TRANSITIONS

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TRANSITIONS

• Nothing endures but change.
• Heraclitus, 540 BC

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Goodbye Old, Hello
New!Transitioning Pre-school to Elementary to
Middle School to High School to Life!
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Transitions Mean Change

• Change has considerable psychological impact on
  the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening
  because it means that things may get worse. To
  the hopeful it is encouraging because things may
  get better. To the confident it is inspiring
  because the challenge exists to make things
  better.

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How will we engage change?

• Fearful and threatened?
• Hopeful and encouraged?
• Confident and inspired?
• It is important to know that your attitude will
  influence your childs thinking about any
  transition.

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• The goal of this training is to provide up to
  date information that will assist parents in
  enhancing their involvement during the school
  transitions
• pre-school to elementary,
• elementary to middle school,
• middle school to high school,
• and the final transition IEP teams supporthigh
  school to life.

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• Why is it important for schools to help parents
  stay involved and support them during all
  transitions?

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• Student achievement increases with increased
  duration and intensity of parental involvement
• Students with involved parents have
• Higher test scores and grades
• Better attendance
• More positive attitudes and behavior
• Higher graduation rates

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• Parents academic level, socioeconomic level, and
  ethnic or racial origin are not determining
  factors for academic success
• Successful students have parents that
• Have a positive attitude about education
• Believe their children can do well academically
• Convey that belief to their children

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Pre-School KindergartenTransitions
What do we do to help students and their parents
transition to Kindergarten?
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What Challenges Will Students Face with
Transitions from Preschool to Elementary?

• Socially
• Sharing
• Fitting In
• Peer pressure
• Fears
• Taking turns
• Respecting differences

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What Challenges Will Students Face?

• Academically
• Positive learning attitude
• Listening skills
• Pay attention
• Follow simple/complex instructions
• Recognize letters, numbers, colors, and
  shapes/NEW learning
• Problem-solving becomes more complex

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What Challenges Will Students Face?

• Physically
• Healthy
• Run-jump-throw
• Dress themselves/More independence
• Tying shoes/Life skills
• Intensity of day increases

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ANY TransitionComponents for Successful
Transitions

• Welcoming environment
• Build collaborative team approach
• Set transition goals
• Encourage empowerment
• Focus on needs in new environment

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Any TransitionComponents for Successful
Transitions

• Enrollment information and dates
• Curriculum information
• Readiness skills needed
• Establish open communication
• Archival data reviewed
• Parents share the story
• Discuss hopes and dreams

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How Can the School Help Students Transition?

• Develop a partnership with parents
• Provide a warm, welcoming atmosphere
• Establish two-way communication
• Respect cultural differences
• Begin to establish sense of belonging
• Discuss new routines/rules

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Transition Activitiesfor Parents (see handout)

• Tips to make the first day easier
• Prepare your child
• Be excited about your childs first day
• Start school routine early
• Prepare the night before
• Prepare a healthy breakfast for your child
• Arrive at school on time
• Leave your child cheerfully and confident
• Be a good role model for change

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Goodbye, Recess!

• Think ahead about battles you will choose not to
  fight
• Break down chores into smaller parts at home
• Encourage the daily planner and making lists
• Remind and model how to keep due dates and appts
• Be willing to listen....letting the rope go a
  little further with each transition is NORMAL
• Think about childs friendships
• Reprimand with precise problem not other issues
• Dont use POWER unless it is needed

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Good-Bye, Recess

• Changing classes
• More teachers
• No recess
• New grading standards
• More peer pressure
• Developmental changes (ouch)

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Good-Bye Recess

• Fear of larger campus
• Accepting more responsibility for actions
• Dealing with older children
• Merging of three other elementary schools
• Unrealistic parent/teacher expectations

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Good-Bye Recess

• Lack of experience in extracurricular activities
• Lockers
• Rigid school schedule and then it changes for
  assembly (organization skills)
• Longer-range assignments
• Coping with boy/girl issues (have fun)
• Social immaturity
• Lack of basic problem-solving skills they used to
  engage!

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• It will be OK!

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What to Expect at Middle School

• Lockers and combinations
• 8 periods a day/46 minutes each
• Student choice of electives
• Taks labs if needed
• Lunch choices/lunch account
• Dressing out for PE
• Assignment of a Case Manager

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Middle School Continued

• Learning Lab verses Content Mastery
• Continuum of services
• After school and before school tutorials
• Retesting for test failures
• Teaming
• 6th grade summer camps at each school
• HAC

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What to expect in High School

• Attend Freshman Orientation
• A / B day (alternating schedule)
• Effective use of planner or agenda by student
• Effective use of HAC by parent/guardian and
  student
• Time management during the passing periods (What
  to do in the 7 minutes)

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Continuum of Services

• Full programming available at the high school
  level
• Representative from HS attends 8th grade ARDs to
  ensure seamless programming
• Constantly monitoring effectiveness of
  interventions in place
• Modified curriculums

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Case Management

• GO TO PERSON! The on-campus liason between
  parent, student, teachers, everyone!
• Communication is integral
• Credits / Graduation Plans
• Electives
• - Academic Electives
• - CTE Elective Strands
• - Coordinated with Transition Plan
• - TAKS Labs

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WISE Weekly Intervention for Special Education

• Weekly grade checks for failing students
• Individualized interventions developed by special
  education staff
• Assists with ensuring students earn necessary
  credits for graduation
• Reduces failure rates