What To Expect Your First Year
Overview
This is a general guide to the flow of the school year on a month-by-month basis.
What to expect calendar
What to expect when you’re a PT/OT!
(aka the “don’t worry, you’re not crazy” guide)
September
Reach out to all case managers
Open equipment boxes at schools
Feeding protocol check
Keep in mind that case managers are overwhelmed, still getting to know students etc
Ask custodians to check swing attachments
Check IEPs to prioritize which students to see first
Make sure students have specialized equipment/accomodations needed - lots of running around, delivering equipment
October
A LONG month
You’ll think you should have gotten to all your students and you might not have. That’s pretty normal. I have to remind myself of this EVERY year.
Goal setting meetings with Amy
November
“No school” November - between Veteran’s day, conferences, and Thanksgiving break, it goes by QUICK
Start to get more referrals (from conferences etc)
December
Also goes by quickly!
Lots of school activities going on the week before break - can be difficult to schedule things (a good time to schedule some report writing time!)
January
Those referrals from fall come due!
Lots of IEP meetings
Ooops, you might have an IEP for a student that you didn’t know was on your caseload!
February
Lots of IEP meetings
Team starts thinking about KG transition (YES already) - Tiffany starts getting the TK transition list together
PBIS data - most # behavior referrals occur in Feb. We often have an increase in referrals in Feb and March as a result
March
Still so many IEP meetings (I know…)
Spring break! Woohoo!
April
Meet with ECSE therapists early April to discuss KG transitions
AT-TIES conference mid-April
Another LONG month! No vacation holiday this month (a good time to use any extra calendar or personal days!)
May
Start getting organized re: equipment and EOY equipment pick up (go over list with case managers, make sure to identify any missing pieces of equipment so they can start looking for it)
KG transition meetings
Start thinking about kids who will transition schools and put in work order for the equipment that needs to be moved. This is so Bryan can begin to plan. This is for BIG equipment that you can not move yourself. (standers, wheelchairs, etc.)
June
End of year goal meetings with Amy
OT/PT retreat, Ray retreat
Update your caseload lists for new students coming onto your caseload & those transitioning into another school
Finalize all plans for equipment that needs to be moved for the upcoming school year
July - August
Enjoy the summer!!