Parent Chat Series 2: Demystifying Special Education

In PC Series 2, four evening programs 1.5 hours each in duration, are available.  Our chats can be contracted individually, as a series, or can be mixed with any chat(s) in PC Series 1. The presentations are offered in a workshop style where parents/guardians/caring adults engage in discussion and activities that will provide information and lots of strategies to assist you in more fully understanding the world of special education and in working with your child.  These chats will help you to engage in your child’s school experience surrounding the IEP and help to build a true partnership between you and your child’s school.

  • • Intros

    • Social Emotional Learning as an effective means of support

    • Understanding the Special Education system

    • How to provide effective support

    • CASEL framework for SEL

    • The 5 CASEL SEL competencies

    • Academic and social/Emotional qualities

    • Special Education defined

    • Eligibility for services

    • What is every student legally entitled to?

    • Seven steps of the IEP process

    • IDEIA of 2004

    • Educational Equity

    • The 14 Special Education categories

    • Take Home Tips for Parents

    • Q and A

  • • Intros

    • SEL as an effective means of support

    • Forming effective partnerships between home and school

    • Who are your child’s helpers?

    • Who are your helpers?

    • Is there a particular teacher designated for my child for more than instruction?

    • What is the role of the Principal when it comes to my child?

    • Who do I go to for what?

    • What is the order in which I should contact school people?

    • What do I do if my child or I have a concern regarding a teacher?

    • How do I celebrate my child’s SEL growth?

    • Organizations to research

    • Take home Tips for Parents

    • Q and A

  • • What is Social and Emotional Learning?

    • Background and Supporting Research

    • SEL Challenges for Parents

    • SEL Framework from CASEL organization

    • Instruction in the 5 SEL competencies endorsed by CASEL

    • Brain science and emotion: the connection to SEL

    • SEL and educational equity

    • Grade/level appropriate SEL skills

    • SEL non-academic victories

    • What can I do tomorrow?

    • Plus…several interactive activities/small group

    • Take Home Tips for Parents

    • Q and A

  • • Let’s learn the special education vocabulary

    • The IEP: supporting goals and objectives at home

    • Impact of communication breakdown on children

    • Building relationships of mutual trust

    • Parent activities

    o Identifying SEL Categories

    o Positive Action Steps

    o I Wish my Child’s Teacher Knew…

    • Take Home Tips for Parents

    • Video

    • Q and A