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In the Middle. Transitioning Elementary to Middle. Who Are We?. Cheryl Wright Altadena —Special Education Teacher Karen Reiss Monte Vista —Special Education Teacher Jo Shurman– Teacher Specialist.
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In the Middle Transitioning Elementary to Middle
Who Are We? • Cheryl Wright • Altadena —Special Education Teacher • Karen Reiss • Monte Vista —Special Education Teacher • Jo Shurman– • Teacher Specialist
The purpose of a smooth transition is to ensure that the student begins the new year in a new school with all the necessary supports in place to allow him/her to be successful. Transition Thoughts
Transition Thoughts • Power in Partnership • Communication is critical • Home and school • Current staff and new staff • Trust • All parties have the student’s best interests in mind • Process • If things aren’t working-revisit • Adjustment period
Students with disabilities are more likely to transition successfully if: • They establish meaningful relationships with faculty and staff • Feel connected to their school • Establish meaningful relationships with peers • Establish goals – make a connection between the here and now and their future • Know and understand their disabilities and how to compensate for them.
Process • To ensure student success, middle school staff needs to be made aware of the student’s needs and the necessary support the student requires. • Articulation meeting between elementary and middle school special education teachers • Discuss student strengths and needs • Recommendations • No IEP decisions are made
Special Education Eligibility • May have a 3 Year Re-evaluation to update testing in elementary school • Special Education services continue based on eligibility • Related service (OT, PT, Speech) will continue based on eligibility
Transition Process • IEP meeting • Aug-Dec: begin discussions about middle school program • Dec-May: IEP meeting or addendum • Discuss middle school options • Include service times on IEP • May include middle school resource teacher • IEP and/or Re-Eval due in August • Should be done in spring of 5th grade
Transition Process • School visits • 5th grader with general ed class • 5th grader with special education teachers (optional) • Meet resource teacher • Pair with other student • Ask questions of middle schoolers
Transition Process • Parent Information Nights • Administration visits elementary school • Student completes course elective forms for middle school • Could be discussed at transition meeting • Special Education team may be involved in creating student schedules
Differences between Elementary and Middle School All Students Students with IEPS • 5 different classes and teachers a day • 68 min in a class (60 min on Wednesday) • Academic Lab (30 min/4 days) • Transitioning between classes • Homework • Electives • Lunch! • No Recess • Extracurricular activities • LRE options • General Education • Co-Taught • Pull Out Resource • Language Arts • Math • Extended Resource • May participate in other classes based on student’s needs
Open Enrollment • If a student is OE at an elementary, granted OE for feeder middle school, no application necessary • If requesting a different middle school, has to apply for OE