Sue Larkey Blog

INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLANS (IEPs) Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASD An Individual Education Plan (IEP) (also known by other names including Individual Learning Plan or ILP) may be developed for a student with diverse learning needs or a disability. An IEP is about access and equity to education. It should consider the “reasonable adjustments” that need to be made to provide students with access to teaching, learning and the schooling experience generally. The IEP meeting is an opportunity for teachers, parents, school administrators, related services personnel, and students (when appropriate) to work together to provide an appropriate educational program. STEP 1: UPDATESTEP 2: GOALSThe most important part of any IEP is arguably the list of goals the student is aiming to achieve. This can be the hardest part for parents and teachers to craft effectively. As a general guide, IEP goals should be: SMART goals...

29 WAYS FOR TEACHER ASSISTANTS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS IN 2019 Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASD Teacher assistants, school support officers, teacher aides etc. – you are angels in disguise and we thank you for all your hard work with our ASD students. You are usually the person that the student with ASD may develop a great mentoring relationship with, so it is important that you start off on the ‘right foot’. 10 Top Tips to Support Your Student to Stay on TaskOften, as a teacher assistant your most challenging task is to maintain your students concentration. This can be particularly difficult when working with a student with ASD. The ideas below are some strategies I found extremely useful when I had a teacher assistant in the classroom. 12 Key Strategies for Teacher Assistants 7 Considerations for Supporting Students Students with ASD are usually visual learners. You need to show them what to do rather than...

Neurodiversity is the concept that neurological differences between people should be recognised and respected. Instead of using terms like ’dys - function’ ‘dis- abilities’ & ‘dis-orders’ neurodiversity is an enabling term that takes into account neurological differences. Neurodiversity - is not one size fits all. We are all different and neurodiversity celebrates difference.   Below are some of the diagnosis and environmental factors that would be considered in Neurodiversity. Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASD I personally love the term neurodiversity, as many children I meet don’t have official “labels” yet, but their family, educators, etc. notice their different way of engaging in learning. My passion is to ensure these children get the most out of their educational settings by putting in place strategies and accommodations that support their specific learning style. One way to do this is to put...

Making it a Success in 2019 What you will learn 29 Ways for Teacher Assistants to Support Students pg 2 7 Considerations for Supporting Students pg 4 School Camps & Excursions pg 5 Individual Education Plans (IEPs) 3 Steps for Success pgs 7 -9 Managing Screen Time pg 11 Using Token Reward pg 13 Why I love the term 'Neurodiversity' pg 14 NEW Online Course - Developing Early Childhood Approaches for Children with Additional Needs  pg 15​​​​​​​ Strategies for Making Learning Fun pg 16 13 Key Strategies to Setting Up Your Classroom pg 17 18 Ways to Set Up a Classroom Top Tips for Using Time Timers pg 20 Minimising Stress Around Timers pg 23 Why you Need to Know about Interoception and the Impact on the Kids you Know pg 24 Top 10 Tips for Toilet Training pg 26 Recommended Resources pg 27 Sensory Tools pg 29 Online Accredited Courses - Term 1 Course starts Feb 25th pg 30 Upcoming Workshops pg...

13 KEY STRATEGIES TO SETTINGUP YOUR CLASSROOM Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Join my newsletter for more awesome information about ASD Strategies 1-7 1. Position in classroom (Seating, mat time, assembly, parades)- have a set position for the student which takes into account: Who they are next to Where in the room or group How close they are to teacher Distractions Whether they are too close to favourite activities like books, computers, Lego etc. Sensory distractions (noises, smells, lighting, objects hanging too close). Some students prefer to be near a door so they can leave if anxiety is building (particularly in secondary). 2. BAGS/LOCKERS/TOTE BOXES Ensure these students are at the quiet end of the row. Students often don’t like being touched, feeling crowded or the noise that happens in the busy areas. 3. Writing 60% of students with ASD have dysgraphia. Students often don’t like being touched, feeling crowded or the noise that happens in the busy areas....

14 TIPS FOR CHRISTMAS / HOLIDAY SEASONSocial Scripts are great to use at Christmas to explain traditions, and expectations (i.e. thank for present even if you already have, don’t like etc) Check my blog for tips on how to write ScriptsOften children give out cards to each other at schools, this is an important part of 'friendships' in schools. Help your child take part in card giving if it is part of the school 'culture.' I find using the class photo is a great visual to support with the selection of who to make cards for etc.Some Classes do a class Kris Kringle. If they have to buy a gift for another child, this is a great opportunity to talk about how to choose a gift for someone else i.e. “what other people like” how to ask people what they like or observe them etc.Use a Calendar to indicate any changes in routines, concerts, presentations, visitors, shopping, haircuts etcYoutube can be a good place to look at Christmas Traditions – i.e. look at Christmas Morning Routine,...

What you read about in this Magazine 14 Tips for Christmas/Holiday Season 8 Beautiful Picture Books to Promote Understanding 11 Ideas How to Use Liquid Timers to Teach Calm & Motivate Sue Larkey’s Recommended Holiday Reading 4 Amazing Books for Teaching about Emotions this Summer 6 Key Strategies for Creating a Calming Area at School & Home 4 Beautiful Books to Help Regulate Emotions 12 Essential Tips Concerts & End of Year Celebrations Recommended Great Stocking Fillers Using Timer = Reducing Anxiety = Improved Behaviour = EVERYONE CALMER Click here to go to resources page with magazine

Transition includes change in teacher, change in room, change in students in the class not just starting preschool, school, high school and beyond. The nature of ASD is such that transition can be extremely stressful, no matter what age or how BIG or SMALL the change maybe. Changing Teacher is like…. Moving to a Foreign Country For the child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) moving to a new teacher, classroom or campus is like moving to foreign country. There is a different language (eg one teacher says ‘pack away’, new teacher says ‘clean up’). Teachers and other students have different facial expressions and body language to interpret, new rules, new schedules, new smells, different pencils just to mention a few changes. This new ‘foreign country’ causes the child to feel enormous anxiety and stress, which in turn can lead to behaviour. This anxiety and behaviour can be managed by effective planning and transition strategies. This article aims to...

Subscribe to this podcast via your favourite app Managing meltdowns is very important. I believe the key is getting in early and putting in place strategies before the behaviour escalates. You will need a range of strategies to prevent the meltdown escalating. For some students strategies that may help include: ignoring, distracting, redirecting, send on an errand, and more. Understanding the Three Stages of a Meltdown will make it easier to identify and apply strategies to prevent. Click This Link for Easy to Read and Print Page >> Managing_Meltdowns Managing Meltdowns Managing meltdowns is very important. I believe the key is getting in early and putting in place strategies before the behaviour escalates. You will need a range of strategies to prevent the meltdown escalating. For some students strategies that may help include: ignoring, distracting, redirecting, send on an errand, and more. Three Stages of a Meltdown 1. Build Up It may look like: ·     Walking in a...

Many people on the autism spectrum have difficulty with social skills as they are not logical – rules change, games change, people are your friend one day but not the next and children use language and phrases that can be confusing. In addition not being able to predict what people mean and understanding the context of a social situation can make social situations very frustrating. This is called ‘Theory of Mind’. Most children can pass a Theory of Mind test by age three, whereas most people with ASD have an impaired Theory of Mind. 'Theory of Mind is the ability to recognise and understand thoughts, beliefs, desires and intentions of other people in order to make sense of their behaviour and predict what they are going to do next. It has also been described as ‘mind reading’ or ‘mind blindness’. (Pg 112 ‘The Complete Guide to Asperger’s Syndrome’ by Dr Tony Attwood) Signs of an Impaired Theory of Mind Problems with explaining own behaviors Problems with understanding emotions...