Common 504 Interventions

Since our director, Ann Dolin, M.Ed, was a special education teacher here in Fairfax county, many families seek her advice when it comes to setting up IEP or 504 plans for their children. Individualized Education Plans (IEPs)are designed to provide accommodations or modifications for students who have severe learning differences or other impairments that affect their academic success, such as learning disorders, Down's Syndrome, or Austism. Sometimes, though, students who would benefit from educational accommodations do not qualify for special education services. For example, a student with severe AD/HD would be unable to receive services under the umbrella of special education. There is an answer, however.

Section 504 Plans are designed to facilitate support for children at school who do not meet the criteria for special education, but are still severely impacted in a main area of life. This could include breathing, performing mental math equations, seeing, hearing, speaking, etc. Attention deficits can qualify a student for a 504 plan if the disorder's manifestations prohibit learning. Deficits in auditory and visual processing can also qualify students for 504 plans. Talk to your child's teacher if you feel a 504 plan might be appropriate. You can also phone Ann for additional information.

Some common interventions provided in a 504 Plan include:
*providing frequent breaks
*administering tests or assessments untimed
*extending due dates on homework or projects
*providing peer tutors or pre-written notes
*the use of technological devices, such as calculators, laptops, etc.
*allowing students to present information orally instead of in writing, or vice versa
*scheduling student-teacher "check-ins"
*using behavior contracts or behavior modification plans
*self-monitoring
*breaking down tasks
*eliminating some or all homework assignments
*modifying assignments to allow students to effectively show their subject mastery

The list can really go on and on! If you feel that your child would or should qualify for a 504 plan, contact the school before classes begin in the fall. It can be a lengthy process to evaluate a student for possible services and it's better to get the ball rolling early.

Getting Ready for School...During the Summer!

While school may be the last thing on your mind over the summer months, it's extremely important to use the time off to effectively plan for the coming year! Putting strategies and routines in place before school starts sets the stage for success early on. Here are some tips from Karen Sampson to help your child succeed during the 2008-2009 school year.

1. Get to know your child's teacher, school counselor, or principal
It's amazing what a few pre-school emails can do when help and support is really needed during the school year.

2. Attend any orientations that your school might have
Whether it be new school, new grade, or just a back to school orientation, check in with the academic professionals in your child's life. Putting a "face with a name," creates a much more personal connection with them, even if you chat for just a short time.

3. Talk with your child about expectations
Make your expectations for school behavior clear before school starts. Your child will know what consequences will result should s/he act out. If grades are important to you or your child, also discuss the difference between "good" grades and "bad" grades. If this is part of your back-to-school conversation though, be sure to talk about "trying your best" so that your child realizes effort is more important than outcome.

4.Role-play new situations with your child
Even if students are just starting a new grade in their old school, there are a multitude of situations that may arise. Have your child practice what to do if they get lost, how to deal with bullies, or make new friends. If age appropriate, have your child practice "saying no" to drugs. Research shows the best way to prevent drug use is to prepare students to resist peer pressure!

5. Offer family rewards for success in school
Instead of money or bonuses, offer a family dinner out at a restaurant or 15-minutes extra of bed-time reading. These rewards will be much more meaningful to students in the long run and will provide more time together as a family. Everyone wins!

ADHD Support

There are roughly 2 million children in the United States today who have been diagnosed with ADHD. Judging by the laws of nature and society today, that means there are more than 4 million parents who have children, step-children, or foster children diagnosed with this disorder. As ADHD becomes more visible in schools across the nation, more and more organizations are taking notice of the need for support not only for the individuals affected by ADHD, but those around them as well.

If you find that you are in need of more information about medication, alternative treatments, or ADHD in general, a good place to start is actually your insurance company. Many plans, including BC/BC, provide tools and resources for parents and children coping with affects of ADHD. You can also log in to www.chadd.org on the web for the national chapter of Children and Adults with ADD (ADHD). Find your own local chapter of this support group by entering your zip code!

While ADHD seems to be getting its 15 minutes of fame, not a lot of people are talking about the challenges and difficulties that come along with those letters. There is definitely help and support out there. If you need a starting place, feel free to call us! We'll point you in the correct direction.

What did you do this summer?

I know we're all familiar with the "summer vacation" writing project at school! It seems to be a rite of passage for beginnging each new school year, but it can be completed at home over the summer as well to keep writing skills sharp. Initiated by parents or tutors, use summer trips, vacations, excursions, or camps to lay the foundation for writing projects over the summer months. This year, though, spice it up by adding a new twist. Use the Library of Congress' database of travel journals and diaries written between 1750 and 1920 to jumpstart creativity. Children and teens can find first hand accounts written by historical peers their age during times when America was a vastly different country (though eerily the same).
Send us your projects and we'll post them online so students can read and review other works in a mini-online community.

Summer Reading!

Looking for some great books for the kiddos to read this summer? Well we are too! With the help of the National Education Association, we have a great summer lineup for both our students and tutors. In 1999, the NEA selected the "100 Best Books for Kids." Don't let the title mislead you, though! The list includes lots of books for young adults, too! You can also view the NEA's list of "Best Books for 2007" while you're checking out the site. The best part of all is that the website also includes links to TogetheRead and TeachersandFamilies that promote literacy as a family activity--an endless resource for family reading activities. Let us know how the summer reading goes and be sure to pass along the titles of your favorite books!

Motivation Webinar

Hello!
We recently presented a webinar to our families and tutors about increasing and sustaining academic motivation. The webinar was a hit with the attendees so we thought we'd provide some of the highlights via our podcast.

What the Webinar is all about!



Intrinsic v. Extrinsic Motivation



Goal setting and positive reinforcement



Charismatic adults and "islands of competence"



Some final thoughts from the staff at EC!

What's up this summer at Educational Connections?!

As a former teacher, I know that students are quickly losing focus and turning their thoughts to the last day of school. As much as they might feel that summertime equates a break from learning, research shows that without reinforcement, summer can cause a great deal of learning loss. In order to combat this phenomenon, we have a few great programs to keep students sharp over the vacation.

1-1 In Home Tutoring
With over 100 tutors, most of whom are certified teachers, we are able to provide the most individualized instruction for students in grades K-12. Whether it's algebra review, coaching and study skills, or reading comprehension strateiges, we skillfully match tutors with students for the optimal learning experience.

To provide a more structured approach to summer learning, we also offer several packages that promote specific academic skills including active reading, writing, and organization.

Please visit our website for more information.

Summer Study Skills Class
Taught at our ofifce in Fairfax by Educational Connection's own expert staff, this class is sure to help students start the new school year positively and confidently. Each hour and fifteen minute session will focus on components of organization, time management, goal setting, and study skills. We'll also discuss coping strategies to help make transitions to a new grade or school more successful.
Class Information

Please don't hesitate to contact us at 703-934-8282 if you have any questions or would like additional information on our summer packages, courses, or one-to-one tutoring.