Parent Connection

Welcome to our Parent Newsletter. Attendance Matters, make sure your child(ren) are present every day! Each month we will highlight a skill(s) in Reading, Math, Speech, and Gifted. Also, in this newsletter you will find additional resources via links. If you are not able to locate a resource or would like additional information, please reach out to your local school. I want to thank you for all that you do to make your child's education possible, we could not do it without you! I hope you all have a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks,

Dr. Bruce Prescott

When students are evaluated for special education services, the team should consider all areas of suspected disability for the child who is being evaluated. In Alabama, there are 13 areas of disability in all. Over the next few months, we will give a brief overview of each exceptionality and some of the criteria considered during the eligibility process. Full information about each exceptionality can be found at https://www.alabamaachieves.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/AAC-290-8-9-11-4-2013.pdf

• Developmental Delay: a delay that adversely affects daily life and/or educational performance in one or more of the following developmental areas: adaptive, cognitive, communication, social or emotional, and/or physical. This area can only be considered for children under the age of nine
• Criteria: vision/hearing screening, developmental testing, family interview, observation

• Emotional Disability: a condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely affects the child's educational performance (an inability to learn, an inability to maintain satisfactory relationships with peers and teachers, inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances, depression, a tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears with personal or school problems.
• Criteria: vision/hearing screening, intelligence test, behavior rating scales, evidence that the emotional disability adversely affects the child's academic performance, evidence that the emotional disability is exhibited over a long period of time, observations, achievement test, observations, medical reports, etc.

🦃November🍂

1-30 Native American Indian Heritage Month

11-15 National School Psychology Week

11 Veteran's Day Observed-Schools Closed

18-22 American Education Week #aew2024

20 Education Support Professional's Day #aew2024

21 Educator for a Day #aew2024

22 Substitute Educators Day #aew2024

25-29 Fall Break/Thanksgiving Holidays-Schools Closed

🎄December🕎

20 Half day for Students/ Full day for Employees

23-31 Winter Holidays-Schools Closed

*Look for information coming from your Child(ren) School.

Click on a link below to see reading tips for Kindergarten through Grade 5.

That’s not how I learned it! 4 ways to help your child with “new math”

https://www.nwea.org/blog/2024/thats-not-how-i-learned-it-4-ways-to-help-your-child-with-new-math/

This article provides tips and strategies and offers a list of additional resources!

Click on the link below on read Articles on Parenting Gifted Children.

Parenting Archives - Gifted Guru

We have a partnership with The Achievery from AT&T. It is an online platform with videos and activities aligned to national standards for grades K-12. The videos are divided into core content areas, SEL, Technology, Engineering, Digital Literacy, and Digital Arts. Teachers, students, and parents can sign up for accounts. Parents could use it at home for some additional practice. Here is the link that parents, teachers, or students could use to sign up for an account: https://bit.ly/44HWEHY

The Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) provides preemployment training services to students in grades 9-12 at no expense to families. By now, you should have received a VR Letter for PreEts and Transition Services consent form from your child's IEP case manager. If you have not received this consent form, the form is attached for your convenience. Please read, sign, and return to your child's IEP case manager. If you received the form but have not returned it to your child's case manager, please sign and return the form immediately. If you have any questions, please contact your child's IEP case manager.

Self-determination is a cornerstone outcome for students with disabilities. Research indicates that the more self-determined students are prior to leaving high school, the more likely they are to achieve their postschool goals. Self-determination is a mindset influenced by the ability to make choices and decisions for oneself and the belief that these choices and decisions will positively impact one's life. Parents can help their children build self-determination skills including, choice-making, decision-making, problem solving, goal setting and attainment, and self-advocacy by providing opportunities for students to utilize these skills. For example, your child can assist with meal planning and preparation; setting, monitoring, and adjusting daily, weekly, and/or monthly goals; ordering from a restaurant menu; and talking through situational issues where solutions are needed. These are just a few examples, but you can google self-determination videos and have a wealth of resources at your disposal.

Parents of high school students in grades 11 and 12 should contact the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services(205-554-1300) for the purpose of completing an application for adult support services. I also recommend that parents consult with ADRS about postsecondary service possibilities and procedures.

Transportation services may be available through Handi-Care (https://www.handi.care/). Handi-Care is a new for-profit transportation company in Tuscaloosa and surrounding areas. They take medicaid, which may help with the cost.

Transportation services may also be available at Tuscaloosa Transit Authority. Parents are encouraged to go to the website: Tuscaloosa Transit Authority; click on Demand Response Services; click on ADA Application and Rules to learn about how to access the services; click on Reasonable Modifications to learn more about requirement.

1. Time Management and Organization: Use a daily planner to plan out your days. Whether your planner a virtual (Google calendar), on your phone, or a physical planner that travels everywhere with you, use it and stick to it as best you can. Schedule in your free time, test prep hours, and anything else you can think of.
2. Task Prioritization: Using your calendar, evaluate what needs to be completed first. Is it the assignment that is due in two or the essay that is due in two weeks? Some students work better when harder tasks are completed first. Determine what is most important so that you can chip away at your to do list one assignment at a time.
3. Note Taking and Note Reviewing: Taking notes while you hear information will help you absorb it and hold on to it better. Sometimes it is hard to take detailed notes while your teacher is moving quickly in class. You can abbreviate words and phrases and use highlighters or different colored pens to help you remember where you have additional questions. Raise your hand in class or plan a time to meet afterwards for your teacher to elaborate. Once home, review your notes daily so that you can refresh your memory.
4. Setting Up Your Space: Your home study space is very important for your success. Do not study in your bed or in spaces where you can be distracted. Set up a desk or table in a quiet area with all of your supplies (paper, pencils, calculator, highlighters).
5. Motivation, Rewards, and Breaks: Small successes add up to your overall goal. Do not forget to cheer yourself on and to give your brain a chance to recharge by taking breaks.
6. Study Groups: Team up with others to study outside of school or ask your teacher if there are days that extended learning is offered after school.

Tuscaloosa Public Library

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WHAT IS DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY?

Success By 6 of United Way of West Alabama is proud to provide Dolly Parton's Imagination Library books FREE to children from birth to 5 years of age living in Bibb, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter, and Tuscaloosa counties. Once a month, your child will receive a new book by mail. You only need to do two things: register your child and pledge to read the books to him/her. Please, climb on board Dolly Parton's Imagination Library!

Special Education FAQs

Special Education Process

Special Education Services

Email: webmaster@tusc.k12.al.us
Website: https://www.tuscaloosacityschools.com/
Location: 1210 Almon Ave, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404, USA
Phone: (205) 759-3700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TCSBoardofEd
Twitter: @TCSBoardofEd