Preparing Neurodivergent Learners for a New School Year
Hi there! How are you? It’s so nice to see you here!
WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS QUARTER:
Our topic dives into the magic of summer and building in predictable flexibility while keeping your vacations, visits to new locations, and even the starting the new school year in mind. If you’re wondering how to create predictable flexibility while honoring what supports your learner best this summer - this is for you!
Aug - Preparing for School
“Back to school, back to school…”
We’ll discuss ways to help you learner navigate getting back into the school routine as well as how you can support your family navigating this change in structure after a relaxing summer together.
It starts with you.
Maybe it’s just me but sometimes it feels like those “Sunday Scaries” everyone talks about start as soon as I see August approaching on the calendar. When I worked full time in the schools I remember being both excited, anticipating a fresh new school year, but also having the “School Scaries” fill my belly. Now, as both a parent to my own children, and as a Behavior Analyst that consults in schools and works with families on skills at home, I’m realizing how much of the back to school tone we set for our learners.
So what do I mean with “It starts with you?”
You know how much I enjoy talking about the many different types of transitions (flash back to Quarter 2 content) but the back to school transition can be one of the most difficult. Why? Well…
New routines
New expectations
New places
New faces
New learning demands
…. to name a few.
But, it’s important to remember that how we transition starts with us. Yes, I say us (I’m including myself here as a parent for a second) because the way we talk about this transition let’s our learner know whether this will be a safe experience or not.
How can we (as parents and caregivers) make an impact?
Start with gentle, playful conversations about what school COULD be like this year.
Use this space to share what your learner is most excited & most worried about. Both are important.
Validate without pointing fingers. This is a tricky line. It’s a line in this space I won’t be crossing because I am here to uplift your family at home and not get into particulars about how schools do things, etc. However, as a parent and educator I emphasize that this would be an opportunity to validate and hold space for your learners feelings and to let your learner know it’s ok to feel a certain way. Letting your learner use this space for themselves while not mixing in your own feelings is important. For now, keep discussions about your feelings between you & your partner, coparent, other key family members, etc. There’s a time and space for your side too. For now, let’s let your learner hold this space.
Lean into visual tools and flexible predictability
Transition Social Story
This is one of my favorites.
When I was full time in the schools, I worked with a variety of rockstar school-based related service teams across the buildings I was in and together we’d prepare for our school learners to transition (from prek to kindergarten, 5th grade to middle school, middle school to high school, high school to transition program, etc.) These teams would work with the learner’s case manager to create a social story with images of the new space, new teachers/related service providers, bus schedule, etc. I loved how involved the entire team (school and family) felt in the process and how it supported the learner’s transition in a positive way.
While I’m not suggested that every school do this, it wouldn’t hurt to reach out to the school and/or your learner’s case manager and ask for some images of staff, the classroom, etc. and put together a book for your learner.
As one of this month’s freebies, I’ve got a back to school social story template here for you to use!
Visual Schedule
Lean back into the basics. If you’ve been using a visual schedule for events, trips, certain daily routines etc. it will be easy to transition a daily visual schedule back into your life. And if you’ve been using it the entire time, keep the train rolling!
I love using the visual schedule for learners because it allows the learner to get a concrete visual of what their day will be like without getting lost in the oral language component of the description.
A few tips to consider:
Some learners would benefit from being involved in putting the schedule pieces up for the next day. It offers some control in what is coming up and elicits a conversation about the day ahead.
Some learners might find this activity overwhelming or get stuck on the tasks ahead. If that happens to be the case for your learner consider
Putting no more than 2-4 visuals up at a time. Smaller visual amount can be easier for scanning and understanding.
Set up the schedule for the learner to see the next day to have some predictability and structure. You can work towards including them when it is appropriate to.
Creating Time for Choice
Transitioning back into the school routine
The school year is so drastically different than the relaxation of a summer routine. Even if summer camps are involved, theres nothing like the early to rise and early to bed, extra curricular activities and homework involved in the school year.
But what can we do ahead of time to support our learners so the start of the year doesn’t completely shock their systems out of relaxation and instead ease into structure.
1. Rebuild those consistent bedtime and wakeup times
Those lazy days of summer and slow wake ups are glorious, but I promise that rebuilding these times will set you up for success (& make for a cheerier day for all!)
Take an audit of what time you’re currently going to bed and waking up
Set a “target” time for what time you need to get to wake up first
Work backwards to determine how much time your learner needs to sleep and set an appropriate bedtime (Link to bedtime chart from TakingCaraBabies)
After you’ve determined your “ideal target” bedtime and wake up time, start working towards that goal in 10-15 minute increments each night/day.
Keep in mind, you may want to start this at least 2 weeks (or more depending on how much time you need to adjust) so move slowly and patiently.
This may be adjustment for you, too 🙂
2. Rebuild those consistent meal times
If theres one thing I love about meal time in the summer is there's no rush to bed and no lunch prep for the next day shortly afterwards (Am I right?!)
But hear me out.
I’m not suggesting you make your lunch time at 10:30 AM because thats when the school day is.
Instead start making more consistent breakfast, lunch, dinner (& snacks) that would be a “closer: approximation to when you’d have those meal times during the year.
This can be tough if there are other siblings and after school activities, etc. but a “closer” approximation can only help when the year starts.
3. Gradually build in structure at home before the year starts
Start considering the following:
Re-introducing a visual schedule for morning and evening routines.
Re-visit packing and unpacking backpack routines
Re-visit your school schedule (e.g. what specials are coming up, what activities to plan for, school lunch menu choices, etc.)
Re-visit after school activities (e.g. sports, therapies, etc.)
Reach out to your learner’s case manager, classroom teacher, etc. to check-in on any changes for the year (if they haven’t reached out already.)
Slow and steady wins the….start of the year
Nothing is worse than “full steam ahead” at the start of anything, yet alone a school year!
Approach this year slowly and carefully.
Consider:
Practicing your routines and gradually incorporating them into the day-to-day.
Take note of where your learner is with their abilities to complete certain routines and how much support they need (or don’t need) before they can do the routine on their own
Take a peek at my free prompt hierarchy visual (it’s a great tool to have handy on your phone or nearby to peak at)
Ease into additional activities. I know, a lot of activities start right when the year starts which means EVERYTHING happens AT. THE. SAME. TIME. And our learners? They’re EXHAUSTED! If you can, try building in activities slowly.
And if you need a place to start, you can always create a mini story using our second monthly freebie, this mini story freebie template to help.
If you’re wondering what to do and want to collaborate on sustainable strategies to support your learner at home and beyond, let’s chat over a coffee break together and build something just right for your learner, together!
Make sure you’re following along on Instagram @coffeemugsandclipboards as we bring this quarter’s content all about transitions to life!
I hope your day goes as smoothly as you wish and as always,
I’m so glad you stopped by!
