SchwabLearning.org. Grade 8: Preparing for High School Success. Grades 9 & 10: Transition Planning Begins. page 1

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1 SchwabLearning.rg A Parent's Guide t Helping Kids With Learning Difficulties page 1 Grade 8: Preparing fr High Schl Success Students with learning disabilities/adhd need t: Take the mst academically challenging prgram in the mst integrated setting pssible. Cnsult LD teachers as needed n hw t becme independent learners. Actively participate in IEP meetings and suggest gals that fcus n study skills, time man agement, and test-taking strategies. Seek pprtunities that will fster self-determinatin and independence thrugh increased respnsibility at hme and in schl. Develp mney management skills and assist in meal preparatin, shpping duties, and caring fr clthing. Expand academic interests thrugh electives and extracurricular activities. Begin t identify preferences and interests. Keep a calendar fr activities and hmewrk assignments. Develp apprpriate scial skills and interpersnal cmmunicatin skills. Learn abut high schl expectatins and fferings. Grades 9 & 10: Transitin Planning Begins Students with learning disabilities/adhd need t: Cntinue t practice Grade 8 gals. Learn what learning disabilities are and are nt. Develp an understanding f the nature f their wn disability and learning style. Clarify the exact nature f their learning disability r ADHD by reviewing the diagnstic reprt with an LD specialist r psychlgist. Learn abut civil rights and the respnsibilities f high schls and clleges under the IDEA, Sectin 504, and the ADA. Self-advcate with parents, teachers, and peers. With parent input select classes (e.g., wrd prcessing, public speaking, study skills) that will prepare them academically fr cllege r vcatinal/technical schl. Avid temptatin t retreat t lwer-track classes, if cllege-bund. Select slid cllege prep curses. Be wary f curse waivers and carefully cnsider implicatins f thse chices. Use LD supprt and accmmdatins in math r freign-language classes rather than seek ing a waiver, if pssible. Seek classrm teachers and learning envirnments that are supprtive. Enrll in remediatin classes if necessary. Cpyright 2002 by PRO-ED, Inc. Reprinted with Permissin.

2 page 2 Grades 9 & 10: Transitin Planning Begins (Cntinued) Fcus n strategy-based learning with LD teacher. Balance class schedules by nt taking t many difficult curses in the same semester, r t many classes that play int the area f weakness. Beware f peer advice n which classes t take and avid. Prvide input n wh shuld participate in the planning team. Becme a c-leader f the transitin planning team at the IEP meeting. Demnstrate independence by writing sme f their wn IEP gals. Try ut accmmdatins and auxiliary aids in high schl classes that are deemed apprpri ate by LD teachers (e.g., taped textbks frm RFB&D, nte takers, laptp cmputers, extra time n exams). Knw hw, when, and where t discuss and request needed accmmdatins. Learn abut technlgical aids such as talking calculatrs, fur-track tape recrders, ptical scanners, handheld spell checkers, vice-activated sftware, and electrnic day planners. Knw hw t access infrmatin frm a large library. Meet with a guidance cunselr t discuss PSAT registratin fr Octber administratin (in the 10th grade). Arrange with guidance cunselr t take PSAT/ PLAN with accmmdatins if warranted. Register fr SAT II if apprpriate. Use scre chice ptin fr SAT II test, t release nly thse scres desired. Gain a realistic assessment f ptential fr cllege and vcatinal schl. Cnsider wrking at a part-time summer jb r vlunteer psitin. Grade 11: Transitin Planning in the Junir Year Students with learning disabilities/adhd need t: Cntinue t practice Grade 8, 9, & 10 gals. Review IEP and ITP fr any changes r mdificatins fr the upcming year. Advcate fr a cmplete psych-educatinal evaluatin t be cnducted by the beginning f 12th grade as an IEP gal. Present a psitive self-image by stressing their strengths, while understanding the influence f their learning disability. Keep grades up. Admissins staff lk fr upward grade trends. Arrange fr PSATs with accmmdatins in mid-octber. Apply fr a scial security num ber if necessary. Match vcatinal interests and academic abilities with apprpriate pstsecndary r vca tinal ptins. Explre advantages and disadvantages f cmmunity clleges, vcatinal technical schls, and 4-year clleges given the learning disability and/r ADHD. Meet with lcal Department f Rehabilitatin Services (DRS) cunselr t determine their eligibility fr services. If eligible, ask cunselr fr assistance in vcatinal assessment, jb placement, and/r pstsecndary educatin r training.

3 page 3 Grade 11: Transitin Planning in the Junir Year (Cntinued) Cnsult several f the ppular LD cllege guides and meet with a cllege advisr t discuss realistic chices. Finalize arrangements fr the SATs r ACTs with necessary accmmdatins. Visit Web site fr ACT ( and Cllege Bard ( cllegebard.rg). Start with a list f clleges based n the LD guides, visit the Web site fr these institu tins, and request specific infrmatin abut LD services ffered. When reviewing a prspective cllege Web site, determine hw available supprt services are n campus. Is there specific infrmatin n the site abut disabilities? Preview clleges with r search site. Narrw listing t 8 10 preliminary chices based n cmpetitiveness, lcatin, curriculum, csts, level f LD supprt, etc. Request any additinal infrmatin needed frm cllege (e.g., applicatins t LD prgram, speciþc fee infrmatin, financial aid frms, etc.). Discuss with parents, cunselr, regular educatin teachers, and LD teachers the anticipated level f LD supprt needed in a pstsecndary setting. Understand the differences between an LD prgram and supprt services mdels. Attend LD cllege nights at lcal area high schls. Assume respnsibility fr asking ques tins f cllege representatives. Develp a Persnal Transitin File with parent and teacher assistance. Cntents shuld include: current diagnstic testing, IEPs, grades, letters f recmmendatin, and student activity chart r resume. Narrw ptins t 5 r 6 schls ranging in cmpetitiveness and levels f LD supprt. Prepare a Cllege Interview Preparatin Frm t use during the campus interviews. Arrange fr campus visit and interviews in advance. Dn t just drp in n the LD supprt services ffice staff and expect an interview. Cnsider sitting in n a class r arrange t meet cllege students with learning disabilities thrugh the supprt services ffice. Listen t their firsthand experiences. Meet with the designated LD services crdinatr t determine the level f supprt ffered and t assess the nature f the services ffered (e.g., remedial, cmpensatry, learning strate gies, etc.). Determine hw imprtant self-advcacy is n campus. Determine hw accmmdatins are arranged with faculty. Fllw up with a persnal thank-yu nte t the disability crdinatr. Cnsider a private LD preparatry schl r a 13th year prgram if pstsecndary educa tin desn t seem t be a viable ptin. Cnsider enrlling in a summer rientatin prgram specifically fr students with learning disabilities/adhd. Cntact HEATH Resurce Center ( HEATH) fr mre infrmatin. Apply fr a summer jb, vlunteer psitin, r career-related wrk experience.

4 page 4 Grade 12: Transitin Planning in the Senir Year Students with learning disabilities/adhd need t: Cntinue t practice Grades 8, 9, 10, & 11 gals. Update IEP and ITP quarterly. Retake the SATs r ACTs t imprve scres. Nte that scres may be flagged as special r nnstandard. Discuss implicatins with guidance cunselr. Select several clleges as safe bets fr admissin, several reasnable reaches and ne r tw lng shts. Cnsider early decisin nly if cnvinced that a particular schl is the best match. Nte all applicatin deadlines. Cmplete a paper-based applicatin t use as a mdel fr n line versins. Cnsider dwnlading applicatins r using the Cmmn Applicatin. Be alert t early applicatin deadlines fr sme LD cllege prgrams. View a variety f cllege shpping netwrks: Cllegenet ( Cllegelink ( AppZap ( cllegeview.cm/appzap). Carefully select peple t write letters f recmmendatin. Give teachers and cunselrs plenty f time. Pick a teacher wh knws their persnality. Recgnize that such letters may include cmments abut the learning disability. Keep Persnal Transitin File. Keep a listing f names, phne numbers, and addresses f pstsecndary cntact peple and cpies f all applicatins in their Persnal Transitin File. Rle-play the cllege interview with guidance cunselrs r special educatin teachers. Decide whether t disclse their learning disability/adhd prir t admissin. View Transitins t Pstsecndary Learning vide and cmplete student handbk exer cises with LD teachers (Eatn/Cull Learning Grup, ). Pick up all necessary Þnancial aid frms (FAF) fr cllege frm guidance cunselr. Males wh are 18 years ld must register fr the draft t be eligible fr federal aid frms. Discuss financial cnsideratins with guidance cunselrs and search the Web using r Tap int Department f Rehabilitatin Services. If eligible fr jb guidance, cnsider enrlling in internships r jb-shadwing experiences that permit hands-n skill building. Frmulate a realistic career plan. Frward mid-year grades t clleges. Wait fr the news frm clleges. If the news is gd, then: Rank pstsecndary chices based upn their ability t successfully cmpete and the prvisin f supprt services t meet their unique learning needs. Ntify all schls f their decisin. Pay husing depsit by May 1, if apprpriate. Arrange t have final transcript sent t the cllege. Hld an exit interview with guidance cunselr and LD teachers.

5 page 5 Grade 12: Transitin Planning in the Senir Year (Cntinued) If the news is nt gd, then: Appeal the admissins decisin, especially if sme new LD-relevant data were nt cnsidered r verlked. Pursue any f a variety f alternatives such as applying t a less cmpetitive cllege with a rlling admissins plicy; enrlling in a pstgraduate year at an LD preparatry schl; enrlling in a cmmunity cllege with academic supprt services. Cnsider taking a cllege curse fr credit ver the summer at a cmmunity cllege r in cnjunctin with a summer rientatin prgram. Fr mre infrmatin n this tpic, see ur related article: High Schl Students with LD r AD/HD: Cnsidering Cllege : Frm Prmting Pstsecndary Educatin fr Students with Learning Disabilities by L. Brinckerhff, 2002, Austin, TX: PRO-ED, Inc. Cpyright 2002 by PRO-ED, Inc. Reprinted with Permissin. Originally adapted frm Making the Transitin t Higher Educatin: Opprtunities fr Student Empwerment, by L. C. Brinckerhff, 1996, Jurnal f Learning Disabilities, 29, pp Cpyright 1996 by PRO-ED. Adapted with permissin.