PEP Conference Update

Hello!

I hope everything was ok while I was gone. I must say, the PEP Conference was INCREDIBLE! That word hardly does it justice. I got so many resources I want to share with all of you, and learned so many beautiful stories from parents of children with special needs.

I wholeheartedly recommend that every one of you attend this conference! It is free, including lodging and food, and hosted 3 times a year. This is a great way to really deeply learn about your rights as a parent, as well has how the special education system in this sate works. PEP stands for “Parents Encouraging Parents,” and so much encouragement happens there! Parents are connected, stories are shared, and the emotional support and energy shared experience is palpable. Only a few professionals are able to attend, the vast majority of participants are parents. I would take every one of your children for the weekend if I could so you all could attend. Check it out, let me know if you have questions, get on the waitlist if you can:)  https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdesped/pep

Here are some things I’m doing as first steps after this conference in order to share resources with you from my end:

1. I grabbed a lot of the printed material and will send packets of resources home with every student.
2. I updated my “resources” page on this website to include a few new resources and to be more organized by resource type. I will still be updating over the next several days, so make sure to check back. Also, feedback and ideas welcomed!
3. I will be adding an “IEP” page to this site with some resources and guidelines to support you in the process, and hopefully help outline how it goes. I’ll let you know when I get this up!

Thank you for all you do, always! I feel so grateful to have been able to be part of this conference and to be surrounded by incredible parents always. You do so much for your children. I will never be able to tell you how much your kids mean to me, and how important you are for being with them for their whole journey, and sharing part of this journey with me.  My awe and respect for you and your job only grew at this conference.

Never hesitate to come to me with any question, idea or confusion regarding your child’s education. Tell all of them hi for me. I missed them so much those two days and can not wait to see everyone this week!

-Ms Wales

Weekly Update: 1-26-16

Hello!

I just added a new tab to this website: “General Education Information.” Please take a look and let me know if you have questions! Your child’s general education teacher and classroom is a big part of their school day and career at Edison, so it is important that you are “in the loop” there as well. I want to increase my communication about general education and encourage your connection with that teacher as well. I eagerly welcome feedback to do that more effectively!

Also, just a reminder that I will be at the Parents Encouraging Parents conference at the end of the week and will have a sub Thursday afternoon and all day Friday. Only a few professionals are able to attend this conference. I have been on the waiting list for over a year and am grateful for the opportunity to learn more about resources for parents, families, and the home-school connection in Fort Collins! Please help prepare your child for this change….though most seem a little too happy about it since it says “no Ms Wales” on our calendar:)

Talk to you soon!

-Ms Wales

Save the Date

Touch the World (our classroom party, fundraiser, performance extravaganza!) is coming! Save the date for March 4, 5:30-7:30. More info coming soon!

School of Choice Letters

Hello again!

A letter about school of choice was sent home for a few of you. I just spoke to my Support Partner to receive some clarification on these. If you received this letter you do not need to do anything if you wish to stay at Edison. You only need to fill out school of choice paperwork if you wish to go to another school. Please let me know if you have questions about this!

Thanks,

Ms Wales

Weekly Update: 1-14-2016

Hello!

The exciting thing that happened in our class this week is we got goldfish! We are learning about animals and their needs in science and will be working on building a habitat and feeding these “babies” throughout the unit. We’re working on being gentle, safe, and keeping our hands to ourselves as we observe these new pets.

This week, we jumped back into our academic schedule (last week’s primary focus was school behavior after break). You may notice a new note in some of your children’s notebooks about their “Room 125 Goal.” I am working with general education teachers to target specific skills related to students’ IEP goals across different classes. The hope is teachers can focus on this goal as well as call on students to provide this answer when appropriate. This would also be a good thing for you to target at home:)

Stay up to date on school days off and a few Ms Wales absences on the calendar tab. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Have a great weekend!

-Ms Wales

Back to School On Wednesday

Hello and Happy New Year! I am SO excited to see all of my students and friends at school on Wednesday! We will spend this week remembering and practicing school rules and routines. I have lots of fun things to help us with this!

Start preparing your children now! Look at the countdown calendar, talk about school, talk about the rules and the good things and feelings that happen. Show them how excited Ms. Wales is for them to come back to school…

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns for the transition back! I’d also love to know a few details from your break to help students share their stories with friends.

Talk to you soon!

-Ms Wales