How to help my son transition to a new school?

meghans30

Trevor has a PDD/ ADHD dx. We are in the middle of a move which will hopefully be complete by the end of September. I have tried not to talk about it a ton right now, but he will need to transition to a new school one month into a new school year. Any tips on how to help with the transition? 

lite-bright

My DD1 (ASD) is in a new class (but not new school) this year. To some extent, this is going to happen every year -- new class, new teachers, and this year, a completely different group of students with no overlap from last year. Only a couple of her therapists are the same, and she's handling it like a champ so far.

She visited the class with a therapist last year to see if it would be a good fit, and on and off all summer, we talked about how she was going to the ladybugs class instead of the butterflies (last year). So she knew it was coming and we talked about it very positively, so she looked forward to it.  

One thing in general that has helped her at the beginning of the school year is having her teacher put together a book with photos of each child and their names. She has trouble with names (except the little girl in her class who has the same name as her younger sister, that one she knows!) and being able to practice them at home gives her a lot more confidence when she tries to talk to someone the next time. We're getting this year's book next week!

houndbaby

My ds is a bit younger but he just started in a new district. We went to parents night to meet the teacher and see the classroom and I had to pick him up and carry him into the building kicking and screaming and didn't calm down until he saw the classroom and all the toys (I'm pretty sure he thought the school was a hospital, he hates hospitals). Ds's teacher allowed him to come in on an inservice day also so he could get used to the classroom and then the first couple of days we brought him to school a bit late to avoid the chaos in the hallways and classroom with all the parent drop offs. Overall my ds transitioned really well to his new school

meghans30

We tried to enroll him with the purchase and sale agreement, but the district wants an executed mortgage, so we can not enroll him until the deal is absolutely final. It is the district that I teach in. We made the move based on the fact we will get the services he needs. It won't be final until the end of September. We have driven by his new school and he talks about "meeting new friends," so I think once he gets acclimated he will be ok. This is just a huge move for all of us. Thanks for the suggestions! 

Wahoo

My DS does best when he does not have any surprises.  So, before every school year, we go into the school early (it's the same school, just a different class) and stop by the classroom.  He can see his desk, meet the teacher, look at the walls and how they are decorated.

Is there any way to find out which teacher / room he will be assigned to?  Maybe you can stop in after school one day (or several days) and he can find out where his desk will be, how the room is decorated, what the routine is (ie: "First we put our snacks away, then we have circle time.  We talk about what day it is (for rooms that count towards 100s day).  We talk about what the weather is like outside.  Then we go back to our desks for reading....." etc.).  I would pay extra attention to the names of the kids that your DS would be sitting with if he is at a table group - that will be the first people he will come in contact with every day.  

Maybe ask if the teacher can pair your DS with a buddy that will help him learn the routine.