Parent’s Perspective: To Sebastian’s Kindergarten Teacher
By Joanne DeSimone He was 5 years old and autistic but reachable. He was delayed, but came to your kindergarten class counting, knowing his alphabet and writing his name. There were sensory issues that couldn’t be avoided in a large New York City classroom, and I...Teachers Perspective: Teaching Students How to Learn – The Power of Strategy Instruction
Strategy instruction gives students the tools and techniques they need in order to understand and learn new material or skills.If you’ve ever played chess, chances are you used a fairly unsophisticated approach when first making your way around the board. It’s also...A Teacher’s Perspective: Ready or Not – Transition Services for Students Over the Age of 18
by Fred Gruber One of the main goals of our nation’s system of public education is to give all students the tools they need to succeed in adult life, and this is especially so for students with disabilities. For more than 35 years, The Individuals with Disabilities...Five Tips Assistants Can Use to Help Promote Student Independence
1. When Entering the Room and Starting Class… If seats are not assigned, allow your student to choose where to sit. Do not pick a seat for him/her. Do not take out your student’s materials (pen, homework, etc.) or open his books for him/her (unless he has...Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders in the Classroom
By: Dr. Meir Flancbaum As a teacher, you can serve as the child’s “coach,” when he implements strategies in the classroom. Sam is a bright, considerate, athletic middle school student, but he dreads going to school. Throughout his day, unintended movement and noises...When the Bully is the Teacher
An Interview with an Expert on Bullying Provides a Thought-provoking Perspective “Bullying by teachersis enabled by a conspiracy of silence.” – Dr. Alan McEvoyBy Jean Harkness Many parents would advise a child that the only way to deal with bullies is to stand...Teachers’ Perspective: Does Your Student Have Executive Dysfunction?
By Tracy Landon and Linda Oggel Students sometimes described as lazy, unmotivated, distracted, disorganized, and chronically late may in fact be struggling with a condition know as executive dysfunction. This problem, in the frontal lobes of the brain, is one of the...Q&A: Eligibility for Special Education and Related Services: It’s Not Just About Grades
By Ira M. Fingles, Esq. “The judge noted that the student’s grades took into consideration effort, and were the result of a lot of prompting, cueing, and modifications.”Many students have what is referred to as ‘invisible disabilities’ that manifest in...When is the Right Time to Graduate?
By Ira M. Fingles, Esq., and Elizabeth M. Roberts, Psy.D. Under federal law, a student with disabilities is entitled to special education and related services until age 21, or until the student accepts a diploma – whichever comes first. The decision about when a...NJCommonGround.org, and the Common Ground E-newsletter are projects of the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities
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- The Right to a Free and Appropriate Public Education
- What to Do if You Suspect Your Child has a Disability Impacting Their Education
- Initial Special Education Evaluations and Eligibility
- The Individualized Education Program (IEP)
- Special Education Placement
- Q&A: What are Extended School Year (ESY) Services?
- Q&A: Dispute Resolution