The kit is designed to support families and those working with families who are involved in transitioning a child who is deaf or hard of hearing into primary school. It aims to inform those involved about the transition process and the part each need to play to help ensure a positive transition experience for the child and family. The kit aims to highlight important dates within the transition timeline, whilst encouraging strong communication links between the family, school and local community. Partnerships are fostered between these groups, setting the scene for ongoing positive relationships throughout the primary school years.
The Transition to Primary School Program/Kit includes handouts for families, early intervention workers, visiting teachers, and schools to use (these are available to download below). The program/kit includes a Professional Development PowerPoint presentation on CD for teachers of the deaf to present to school staff. In addition, there is a story book about a character called Blue Bear who wears hearing aids and is getting ready for his first day at school.
There are downloadable copies of the resources included in the Transition into Primary School kit:
The About Me book is a template to be filled in either by early intervention workers, kindergartens or families.
The School Checklist is for the family to use. It gives possible points to consider when visiting potential schools for their child.
This document gives some handy hints for teachers who are working in the classroom with a student who is deaf or hard of hearing. It gives strategies that can be easily implemented into the classroom that include ideas about reducing background noise, optimal seating arrangements and inclusive strategies that can be used by teachers.
The Possible Timeline for School Transition document gives a visual plan of a child's transition to school over a period of five terms - term one the year prior to the child starting school to term one of the year the child starts school.
The Transitioning Student Details document is best completed by the family before they attend the Transition Meeting. The family may like to refer to the document during the meeting while discussing the needs of their child.
The Student Snapshot is a document that can be completed by the child with the family’s assistance. The child can talk about their ‘Snapshot’ with their new classroom teacher.
The Student Support Group Meeting (some points to consider) document has been developed to be used alongside the 2013 Student Support Group - Guidelines for Schools and Families from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
Top Ten Transition Tips for Teachers
Your Blank Timeline
The Transition to Primary School kit resources can now be downloaded in five languages available on the links below:
Arabic | DARI | Simplified Chinese | Turkish | Vietnamese
