Learning About Emotions at North Street
Dr. Alina Boie is teaching kindergartners at North Street School self-regulation strategies. Students learned about strong emotions and strategies they can use to calm down (i.e., deep belly breathing, using "I statements) as well as ways they can problem-solve efficiently.
Using Assistive Technology
On March 11, Ms. Meagan White, the district's assistive technology specialist, provided professional development to the middle school paraprofessionals. Paraprofessionals learned about Snap & Read and Co-Writer, and how to utilize assistive technology in the classroom to support student learning.
Glenville's SESS Parent Coffee on Executive Functioning
Dr. Fabian Agiurgioaei Boie and staff members of Glenville School's SESS team led a presentation and facilitated a discussion on Executive Functioning. The presentation provided an overview of Executive Functioning and offered practical strategies to support children in exercising their executive functioning skills in the home and school environment.
Special Education Bridging Information Sessions
If your child is transitioning, or "bridging," from PreK to kindergarten, elementary to middle schools, or middle to high school and has a 504 or IEP, the SESS department's virtual information sessions to share more about the bridging process. If you couldn't join us, you can watch the recorded presentation which will be posted to the district website following the presentation.
Recorded Bridging Presentations
Inclusion Corner
With Rachel Ruben
This month, I want to pass along a reminder about the concept of neurodiversity.
Neurodiversity describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits.
That is not to dismiss the challenges that someone with a disability may face, but rather a way of thinking that embraces diversity while advocating for support, accommodations, and understanding to ensure everyone can thrive regardless of their differences. Our schools are making strides in creating inclusive and neuro-affirming environments, and that means students may see things that are different (and different doesn’t mean bad, it just means different). For example, some students may have a certain spot or flexible seating option in the classroom, other students may verbalize or stim, and others may use alternative ways of communicating such as signing or using an AAC device.
So how do we talk to our children about this concept of neurodiversity and the things they may be seeing to create neuro-affirming environments?
For the past few months, I have had the pleasure of presenting and connecting with families across the district at several elementary schools’ SESS Coffee and Conversations. This topic of how to approach talking about neurodiversity and learning, behavioral, and communication differences with children in a way that is developmentally appropriate, came up at almost every session.
Luckily we have wonderful, supportive parents in our district, and one specifically had a great resource to bridge this topic. She recommended the picture book “Just Ask,” by Sonia Sotomayor, providing children with the strategy of, if you are curious, respectfully, just ask! In doing so, children can develop a sense of understanding and better connect with their peers.
Check out the summary:
In Just Ask, United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor celebrates the different abilities kids (and people of all ages) have. Using her own experience as a child who was diagnosed with diabetes, Justice Sotomayor writes about children with all sorts of challenges--and looks at the special powers those kids have as well. As the kids work together to build a community garden, asking questions of each other along the way, this book encourages readers to do the same: When we come across someone who is different from us but we're not sure why, all we have to do is Just Ask.
The Office of Special Education and Student Supports
Email: stacey_heiligenthaler@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Website: https://www.greenwichschools.org/teaching-learning/special-education
Location: 290 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, CT
Phone: (203) 625-7493