: Understand the New School Routines

Bell schedules

How much time allotted for transition between classes?

Tip 10: Get On Every Mailing List/Alert

Tip 11: Develop Plans for:

Cafeteria

Develop Plans for:

Bus

Develop Plans for:

Physical Education (P.E.)

Develop Plans for:

Substitutes (teacher, bus, para)

Develop Plans for:

Commons area procedure

Tip 12: Identify Safe Havens and the Script or Cue to Ask for it!

Counselor, Principal or Special Ed Teacher’s room.

Tip 13: Friendship and Social Skills

Hidden Curriculum

Friendship and Social Skills

After School Activities

Friendship and Social Skills

Dress for Success

Student Informant

Tip 14: Bullying

Sometimes it’s not an If, but a When…

Prepare so you can prevent

Tip 15: Reach Out to Other Parents

Attend New Parent Coffee

Parents of Older Kids

Parent Advisory Council (PAC)

Me!

Tip 16: Helping Prepare the High School Staff

Intro Letter

Intro Letter

Who the student is

What are their strengths/interests/motivators

Some things they should know

Some interventions/accommodations/tricks that work

Bottom line - What do they need to know off the bat for a successful school year

Communication

Special Considerations to Consider:

Establishing Communication Style between Home and School

Having receiving Team observe the student in 8th grade

Helping Prepare the High School Staff

Arrange for quick 1:1 meeting with the student before the start of school

Ask for a Team Meeting Before School Start or Shortly after it start to discuss accommodations and communication

Helping Prepare the High School Staff

Don’t Forget about:

PE Teacher

School Librarian

Other Specialists

Guidance Counselor

Helping Prepare the High School Staff

Don’t Forget about:

Cafeteria Workers

Bus Driver

Front Office Staff

More Special Considerations:

Peer Buddies

Earlier Transition between Classes

Preferential Locker Placement

Tip 17: Participate in Transition Planning for the Future

Future's Plan

Future’s Plan

About dreams, hopes, strengths Focuses on positive support systems The Future’s Plan takes into consideration

the student’s likes, interests and skills. The Future’s Plan helps guide future IEPs. Helps describe the support needed and

designs a plan for getting that support by Involving outside agencies and supports in the community    

Can look different ways to different people and that’s okay

No IEP team decisions or discussions are made.

More open-ended

Future’s Plan is:

A group of people getting together who know and care about your child and to share a vision of what their future should look like.

Family, siblings, friends, staff, Regional Office Casemanager and other professionals can be a part of this experience. It is a time to share strengths, gifts and talents.

Tip 17: Planning for the Transition and the IEP Process

Before the student turns 16…

We begin to develop an IEP that addresses transition from school to adult life.

We identify POST-SECONDARY GOALS.

Tip 17: Planning for the Transition and the IEP Process

IEP Goal Examples to Reach the Post-Secondary Goals:

Independence

Reading

Behavior

Multi-Step Directions

Social Skills

Tip 18: What to Work On at Home

• Social Skills: community outings, volunteering

• Independent living: alarm clocks, money management, homework, chores, restaurant orders

• Remember, appropriate social behaviors and independence are the most critical components to success!!!!!

Tip 18: What to Work On at Home

• Summer options – Recreation Council• Overnight camp• JCC and St. Louis ARC Volunteer Programs

Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP) – 16+

Summer Jobs

Resources Specific to High School Available in the SSD Family and

Community Resource Center

High school inclusion: Equity and Excellence in an Inclusive Community of Learners

Restructuring High School for All students Taking Inclusion to the Next Level.

The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander From Pre-School to High School : how parents and teachers can help break the cycle of violence

Inclusive High Schools Learning from Contemporary Classrooms

Help 4 ADD @ high school

Practical Strategies for Including High school Students with Behavioral Disabilities

A Buffet of Sensory Interventions Solutions for Middle and High school students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

My Future, My Plan

Teenagers with ADD and ADHD a Guide for Parents and Professionals

Resources Specific to Future’s Plan/MAPs Available in the Family and

Community Resource Center

All My Life's a Circle Using the Tools: Circles, Maps and Path

Miller’s MAP

Rediscovering MAPS: Charting Your Journey & New MAPS Training Video: Shafik's MAP

Facilitation for Inclusion with PATH & MAPS

The PATH & MAPS Handbook: Person-Centered Ways to Build Community

Additional Trainings at SSD That May be Helpful for the Transition:

Helping Your Child with Homework

Helping Children Develop Friendship and Social Skills

Bullying Prevention

Planning for the Future: Dealing with My Greatest Fears

Transition and the IEP Process

Revisit List of Concerns

Were they addressed?

Workshop Goal

Learn at least one planning tool, idea or brainstorm that you can incorporate into your child’s transition plan to High School

Any Questions Not Covered?

Please take a moment to complete the Workshop Survey.