RE: Reasons for communications notebooks

[Guest guest]

one of the best i can think of is it insures that when you are talking about

her day that you know what she did so you can encourage her to tell you on

her own....rather then having her tell you stuff that didn't do vs what she

really did. (if that makes sense, lol)

>

> So we have made this one page form they can fill out daily........with

> more

> info..........

>

> But, they may ask why is that needed? sooooooooo

>

> What are some good reasons for a communication notebook?

>

> thanks,

> STefanie (aunt godmother to Nina age 9 ds)

> Texas

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

My number one reason for a communication book is that Nicolas will not tell

me what he did that day - and certainly won't tell me if there was a problem

at school. This helps me to understand what he did and what he is working

on.

Sandy Love

Reasons for communications notebooks

Hi guys:'

having our 6 week meeting with the teacher and aide tomorrow.......

My neice is fully included in a 3rd grade class.........with an aide.

This year...........they have this spiral notebook that is sent home daily

and really small squares to right in and it's just not giving enough info

back to us on 's day..........

So we have made this one page form they can fill out daily........with more

info..........

But, they may ask why is that needed? sooooooooo

What are some good reasons for a communication notebook?

thanks,

STefanie (aunt godmother to Nina age 9 ds) Texas

[Guest guest]

Basic communication.

How was her day? What did she do?

Any successes?

Any concerns?

What is her homework?

What is she working on?

What did she do last night that might affect her day today?

Perhaps you are picking her up early. Or someone else is picking her up.

Our school just stopped the communication log. The sp ed teacher thinks

she can email me, in the evening if she gets to it. It doesn't work. And

it will be addressed at next weeks continued IEP meeting.

I don't think they need to write in it daily, but often enough so we are

COMMUNICATING.

[Guest guest]

I was just thinking this,

If someone is at the school everyday to drop off and pick up, and there is

some communication verbally, then the notebook doesnt seem so important. I

never had a book for amanda because I took her to school every day and made

contact with someone- the para, teacher, someone. If there was something else I

needed to address, I would write a note or call or they would call me.

's teacher (HS) has called me every day. The para wants me to use her

planner for clarity- writing down the HW, etc. I know amanda is very verbal

and that might not be true for some kids. Also- if your child is in inclusion

with lots of kids in the class, it might be difficult for the teacher to write

something everyday- maybe having a checkoff is better and a place for

additional comments.

bottom line- I think the notebook has some value, but its not the only means

of communication- and if its not done every day, thats ok too.

PS- one last thought- how bout our typical kids when we ask them how was

their day and they say fine. and we say, what did you do and they say nothing.

I

think we get more info about our special needs kids, just in general.

[Guest guest]

I like to tell them that since Nic's communication skills are not very good, I

like to get a good idea about what he did that day so we can converse and open

up communication.

Di

Reasons for communications notebooks

Hi guys:'

having our 6 week meeting with the teacher and aide tomorrow.......

My neice is fully included in a 3rd grade class.........with an aide.

This year...........they have this spiral notebook that is sent home daily

and really small squares to right in and it's just not giving enough info back

to us on 's day..........

So we have made this one page form they can fill out daily........with more

info..........

But, they may ask why is that needed? sooooooooo

What are some good reasons for a communication notebook?

thanks,

STefanie (aunt godmother to Nina age 9 ds)

Texas

[Guest guest]

What worked for us is to also add the communication book as part of an

accomodation for " speech " on the IEP. Writing in it daily, as others have said,

helps facilitate conversation between the family, the student, and the teacher.

Make sure it's on the IEP.

Jackie

--------- Reasons for communications notebooks

>

>

> Hi guys:'

> having our 6 week meeting with the teacher and aide tomorrow.......

>

> My neice is fully included in a 3rd grade class.........with an aide.

>

> This year...........they have this spiral notebook that is sent home daily

> and really small squares to right in and it's just not giving enough info back

> to us on 's day..........

>

> So we have made this one page form they can fill out daily........with more

> info..........

>

> But, they may ask why is that needed? sooooooooo

>

> What are some good reasons for a communication notebook?

>

> thanks,

> STefanie (aunt godmother to Nina age 9 ds)

> Texas

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/29/2005 3:58:01 PM Central Standard Time,

linman42@... writes:

bottom line- I think the notebook has some value, but its not the only means

of communication- and if its not done every day, thats ok too.

HI

We have used a communication notebook/agenda notebook since Sara has been in

programs ............ birth to now. It not only cues me to what her

happenings of the day are, it also serves as written documentation .............

another form of paper trail. If not for her notebooks I would not have known

when

the staff was out of compliance, like she wasn't sent to Reg Ed as she

should have been. We also use a behavior sheet which also serves the same

reasons.

I too take Sara to school and picked her up, as with many other parents,

after listening to my teacher sister this is the worst time to ask the staff

how

Sara's day was ...... they have a family too and at the end of the day they

are ready to leave Sara has a Para assigned to her, there is NO reason for

her written communication to not be done ................ IMHO

Kathy mom to Sara 13

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¸,.-·²°´ ¸,.-·~·~·-.,¸ `°²·-.¸

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Josh. 24:15

[Guest guest]

We have been using a communication notebook for six years now and a couple

of times the regular ed teacher felt it was unnecessary that the Assignment

Book all the kids were required to use would be sufficient...guess what?

Within

two weeks of starting the year just using the Assignment Book the teachers

would agree the communication notebook (which is broken down into a sheet that

can be filled in with , , for good, bad or so-so behavior with a space for

comments works much better.

Nick is one of those kids that if left up to him would put all no matter

what, his assignment book wouldn't contain a sign note other than perhaps his

name. A couple of weeks ago he got 3 demerits (I was called so I was aware

they were coming home), when asked how his day went he smiled and said " All

good, no sads. " I don't think he had one that day, but if we relied on him

to

keep us informed let's just say we wouldn't be the most informed parents.

Nick's communication skills are lagging way behind your average 12 year old.

I'm not saying he doesn't have a lot to say, he does, it's just that no one

can understand him 80% of the time.

We had Nick's parent/teacher meeting today. His special ed teacher's

biggest problem? Nick's insistence on 'Nick's way or no way.' Nick can do the

work, when he applies himself -- he just chooses not to unless he wants to do

it. His speech is clear 90% of the time with the SLP (I think that is because

she knows what he can say clearly and makes him say it while the rest of us

can figure him out and let him slide). We all agree though demerits don't

mean squat to Nick, they just document that there is a problem and we need to

figure out how to solve it. Once Nick decides there is something he needs to

do, look out there is no distracting or deterring him trying to talk to him is

like trying to convince a brick wall that it is a pillow (won't work).

I like what one poster suggested -- make the request for one an adaptation

for his communication/speech. Yes, our typical kids aren't on such a short

leash, but who knows I may end up communicating daily with my younger sons

teachers if they (the boys) ever become non communicative as I prefer to know

what is going on in my sons' education and life.

Cari

[Guest guest]

I agree...my neice and nephew (2nd and 4th grade) tell their mom everyday they

did " nothing " at school. :-) I haven't gone the route of asking for anything

specific as far as a communication notebook for Mac. I don't want to ask for

too much out of the ordinary yet and it hasn't been needed...I get weekly lesson

plans, a weekly calendar of any special events, I know when his " specials " are,

and with all the worksheets and homework that comes home I can pretty much guess

what he does on any particular day. We can comment about the homework, because

I have an extra set of textbooks at home we re-read the stories of the week,

review what they did in Science that day, etc... It hasn't been too difficult

yet to discuss his day with him based on the lesson plans, weekly calendar and

what he brings home daily. I do get an e-mail from his teacher every week or

every other week and if he does something reallyl good she'll jot it in his

planner, the same with if there is a problem (I also get phone calls when

there's a problem).

Jill

Re: Reasons for communications notebooks

I was just thinking this,

If someone is at the school everyday to drop off and pick up, and there is

some communication verbally, then the notebook doesnt seem so important. I

never had a book for amanda because I took her to school every day and made

contact with someone- the para, teacher, someone. If there was something else

I

needed to address, I would write a note or call or they would call me.

's teacher (HS) has called me every day. The para wants me to use her

planner for clarity- writing down the HW, etc. I know amanda is very verbal

and that might not be true for some kids. Also- if your child is in inclusion

with lots of kids in the class, it might be difficult for the teacher to write

something everyday- maybe having a checkoff is better and a place for

additional comments.

bottom line- I think the notebook has some value, but its not the only means

of communication- and if its not done every day, thats ok too.

PS- one last thought- how bout our typical kids when we ask them how was

their day and they say fine. and we say, what did you do and they say

nothing. I

think we get more info about our special needs kids, just in general.

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