Mrs. Joakim's KES Resource Room

With the school season in full swing, what can you do to help your child keep up with daily demands of homework, studying for exams, and being prepared for class? It's never too early or too late for students to learn good habits, and you can help whether you're demonstrating the value of literacy at home to your preschooler (by their seeing you enjoy reading and your reading to them!), helping your child learn to master basic academic skills and good study habits, or introducing technological supports that allow your teen to more easily access the information they need.

NCLD's LD.org Web site is available to help you find all sorts of useful information on homework, study skills and much more.  You'll find even more resources in the "Homework" section of LD Basics.  http://ncld.convio.net/site/R?i=T-HnvtfQGFgAb0o2iF2S7A

Posted by Ms Joakim at 11:11 AM | Permalink

Hopefully you have had the time to shift through all of the paperwork you've received from the school, and filled out all the forms required.  I would like to bring your attention to two special education forms.

1. Medicaid.  By now you should have received a packet from the Special Education Department here in Kennebunk that included your statement of rights.  In that packet was a Medicaid form that needs to be filled out and returned to us.  If you have any questions, or cannot locate the form, please let me know.
2. You should be receiving a yellow form in the mail from the State Department of Education.  This form is a survey specific to your experience as a parent of a special needs child here in Kennebunk.  I would encourage you to fill out the form and mail it back in the self addressed envelope. Your response is confidential.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns, I'm always happy to help.

Susan Joakim

Posted by Ms Joakim at 7:21 AM | Permalink

Parents of children with disabilities often ask themselves how they can best prepare their child for life.  The National Center for Children with Learning Disabilities recommends the following:

The Power of Resilience: Achieving Balance, Confidence, and Personal Strength in Your Life, 2004, Contemporary Books. Dr. Robert Brooks and Dr. Sam Goldstein.  Brooks' and Goldstein's book offers these ten guideposts to help children develop the strength and skills to cope successfully with the stresses and challenges they face.

• Be empathetic. See the world through your child's eyes.
• Communicate with respect. Don't interrupt, or put them down. Answer their questions.
• Be flexible. If we want kids to be flexible we must model that behavior.
• Give undivided attention. Children feel loved when we spend one on one time with them.
• Accept your children for who they are. When children feel appreciated for who they are, they'll feel more secure reaching out to others and learning how to solve problems.
• Give children a chance to contribute. When we enlist children in helping others, we communicate our faith in their ability to handle a variety of tasks and give them a sense of responsibility.
• Treat mistakes as learning experiences. Children whose parents over-react to mistakes tend to avoid taking risks and end up blaming others for their problems.
• Stress your children's strengths. Their sense of accomplishment and pride gives them the confidence to persevere the next time they face a challenge.
• Let your children solve problems and make decisions. Instead of always telling children what to do encourage them to come up with solutions to problems.
• Discipline to teach. Do not discipline in a way that intimidates or humiliates your child.

Enjoy your child!  I sent my oldest off to college this year and can only hope that I have done my best to prepare her just as I'm sure you are hoping to prepare your child for the world.

Susan

Posted by Ms Joakim at 2:11 PM | Permalink

Now that the first week of school is over and students are adjusting to the routine I would like to encourage you to to establish a regular reading time each night with your child.  Many of the classroom teachers will require reading logs, and reading for homework.  Since a number of the students who come to the resource room can not read books at their grade level, I highly recommend books on tape.  By listening to books on tape, your child can experience the same rich literature as their classmates, and you may be surprised how much you enjoy listening with your child.  The Kennebunk Free Library has an extensive stack of books on tape.  I'd love to hear what you've listened to, and what your favorites are.

Susan Joakim

Posted by Ms Joakim at 7:24 AM | Permalink