UMaine-CCIDS-Transitions-Erin's Teacher's Story

	Teacher: Erin Introduction \| SNOW \| Youth Stories \| Parent Stories Teacher Stories \| Agency Stories \| MWFY! Home \| CCI Home
Introduction SNOW Youth Stories Parent Stories Teacher Stories Erin Christine Agency Stories MWFY! Home CCIDS Home	My students learn best by experiencing things in a concrete way. For them, the act of putting their DREAMS on paper and completing a S.N.O.W. Chart made this “real” for them. Being able to refer to it periodically in their portfolio helped remind them what they were working towards when choosing classes or demonstrating effort at school and on the job. It was also helpful to write down their dreams—no matter how realistic—and develop back up plans from there. Often, their dreams could be adjusted to be more attainable. We used a portfolio to house all the students transition work—anything from the DREAMS/S.N.O.W. Charts to a resume, to awards, and recognitions. The portfolio was an asset in the development of their self-esteem, and many of my students displayed their portfolios at PET meetings or at job interviews. The amount of time I had to work with my students is was a challenge. By the time they returned from PATHS, I had two hours to work with them, and not all that time could be spent on transition activities. Once, my former class attended a Southern Maine Advisory Council on Transition (SMACT) meeting and presented a video of their work and their portfolios. Boy, were they proud of themselves! SMACT has always provided an opportunity for students with disabilities to shine! Erin is currently an administrator for Scarborough Schools and formerly a life skills teacher at Scarborough High School.

Teacher: Erin