Backpacks are packed. Lunches are packed. Bus passes and car drop off schedules double checked. Your child has had their walk-through time in their classroom and meet their teacher. When YOU meet their teacher, she appears a “bit cold.” You give her the benefit of the doubt, that maybe she’s overwhelmed with all her new students and new parents.  The first day of school, you happen to see her as you drop off your child in their classroom. You remind her who your child is. You mention that she is get...

The School Year Ended, Now What? How was your school year? I’m so glad you asked. The end of year activities, the spirit days and the reports card are done. Now it’s time to reflect. Whether you are a teacher, a professional, a parent or all three. These are great questions to ask yourself and your child.  1. How was your school year? What went well? What didn’t go well? What can you do differently next year?  We know that a lot ...

The Difference Between Setting Goals and Objectives "Think of goals as what developmental milestones or academic skills we want the student to acquire in one year. The objectives and benchmarks are showing how we are going to get there and how we will measure if we are making sufficient progress towards that goal." ~ Excerpt from my book, I See You, I Hear You and I Understand. For students, especially students on an IEP, we are intentional that their learning goals need to be SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely.  Goals are written to answer the questions: Where do we want the student to b...

Parent-Teacher conferences are such a powerful tool to bridge the relationship between school and families. Parent-Teacher conferences are designed to create an opportunity for the families and the teachers to talk. Most conferences are scheduled for 15 minute time blocks. You may be nervous or unsure what your role is during this event. Not knowing what to say, what to ask for, what your role is and the idea that it’s only 15 minutes can be unnerving and stressful.   I have been both the teacher ...

Thankful for 3 Types of People At Who’s Learning Now, weI believe strongly that positive collaborative TEAMS are the true foundation to a child’s education. This week of Thanksgiving there is a lot to be Thankful for.  Today (and everyday) We are grateful for you, these TEA...

5 Things to do Before, During and After a School Holiday We made it through the Fall. Transitioning from summer vibes back into the routine of school. Adding routines around bedtimes and wake ups, homework, sports and activities. I’ve heard many families say, “it’s a lo...

Person First Language A person is a person first and then any descriptions come after that. We would NOT say “the orange hat man”. We WOULD say “the man with the orange hat". Knowing this. Then this belief is true as well.  We would NOT say, “the Down Syndrome boy” or “my Autistic daughter”. We WOULD say, “the boy with Down Syndrome” or “my daughter with Autism”. Simply changing HOW we say things, can change HOW we view things. To learn more ways to support your learner, please visit   www.WhosLearningNow.com  and join our  Parent and Educator Support Group  on Facebook! 

Who's Learning Now - Learning Strengths Inventory™  If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.  ~ Ignacio Estrada Do you know HOW your child learns? Do you know their preferred way of taking in new information?  Many parents do not. Many parents have not even thought about it unless you hav...

I have a strong belief that I want to share with you today. In the past, students with special needs were sent to separate schools, buildings and even separate homes. We have come a long way in how we see, treat and educate people with special needs. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal special education law originally passed by Congress in 1975. It has been amended several time...

You are your child’s advocate. You know your child best. It’s been said that parents are not given a “handbook” or directions when their child comes into your life. I disagree. I would argue that you did get a guidebook, you did get directions. I call it “the paren...

Going back to school in 2021 is going to look different, but in some ways, it’s going to look the way it did in 2019. Parents will still rush to fill lunch boxes and backpacks with the essentials. New and old students will experience first day jitters as they wonder how they’ll be able to handle their new workload. Yet, in the midst of the familiar, we still battle the same fears that plagued us last year: Mask or ...