The holidays are over. Decorations are put away. New Year’s resolutions are already fading, and the cold reality of winter has set in. For students with specials needs, that cold reality may begin with post-holiday regression upon their return to school.
After the extended winter break in December, many parents worry that their child has regressed in a variety of areas, including academic, social-emotional, and physical. The long school recess disrupted their child’s established school routines and therapies, which may have created setbacks in their child’s behavioral, academic, and social progress. If you’re concerned about your child’s regression and progress, follow this simple guide to put your mind at ease.
Steps Parents Can Take to Address These Concerns
- Make a list of your top five concerns about your child. It might be academic progress. It might be behavioral regression over the holidays. Here’s an example: Without the daily reinforcement of social interaction and established school routines, you may have noticed your child regressed in areas like following directions, managing emotions, turn-taking, and appropriate social responses.
- For each listed concern, note the level your child had reached prior to the December holiday break. Check tests, quizzes, teacher notes or emails, or progress notes you received during that time period to refresh your memory. Add your own recollections and those of family members.
- Next, add details about your child’s current status for each concern.
- Given your child’s ability level, what goals would you like to see your child achieve by the end of the school year? What milestones, objectives, or short-term goals could s/he reach along the way to get there?
- Create a graph for each concern that incorporates December levels, current levels, short-term goals, and long-term goals. Leave room to track your child’s progress on a weekly basis.
- Make a copy for each of your child’s teachers and therapists.
- Share the list and graphs with each staff member who works directly with your child and politely ask them to review the list and graphs. Ask for their considered input.
- In the meantime, keep track of your child’s progress. Keep a folder with emails between you and the staff members and any pertinent work your child brings home.
- Consider any feedback you receive from the staff.
- Balance your concerns with respect for the staff’s experience and opinions. There is truth behind the old proverb, You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. But don’t discount your experience and input as a parent.
By taking these steps and tracking your child’s progress toward goals, you are creating a paper trail of progress (or lack thereof), of parental requests, of staff responses, and are preparing to give informed and detailed input at the next IEP meeting.
Have Questions About Your Child’s IEP or 504 Plan? Need Help Advocating for a Program? Call the Experienced Attorneys at Sussan Greenwald & Wesler for Assistance.
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