Transition Education BellRingers By Mindy Lingo Malarie Deardorff

Transition Education Bell-Ringers By: Mindy Lingo, Malarie Deardorff, & Josh Fearing University of Oklahoma

Self-Advocacy/ Self-Determination ■ Students who passed more than half or all courses in 8 curriculum areas (remedial academics, traditional content classes, personal finance, community access, behaving responsibly, goalsetting or problem solving, specialized vocational education, regular vocational education) were more likely to be engaged in post-school education ■ Students with higher self-determination skills were more likely be engaged in post-school employment ■ Predicts improved outcomes in: Education and Employment

Transition Curriculum ■ Students who participated in a youth transition program with four or more transition goals met, were more likely to be engaged in post-school employment or education. ■ Students who received transition planning services during high school were more likely to be engaged in post-school education. ■ Predicts improved outcomes in: Education and Employment

Student Led IEPs ■ Students have the ability to advocate for themselves and don’t have to rely on casemanager as much. ■ More parental participation the IEP meetings increased substantially. ■ Students gain confidence and communication skills through leading IEP meetings. ■ Students who have Student-led IEPs find it easier to apply self-advocacy skills in college or on the job. ■ Predicts improved outcomes in: Education and Employment

Bell-Ringers ■ A tool teachers use within their classroom to help focus their students’ minds. ■ Short activity designed to be completed independently during the first few minutes of class while the teacher is taking attendance or completing other administrative tasks. ■ Reinforces that learning starts as soon as students enter the room ■ Recommended by education experts like Harry Wong and Fred Jones as effective behavior management techniques ■ Also called bell work, daily warm-up, do nows, mini lessons.

Research ■ Transition education’s purpose is to teach students with disabilities the skills and confidences they need to attain selfsufficiency across the domains of work, home, and play (Field, Martin, Miller, Ward, & Wehmeyer, 1998 b). ■ High school transition programs must provide the opportunities for students to enhance their self-determination skills (Morningstar et. al. , 2010).

Research “To summarize, self-determination is a combination of skills, knowledge, and beliefs that enable a person to engage in goaldirected, self-regulated, autonomous behavior. An understanding of one’s strengths and limitations together with a belief in oneself as capable and effective are essential to self-determination. When acting on the basis of these skills and attitudes, individuals have greater ability to take control of their lives and assume the role of successful adults in our society. ” (Field, Martin, Miller, Ward, and Wehmeyer, 1998 a, p. 10)

Research ■ Skills associated with self-determination are selfawareness/self-knowledge, which also encompasses disabilities awareness (Wehmeyer, Palmer, Soukup, Garner, & Lawrence, 2007). ■ Allowing students to participate and lead their IEP allows students to increase their self-determination (Martin, Van Dyke, Christensen et al. , 2006). ■ The responsibility of teaching self-determination usually falls to a special education teacher (Cambell-Whately, 2008). ■ Two reported barriers facing special educators in the implementation of transition education curriculum are a lack of instructional time and access to transition education resources (Lubbers, Repetto, & Mc. Gorry,

Bell-Ringers Curriculum Quick Example Self-Direct IEP Focus -In your own words describe an IEP and how it affects you. -What is the most important part of an IEP? -Does your IEP reflect who you are and plans to help you reach your goals for the future? -Who is your IEP teacher/case manger?

Bell-Ringers Curriculum Access Through Zarrow Center @ http: //www. ou. edu/content/education/c enters-andpartnerships/zarrow/transitioneducation-materials/transition-bellringers. html

Additional Bell-Ringers ■ Elementary Bell Ringers – teachers self-determination concepts using simpler language and concepts. Can also be adapted for students working on alternate achievement standards. ■ Financial Literacy Bell Ringers – Aligned with personal financial literacy objectives, great for secondary math classes both special education and general education.

Study Results

Adaptation of Bell-Ringers ■ The bell-ringers were designed so you can adapt them to meet your personalized needs. Download from Zarrow Center website and adjust accordingly. ■ Real-life examples for adaptations: – Picking and choosing which bell-ringers benefit your students the most. – Doing all the first of school year prior to IEP meetings – Doing once a week – Modifying content for classroom needs.

References Campbell-Whatley, G. D. (2008). Teaching students about their disability: Increasing self- determination skills and self-concept. International Journal of Special Education, 23(2), 136 -144. Field, S. , Martin, J. , Miller, R. , Ward, M. , & Wehmeyer, M. (1998 a). A practical guide for teaching self-determination. Reston, VA: Council for Exceptional Children. Field, S. , Martin, J. , Miller, R. , Ward, M. , & Wehmeyer, M. (1998 b). Selfdetermination for persons with disabilities: A position statement of me division on career development and transition. Career Development for Exceptional Children, 21(2), 113 -128. Lubbers, J. H. , Repetto, J. B. , & Mc. Gorray, S. P. (2008). Perceptions of transition barriers, practices, and solutions in Florida. Remedial and Special Education, 29(5), 280 -292. Martin, J. E. , Van Dycke, J. L. , Christensen W. R. , Greene B. A. , Gardner J. E. , & Lovett D. L. (2006). Increasing student participation in IEP meeting: Establishing the Self- Directed IEP as evidenced-based practice. Exceptional Children, 72(3), 299 -316. Morningstar, M. E. , Frey, B. B. , Noonan, P. N. , Ng, J. , Claveena-Deane, B. , Graves, P. , . . . Williams-Diehm, K. (2010). A preliminary investigation of the relationship of transition preparation and self-determination for students with disabilities in postsecondary educational settings. Career Development for Exceptional Individuals, 33(2), 80 -94. Wehmeyer, M. L. , Palmer, S. B. , Soukup, J. H. , Garner, N. W. , & Lawrence, M. (2007). Self-determination and student transition planning knowledge and skills redirecting involvement. Exceptionality: A Special Education Journal, 15(1), 31 -44.