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Special Education Blog
Apr 30, 2010
Posted in: Blog
Posted by Marcye Gray, MSAD17, Director of Special Services, Oxford Hills School District
Last month I wrote about organizing your thoughts for your upcoming Transition IEP meeting. By this month the meeting is probably scheduled. As parents or providers you are now important partners with the school staff. Children make the greatest progress when we are all on the same team, working together for that progress.
When that IEP meeting comes, remember that this is a TEAM. Share information, ask questions, be honest, and be respectful. These simple rules apply to each person at the table. When I am chairing a meeting I always begin by asking the parents about their child. After all, parents know the child best. This is especially true at the transition meeting when school staff have had only brief contact with the child. Be ready to tell the team what you want a kindergarten teacher to know about your child – strengths, problems, and what he or she likes to do. If you have concerns about this important transition, share them, too.
Once the meeting is behind you it's time to prepare your child for school. You can call the principal and arrange a visit. This can be while school is still in session, after school hours, or in the summer – whichever will be the most comfortable for your child. Speak positively and enthusiastically about school throughout the summer. I also encourage you to have an activity calendar. This is simply a calendar with one school readiness activity for every day. Early in the summer it may be to read a book or draw a picture. Later it may be to shop for a school outfit or tell you the teacher's name.
This is an exciting transition. Don't panic. (I think I've written this before. J) Enjoy the new stages your child will enter as he or she becomes part of the school community.