Does Your Child Have a "Life Book?"

When preparing to send your child back to school, you are probably running through a school supply list in your mind, including things such as crayons, notebooks, pencils and rulers. The most important item you should be packing in your child's backpack will not be found on the school's list of required supplies, but it is crucial in helping school staff understand your child and provide him or her with the best education possible. What is this item? It's a Life Book, a binder created by families that lets school staff learn about their students. The book contains information about the student and can include: notebook with pen

Students full name
Address and picture of where the student lives
Pets
Friends
Favorite activities
Work samples
Strengths
Learning needs
Accommodations for learning style
Extra curricular activities
Names of siblings and other family members who play an active role in the student's life
Thoughts from teachers

The purpose of the Life Book is to create a transition document to accompany the child from year to year that illustrates his or her life outside the IFSP/IEP. The book provides new members to the education team insight about the student and offers an opportunity to highlight the aspects of learning and growth that cannot be measured.

A Life Book is an evolving document and should be updated each year with current photos and information. Many parents ask their child's teacher to write a few words about their child and include them in a "Thoughts from My Teachers" section, which can provide valuable insight to new teachers and school staff that become involved later. Other sections often found in Life Books include "How I Communicate," "Things that Motivate Me," "Resources," and "Thoughts from My Parents."

Life Books play an important role in dispelling myths about children with disabilities and allow school staff to see the person behind the label. Before your child goes back to school this fall, take some time to put together his or her Life Book. The information and insight that your child's teacher and school staff can gain will be invaluable in their understanding of how to provide your son or daughter with the best possible education.

PEAK Parent Center www.peakparent.org August 2010 SPEAKout Newsletter