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.