Community Matters Toronto

Home

St. James Town Directory

About Community Matters

Latest News Flash

Our Thanks

Staff and Volunteer Portal

Community Events

St. James Town Festival

Look.............

In the Neighbourhood

Rose Avenue Public School

Other schools in the area

STUDENTS How to start a small business

Supporting Families with Special Needs

Rose Avenue Public School May 2008 Newsletter

Tutoring Hints

Tutoring Training in St. James Town

Look...............

In Toronto and beyond

Toronto District School Board

Toronto Catholic District School Board

Commission Scolaire

Frontier College

Ministry fo Education

Learn............

About

FAQ's for children who may need extra help at school

Learning links and help for kids

Links for Parents and Tutors

Safe Schools Act

Information from the Family Involvement Network of Educators After School Programs in the 21st Century

Frequently Asked Education Questions for children who may need extra help at school

How is the school organized to help children who need more assistance?

How are chldren prepared for school entry?

What should I do as a parent?

What happens if my child needs help in the classroom?

What is an IEP?

How is my child's information recorded?

What happens to my child's information if they transfer to a new school?

What is an IPRC?

What function does an IPRC have?

Who is identified as an exceptional student?

Who requests an IPRC?

What happens at an IPRC meeting?

What is a Special Education Program?

What is an IEP?

What is included in the IEP?

What are the important points to remember?

How is the school organized to help children who need more assistance?

Each school has a Methods and Resource (MART Tearcher) teacher to help teachers and parents with teaching strategies, knowledge of resources for special needs students both within the school and the community. Matthew Reid is a MART teacher for Rose Avenue School and Jennifer Bottos is the MART teacher for Winchester Public School. The MARTs are one part of the support system for students who need extra help.

There are special needs assistants who are assigned to class rooms rather than to a particular child. They assist primarily with children who present safety concerns such as aggression or running from the classroom.

Some children participate in Diagnostic Programs in specified schools such as Regent Park Public School

Back to Questions | Back to Top of Page

How are children prepared for school entry?

Parents are asked to complete a developmental history form when registering at the school. The school uses this information in your child's best interests for example morning or afternoon classes, good mix of male and female students. many schools have a welcome to kindegarten event in the spring prior to registration.

If a child needs extra help at day care many will have developed an individual program plan (IPP) which in many ways resembles the individual education plan (IEP) used in schools.

Back to Questions | Back to Top of Page

What should I do as a parent?

Mathews Homework Hints (Link)

As a parent you can play a key role in your child's education:

• take them on outings to the library,
• play outdoor games.
• Make them feel good because they have learned and discovered new things.
• Read with them and encourage them to read independently.
• Search the internet with them and play interactive educational games.

Be proactive. You can work with the teacher:

• You can find out what educational level your child should be at: the curriculum of the Ontario Ministry of Education gives general guidelines.
• There are exemplars giving examples of writing, reading and math standards at different grades.
• Ask the teacher for work your child can do.
• Give the teacher ideas about what you have done as a parent and what works at home.
• Keep a file. Write down your notes, a record of facts and your observations for example how much homework your child accomplished in 15 minutes.
• Work with the teacher to understand why your child may be having difficulty: Is the work to hard? Is it your child's work habits? Is it your child's self confidence?
• What can be tried together to improve your child's learning.
• If you do not understand what the teacher says or what is written please ask the teacher or the school to explain.

It is in the best interest of your child that you understand what is expected of your child, what is happening in the classroom and how you can best work with the school on your child's behalf.

Back to Questions | Back to Top of Page

What happens if my child needs help in the classroom?

If you have questions or concerns talk to your child's teacher. Many times the teacher will develop their teaching approach in consultation with you and other teachers and talk with parents.

There is a lot of flexibility in the early years. The teacher and the MART teacher often work closely to bring in that school's collective knowledge on how best to help the child.

If your child is behind in one skill area, suggestions may be made to the family about how to help. It may be suggested that your child participate in reading and writing clubs, math clubs, after school programs and tutoring.

Back to Questions | Back to Top of Page

What is an IEP?

An Indivdual Education Plan (IEP) describes the program that the school can implement on behalf of the child.

It is meant for students who are two years behind grade level. Children who are on IEPs move to the next grade to stay with children their own age. In June, their report card states they are being transferred to the next grade.

When your child goes to the next grade the IEP has to be reviewed within the first 30 days of the new school year. The teacher may decide that your child has progressed to the point that they can participate fully in the regular school program. if this is the case, the parent will be invited to meet with the Shool Support Team (SST) to review your child's progress. If your child is working at grade level, the IEP will be discontinued.

Back to Questions | Back to Top of Page

How is my child's information recorded?

The Ontario Student Record (OSR) is the formal school board file containing information about your child's education and health and safety issues. This includes:

Education:

• registration
• pictures
• report cards
• IEP's
• assessments (Speech and Language, Psychology)
• record of formal suspensions
• consent forms
• documentation around referals
• custody orders

Health:

• peanuts
• asthma
• health conditions

Your child's participation in an IEP is noted on their report card

Back to Questions | Back to Top of Page

What happens to my child's information if they transfer to a new school?

The OSR is sent with the child to their new school. If it is a t the beginning of a new school year your child's IEP will be reassessed as noted above.

What is an IPRC?

An IPRC is an Identification, Placement & Review Committee. A minimum of three people sit on the committee. One of the members must be the principal of your child’s school or a supervisory officer of the Board. The other participants may include your child’s teacher, the school’s social worker, psychologist, resource teacher, special needs teacher, & yourself. An interpreter may be present if requested.

You may take a support person/friend with you as a witness or to speak on your behalf. If you wish, your child may also attend the IPRC.

What function does an IPRC have?

The IPRC will decide if your child is “exceptional”. On-going behaviour problems that affect success in school may mean that your child needs special help.

For example, does your child act out in class by running around, not listening to the teacher, throwing things, or hitting others? Your child may have behavioural issues. Does your child have a hard time learning his/her school work? S/he may need extra help with the resource teacher who is able to spend more one on one time with your child. Your child might have a learning disability. If that’s the case, a more appropriate way to teach your child needs to be chosen.

It is up to the committee to decide what “exceptionality” your child may have. The committee will decide an appropriate placement for your child and review your child’s progress annually.

Back to Questions | Back to Top of Page

Who is identified as an exceptional student?

The Education Act defines an exceptional student as “a pupil whose behavioural, communicational, intellectual, physical or multiple exceptionalities are such that he or she is considered to need placement in a special education program…”

Who requests an IPRC?

If you feel your child would benefit with special help, you may write a letter to the principal requesting a meeting for this purpose. If the principal or your child’s teacher feels that s/he needs special help, the principal may write you a letter requesting a meeting for this purpose. Within 15 days of giving/receiving a request, you will receive the Parent’s Guide to Special Education. Approximately 10 days before the IPRC, you will be notified.

It is important for you to attend because plans for your child’s future will be discussed.

If you can not attend, you can request another date or time or you can tell them to have the meeting without you. If this is the case, the principal will give you the written decision for you to sign.

Sign the letter only if you agree with the decision.

If you do not agree with the IPRC decision, you may request another IPRC meeting within 15 days of receiving the IPRC decision or:

appeal the decision within 30 days of receiving it. The appeal must be in writing to the secretary of the Board and state why you disagree with the decision. The appeal Board will consist of three people who do not know about the situation, one of whom will be your choice. You and your child may attend.

If you do not agree with the appeal Board’s decision you may appeal to a Special Education Tribunal.

Whatever you decide, you must take action quickly. If you do not agree with the IPRC decision and you do not appeal it, the principal will put the decision into action.

Back to Questions | Back to Top of Page

What happens at an IPRC meeting?

Everyone is introduced and the reason why the IPRC was requested will be explained. All information regarding your child will be discussed. A psychological assessment may be requested.

If you do not want the Board of Ed psychologist to assess your child you may get an outside, private assessment. The private assessment will not go into your child’s Ontario School Report (OSR) whereas the school’s assessment will go into the OSR.

Your child may be requested to attend with your permission.

Always ask questions and be an active participant in the discussion.

If a decision is made at the meeting and you agree, you may sign the agreement so steps are taken immediately to benefit your child.

Back to Questions | Back to Top of Page

What is a Special Education Program?

A special education program is based on and changed according to your child’s needs. It includes a plan called an Individual Education Plan (IEP) containing specific goals and the means to achieve the desired results to meet your child’s needs.

What is an IEP?

The teacher, with your help, makes an education plan for your child.

What do you expect from this special plan? What results would you like to see? How would you like this to happen?

Your child’s strengths, needs & interests are taken into consideration. A plan of action is developed to help your child reach his/her highest potential.

You, your child, the teacher and everyone else involved will be responsible to work together to help him/her meet the goals.

Communication with each other is a key to success.

The IEP must be in place within 30 days after your child has been in the special program. You will receive a copy of the plan.

Your input as a parent is crucial and if you and your child feel that the IEP is not working, you have the right to call a meeting with the principal & teacher to discuss, plan, and proceed with another IEP. The IEP is flexible and can be adjusted accordingly.

Back to Questions | Back to Top of Page

What is included in the IEP?

Your child’s strengths, needs, health, assessments, goals, and regular updates are some of the information included in the IEP. A transition plan may also be included if your child is planning to attend another school the following term or moving on to secondary school.

The principal will ensure that all necessary information is included in the IEP. You should sign the IEP even if you disagree with it.

If you disagree with the IEP you may write comments beside your signature or in a separate letter. Address the letter to the principal and cc it to the teacher and the other individuals involved in the decision making.

You are in control of the situation.

You know your child the best and therefore know what’s best for your child.

Try to make all decisions with your child’s input. His/her feelings are important.

Try to work with the teacher and principal, not against them. What is best for your child is the goal for all involved.

You may place your child in another school providing there is space.

Answers to Questions at Community Matters

Back to the top of the Page

The official Eric Carle web site: The author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and many more wonderful children’s stories has his own site.

Kinder Art: An enormous collection of resources featuring over 800 free lesson plans

Perpetual Preschool: Free Year 'Round Themes, Tips, Resources and Learning Center Ideas For Parents and Educators of Young Children

The Bubblesphere: Whatever you wanted to know about bubbles and more! Includes great bubble solution recipes.

A to Z Kids Stuff: Welcome to The A to Z Kids Stuff site. On this site you will find activities for Toddlers, Pre-Schoolers, and School-Age children

National Library of Canada– Kids Page

Math.com The world of math on Line Extra math Help

Websites for Tutors

These websites have been identified by Frontier College
staff and volunteers across Canada.
DEFINITIONS
ONLINE – The site is interactive and is best used by sitting at a computer.
OFFLINE – Activities, worksheets and materials can all be printed and distributed to learners.
Please click on the appropriate links: