The first day of school is right around the corner… YIKES!

Sabrina starts back on Wednesday, August 13th.

I typically have a list of action items that I want to take care of when school gets back in session, but a lot of it just doesn’t happen. Time slips away too quickly. This year I am trying to organize myself in a different way so that I can hold myself accountable and actually take the steps that will help Sabrina (and everyone!) have a better school year.

This year I am writing everything down in timeline form and making sure to check everything off. After school starts (I have enough to keep me busy until then), I will review her IEP and put all action items into a timeline.

Before the 1st day of school: create my “Introduction to Sabrina” to give to teachers, aide, service providers, staff — a document about who SHE is as a person, what she likes to do, with cute photos, highlighting the positive and useful strategies; organize IEP highlights/goals into a custom document for each teacher/service provider (Sabrina’s IEP is 52 pages — who’s going to read all of that? Me, I suppose); create a social story about back-to-school to read to Sabrina — write, illustrate, print and laminate; take Sabrina by her new classroom; introduce myself to her new teacher; arrange a meeting with the Principal; revise the Communication book page that goes back & forth between home & school; print out a 2nd grade marker for her “1st Day of 2nd Grade” photo; contact the Program Specialist to touch base on outstanding items; back-to-school shopping (backpack, lunchbox, supplies, new clothes); order a name stamp for her to “write” her name on her work at school.

First week of school: (First day) take the “1st Day of 2nd Grade” photo; introduce myself to the RSP teacher, Speech Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Behaviorist, AAC Specialist, and other staff; touch base with the teacher regarding volunteer opportunities outside of the Yearbook Coordinator position; review AAC outcomes and discuss a possible AAC goal with the AAC Specialist.

Second week of school: put the rest of the IEP items on the timeline (progress report check-ins, etc).

What do YOU all do to get ready for school? Did I miss anything important?