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Autism Spectrum Across Ages and Environments

Letter Home for a Harmonious School Year

Published August 18, 2011 8:42 AM by Kathie Harrington
Why not get the school year started off with a special, personal note from YOU to the parents of your most challenging students.

 

Dear Parents,

            As speech/language pathologist (SLP) at (name of school) Elementary School, I look forward to working with (child's first name.) So much fun and learning will take place this school year in the speech therapy and classroom settings. (child's name) classroom teacher and I work closely to accomplish all of (child's name) benchmarks and make sure that he/she enjoys the art of learning and growing.

            Children with autism present unique learning styles that you, as parents, and I, as your child's SLP, should approach together in order to improve his/her social, expressive, and receptive language skills. Sharing across environments is important to learning and carryover. In other words, Success Builds Success.

            Welcome to the new school year. Please share with me one or two exciting events that took place in your child or family's life over the summer. I will use these for therapy activities: vocabulary, attention, sequencing, categorization, imitation, choice, turn taking, and conversation. If possible, please send pictures to enhance therapy goals appropriate to your child.

Sincerely and with lots of learning and fun ahead,

(SLP name)

 

As a parent, I would be thrilled beyond belief to receive a letter like this from my child's SLP.

  • Use this letter verbatim with only the minimal changes indicated
  • Modify this letter to meet your needs more precisely
  • Send your letter in an e-mail if you know the parent's e-mail address (You might be more likely to get pictures back through e-mail)
  • Send your letter by regular mail

    I would love to know if you use this and what your response is from parents.

The power of written communication is enormous and if you, the SLP, can establish a warm, cozy communication pattern with parents, your year will be one filled with harmony.

"Speech pathologists make good things happen."


7 comments

Thanks! I modified this for the High School!! Keeping it POSITIVE!!

Kathleen Lake, Speech August 25, 2011 2:57 PM
Arcata CA

Thanks! I modified this for the High School!! Keeping it POSITIVE!!

Kathleen Lake, Speech August 25, 2011 2:55 PM
Arcata CA

Tweeking is a wonderful strategy and Judy, you do it so well!

To everyone who sends out a letter of welcome back/intro. let all of us know the results and feedback.

How nice to share.

Kathie Harrington, ADVANCE blogger August 25, 2011 12:02 PM
Las Vegas

tweeked your example for my population

one class I used autism, and the other Aspergers and/or Autism

___________ Junior High School

Speech and Language Department

August 25, 2011

Dear Parents,

           As speech/language pathologist (SLP) at _______ Junior High School, I look forward to working with your child. My goal is to have the student practice skills that they will need for their future both in and out of the school setting, and therefore I do lessons in the classroom settings, but work to have the lessons concrete enough for them to generalize with practice. Your child’s classroom teachers and I work closely to accomplish all of each individual student benchmarks and make sure that he/she enjoys the art of learning and growing.

           Children with Aspergers and/or autism present unique learning styles that you, as parents, and I, as your child's SLP, should approach together in order to improve his/her social, expressive, and receptive language skills. Sharing across environments is important to learning and carryover. In other words, Success Builds Success.

           Welcome to the new school year. Please feel free to share with me your concerns, hopes and expectations, as well as anything in your child’s life that may help us to make this a successful school year.  Write or call or email.

Sincerely,

name

phone number

email address

Please let me know you read this note by tearing this bottom portion off and having your child return it to the classroom teacher. Thank you

Student:______________________________________ Parent______________________________

Date_________________________________

Comments:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

judy, Sp Ed - SLP/Transition August 25, 2011 10:12 AM
Santa Clarita CA

I send home a letter at the beginning of every year as well! Nice post and wonderful sample letter :)

stephanie dowling August 21, 2011 11:04 PM

Thank you for your comment, Robin. Please feel free to leave an example of what you often send to your parents as an introduction.

Kathie Harrington, ADVANCE blogger August 20, 2011 8:24 AM
Las Vegas

Thank you kathy. I loved the letter. I usually send one to all my parents introducing myself at the beginning of the year.

Robin Mcgeehan August 19, 2011 12:06 AM

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About this Blog


    Kathie Harrington, MA, CCC-SLP
    Occupation: SLP, author, speaker, mother of a son with autism.
    Setting: Las Vegas, NV
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