As we prepare for the return to school, parents can play a big part in supporting their student’s well being and academic and social successes. Here are some back-to-school resources to help you and your student navigate the new school year.
You are Your Student’s Best Advocate
Autism Society Back to School Toolkit
The Autism Society’s back-to-school toolkit focuses everything from understanding your child’s IEP to school safety.
Taking a Closer Look: My Child’s Academic Success
U.S. Department of Education
Tips for parents about how to be involved in your child’s school, and what to do if problems arise.
Eight Steps to Kicking off Your Child’s IEP the Right Way
Understood
Whether your child’s beginning a new school year or has a brand-new (IEP), you’ll want to get off to a good start. Here’s what you can do to kick off the IEP and school year the right way.
Partner with Your Child’s Teacher
Building a Good Relationship with Your Child’s Teacher
National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD)
Get tips on how you can foster a sense of partnership with the teacher and administration to support your child’s education.
Communicating with Your Child’s Teacher
Pathfinders for Autism
The kids are off and back at school. Do you wonder what kind of day he is having? Do you wonder if she has friends at school? Are there things he struggles with during the school day? You can ask her teacher for a daily communication log. But what information should you request?
10 Ways for Parents to Help Teachers
National PTA
Here are 10 simple yet powerful things that parents can do at home to support teachers in their daily work of teaching our young children.
Back-to-School Night Resources for Parents
Reading Rockets
Make the most of back-to-school night. It’s a valuable opportunity to learn important information about your child’s classroom experience.
Easing Back-to-School Anxieties
How to Calm First-Day-of-School Nerves in Different Grades
Understood
No matter what grade they’re in, kids often get nervous about starting the new school year. And for kids who learn and think differently, it can be especially scary. Get tips on how to help your child calm first-day jitters and start school with a good attitude.
Experts weigh in: “How can I get my young child less anxious about starting school?”
Understood
How can you help your young child feel less anxious about going to school? Here, four experts weigh in on why kids may feel anxious about school, and how to help.
Six worries families have about this year’s back-to-school
By Understood
Back-to-school season is coming up, and some families still don’t know where and how their child will be learning. For kids who are heading back to school buildings, the CDC has issued safety guidelines for reopening. That means school is going to look very different this year. Here are some common worries families have about back-to-school this year.
Navigating Transitions and Establishing Routines
Back-to-School Tips
Pathfinders for Autism
The beginning of a new school year is an exciting yet anxious time for both parents and children. It typically brings a change in the daily routine established over the summer months. While change can be difficult, the following tips will help prepare a child with ASD for the new school year and make the transition back to school easier.
Planning for Successful Transitions Across Grade Levels
Indiana Resource Center for Autism
The transition from one grade to the next can be especially challenging for the student with an autism spectrum disorder. However, these students can more easily make this shift if careful planning and preparation occurs.
Homework Tips
Pathfinders for Autism
For parents of kids with autism, ADHD, or other executive functioning deficits, homework time can be an all-out battle. Oftentimes students have “held it together” all day – the last thing they want to do at home is more schoolwork! Try one or more of the following tips to make homework time less of a battle and more of a routine.
Printable Downloads
Back-To-School Resource Pack
Autism Society and Nickelodeon
Download, print, and customize power cards, token boards, and visual schedules with the support of favorite Nick characters such as Spongebob Squarepants, Blue’s Clue’s, Bubble Guppies, Fairly Odd Parents, Paw Patrol, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dora the Explorer, Peppa Pig, and Loud House.
Printable Back-to-School Downloads
Understood
Introduction letters, school contact lists, backpack checklist. and more.
Back-to-School Update for Families to Give to Teachers
Understood
When kids are going back to school, it’s always an important time for families and teachers to connect. But parent-teacher communication is especially important this year. Use this one-page download to update the teacher on how your child is doing.
Back-to-School Worksheet to Start the Year Strong
Understood
Summer is a good time to hit the pause button and think about the past school year. What went well? What was challenging? And what did you learn that can help in the new year? Help your child get ready to go back to school by filling out this worksheet together.
School Communication Log
Understood
Who said what and when? A school communication log makes it easy to organize — and quickly find — your notes about phone calls, letters, in-person meetings, emails to or from your child’s teachers, and any other communication with the school.
Know Your Rights
Compensatory Education/Recovery Services Webinar (April 2021) Notes | Recording
HCPSS Department of Special Education, Special Education Community Advisory Committee, and the Autism Society of Maryland
This webinar is for parents and families on IEP implementation and compensatory education/recovery services for students who have an Individualized Education Program (ages 3-21). As students return to in-person learning, a team will evaluate your child’s progress—considering progress prior to the COVID19 school closures, during the closures and virtual learning, and present levels to determine if compensatory education/recovery services are required.
