These seminars and webinars for parents of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children are packed with real-life strategies and tips to help you and your children not just cope, but thrive.
Presented by The MIT Work-Life Center
Understanding the MCAS: Support Your Child’s Success
Building: E25-401
Presenters:
Chris Espinoza, M.A.; Navigator, EdNavigator
Elysa Severinghaus, B.A.; Master Navigator, EdNavigator
If your children are anywhere between grades 3 and 10 in public school, you’ve probably heard of the MCAS. But do you know what the MCAS really involves and what your children’s results really mean? Join this interactive session with EdNavigator to learn tips that will set your child up for MCAS success. Topics will include:
- Helpful home routines
- Ways to reduce test anxiety
- Test-taking strategies
End-of-Year Review: Evaluate Your Child’s Progress in School
Building: E25-401
Presenters:
Chris Espinoza, M.A.; Navigator, EdNavigator
Elysa Severinghaus, B.A.; Master Navigator, EdNavigator
During this session, EdNavigator will provide free, expert analysis of your children’s progress as they enter the last quarter of the school year. EdNavigator will help you understand the various forms of data your children have received over the year. You will leave with a clear sense of how your children are doing in school and areas of focus that will help you best support their academic needs. Attendees should bring all student progress data from the past year, including:
- Progress reports
- Report cards
- MCAS score reports and other standardized testing reports (MAP, STAR, STEP, etc.)
- IEP-related documents for students in special education
Spring into Fall: Plan Your Child’s Summer Learning
Building: E25-401
Presenters:
Chris Espinoza, M.A.; Navigator, EdNavigator
Elysa Severinghaus, B.A.; Master Navigator, EdNavigator
Summer break is a great time for kids to recharge, but that doesn’t mean their learning has to stop completely! Whether your children are transitioning to a new grade or a new school, there are many ways to ensure their summer break is a time for both relaxation and preparation. During this interactive session, EdNavigator will help you understand how to:
- Use summer learning to boost your children’s success in school
- Create simple and fun summer learning plans for your children
- Get your children ready for a strong start in the new school year
Choosing Quality Child Care
These monthly introductory discussions are specially designed for expectant parents and those new to parenting or child care. Each session addresses your different infant and toddler child care options, what child care costs, how to find and evaluate your child care choices, planning your parental leave, and the transition to parenting.
Choosing Quality Child Care sessions, which are open to the entire MIT community, are held monthly from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. in Building NE49-5000.
All About Evaluations (Webinar)
Presenter: Susan Schwartz, M.A.Ed.; Lower School Learning Specialist, Friends Seminary
Have you considered requesting a special education evaluation for your child, but aren’t sure if it’s really needed? In this webinar, you’ll learn what an evaluation consists of and what it can and cannot tell you about your child. Find out when it’s time to request an evaluation from the public school, when to wait, and when a private or independent evaluation may be in order.
Visual Communication Strategies for Children with Autism (Webinar)
Presenter: DeAnna Glass, M.Ed., B.C.B.A.; Clinical Supervisor, The Speech Pathology Group
Many children with Autism Spectrum Disorder process information visually, rather than auditorily. As we celebrate National Autism Awareness Month, join our April webinar to learn about visual supports that can help you engage more effectively with your child. Find out which high- and low-tech tools can enhance communication, reduce stress and frustration, and increase independence, and get tips on how to use them at home, in school, and within the community.
Go Outside and Play! How Movement Impacts Attention, Anxiety, and Sensory Processing in Children (Webinar)
Presenter: Angela Hanscom, M.O.T., O.T.R./L.; Pediatric Occupational Therapist and Founder, TimberNook
If you’re like most modern parents, you’ve probably noticed that kids today don’t play outside as much as previous generations did. You may also have noticed that there’s been a generational shift from unstructured free play toward more organized, adult-supervised activities. But have you ever wondered what effects these changes may be having on our children’s physical and cognitive development? Join this webinar to learn about the connection between waning levels of unrestricted movement and epidemic levels of sensory processing disorders, attention deficits, and anxiety disorders—then learn what you can do to support your child’s growth.
Sensory Processing Disorder (Webinar)
Presenter: Geoff Sittler, O.T.R./L.; Occupational Therapist
Everything children do—from brushing their teeth to riding their bikes to learning in school—requires that they successfully process information from their senses. This webinar will help you understand what happens when children have trouble processing and acting on sensory information, and what you can do to educate, advocate for, and support your child. Join this webinar to learn how Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is identified, get specific strategies to support a child with SPD, and find out how to work with the school to support success.