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For those of us that live on the Eastern side of the country, we’re looking forward to March and April and hoping that warmer, sunnier weather comes our way. Normally, in years past, March and April would be the time period that students would have spring break or a break for Easter.  As a former special education teacher, I used to look forward to spring break. It was a time to spend with family and friends, get respite from work, and start planning for the remainder of the school year. I know the families of the students I taught always looked forward to having a little downtime to relax, take a vacation, or work on projects at their house. Taking trips to the beach or Disney World were always popular spring break trips among the families that I worked with.

This year due to the pandemic, your school district may have decided to forgo spring break altogether in an effort to minimize disruptions to your students’ routine. Recently, I’ve heard that some school districts, instead of giving students a traditional spring break might give periodic days off until the end of the year in an effort to curb the virtual burnout that many teachers and students are experiencing. Regardless of whether your school district is having spring break or not, this season of the school year can be challenging. We’re entering into the final few months of school and it’s important for educators to keep their students motivated.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been extremely difficult, especially for special education teachers. Students have either been attending school in-person, learning from the confines of their home virtually, or they’ve been learning through a hybrid model format. While it has been necessary to adjust the modalities by which your students are learning to keep both students and teachers safe from the coronavirus, there have been enormous disruptions to your students’ routines. When I talk with educators, there is one challenge that has been constant throughout this pandemic: its disruption to their routines.  Continuity and consistency have been the glue that has held the academic environment together.

For special education students and students with varying needs, learning about life and social skills and trying to build them is a challenge. Maybe your students are on the autism spectrum, have an intellectual and developmental disability, a cognitive impairment, or an emotional disorder. Or, perhaps they just simply need extra support and guidance when it comes to daily life or school activities. That is why the Healthy Relationships Curriculum is the ideal program to support your students’ needs. It’s a highly adaptable program that can be taught both in-person or virtually. Our program includes more than 100 videos, lesson plans, role paying and demonstrations, and a comprehensive training for educators. One of my favorite parts about this program is that I get to work directly with educators, like yourself, and train them. I have the opportunity to walk them through step-by-step how they can utilize the vast number of resources that the Healthy Relationships Curriculum has to offer.

If you are in the midst of preparing your students for spring break, I hope you have a free moment to reach out to me. I would welcome the opportunity to hear about your students, and the ways that our program could support them and you.

All my best,

Jen Falkowski, M.Ed.

Jennifer.Falkowski@wfspa.org

As a former special education teacher, I cannot think of a more difficult time to teach students than right now. Living through the COVID-19 pandemic has taken an emotional, mental, and physical toll on both teachers and students alike. Some school districts closed their doors to in-person instruction and shifted to an entirely virtual learning environment. Others instituted a hybrid model with students and teachers alternating between in-person instruction and learning from the confines of home.

Regardless of the modality by which you are teaching, I understand that the disruption to your students’ schedule has likely been stressful and taxing. Educators have had to find innovative and creative ways to educate their students throughout this pandemic, and while there is light at the end of the tunnel thanks to the development of the vaccine and continued drug research, 2021 is proving to be another tough year.

Students who are enrolled in special education programs have varying needs, some of which are quite unique. Many students tend to be visual learners and trying to continually hold their attention during a Zoom class without a doubt is challenging. Special education students often need to be shown how to do things, why things are done a certain way, and then that method of explanation needs to be reinforced. That’s why our Healthy Relationship Curriculum is an ideal program for special education students and students with varying needs.

Our program is highly adaptable and can be taught in-person, virtually, and in a hybrid learning model. We’ve included more than 100 videos, lesson plans, and comprehensive training as a part of the program. We know that one of the issues that educators face is trying to navigate the virtual learning environment. That’s why our program helps educators stay connected with students, their parents, and fellow educators with our built-in myHRC interactive online portal. On the portal, educators can remain in constant contact with their students, parents, colleagues, and us! It’s a space where you can seek advice, brainstorm, or simply ask questions. Additionally, our program contains role-plays and demonstrations to apply lessons to actual interactions, a curriculum manual that includes a list of materials, purposes, objectives, and quick references, and the ability to measure a student’s progress with outcome tools and quizzes.

I know that you will be fully prepared to deal with any teaching-related challenges that come your way because our program provides an abundance of resources. If you have questions about our program, please feel free to email me.

All my best,

Jen Falkowski, M.Ed.

Jennifer.Falkowski@wfspa.org

For special education students and students with varying needs, learning about life and social skills and trying to build them is a challenge. Maybe your students are on the autism spectrum, have an intellectual and developmental disability, a cognitive impairment, or an emotional disorder. Or, perhaps they just simply need extra support and guidance when it comes to daily life or school activities. Our comprehensive curriculum is highly adaptable and is designed to meet the needs of your students exactly where they are at this moment in time.

Not only is the pandemic and social distancing hampering students’ social skills, but even before our world changed, students were being inundated with technological barriers. I know I’ve seen it far too often and I’m sure you have to. Students would rather text than make a phone call and they would rather send an email than have a conversation. Social interaction that many of us took for granted when we were kids just doesn’t occur in the same format these days. This presents educators with a host of challenges.

As a former special education teacher, I know that working with students who have varying needs can be both rewarding and difficult. It takes patience, compassion, and determination. They don’t always learn well in an environment that would be considered standard for most. That’s why our curriculum provides educators with the tools and resources they need to teach their students about life and social skills. Right now, we are all living in a virtual environment—this in and of itself presents a host of issues—especially since many schools have shifted instruction to some type of a hybrid learning model. Trying to teach what social skills are, how to build them, and what appropriate social interactions are without being in-person with your students is taxing.

That’s why our Healthy Relationships Curriculum has been designed with you and your students in mind. We encourage students to not only pursue and maintain healthy relationships but to find value in doing so. Included in the curriculum is an online portal, outcome tools, more than 100 videos featuring role-playing and demonstrations, lesson plans, visual elements, quizzes, and training for educators – this will prepare you to teach these lesson plans which focus on topics like dating, hygiene, and how to navigate bullying. Take a look at our virtual exhibit booth so you can see what’s included.

And, in case you were wondering, the Healthy Relationships Curriculum provides appropriate guidance that achieves requirements under IDEA and offers educational services that meet IEP transition goals through both in-person AND remote learning options. School leaders, like special education directors and others, can even use the CARES Act funding to purchase resources to address the needs of their individual schools and students.

If you have questions about the curriculum please feel free to email me. I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you!

All my best,

Jen Falkowski, M.Ed.

Jennifer.Falkowski@wfspa.org

Valentine’s Day a holiday that millions in love around the world celebrate. Dinner and a movie, flowers and chocolates—that is generally how many couples spend Valentine’s Day. But this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the holiday of romance will look a little different. Most people will probably order-in and spend the evening at home.

While Valentine’s Day is a celebration for many, it can also be a holiday where some feel lonely or isolated. If you’re newly single, just lost a loved one, or just feel perpetually alone, it can bring up mixed emotions. It’s difficult for anyone to try and find love and companionship, but for adolescents with varying needs—like being on the autism spectrum or having a cognitive challenge—it can be more so.

If you haven’t seen the Netflix docuseries that debut last year called Love on the Spectrum, I would highly recommend it. The show gives you a glimpse into how adolescents and young adults navigate dating and relationships. If you are working with adolescents who are enrolled in a special education program, you know that teaching them critical life and social skills is essential to their development. That’s why our Healthy Relationships Curriculum offers a robust program that provides educators with the tools and resources they need to address topics like interpersonal interactions, dating, relationships, and sex education with their students.

As an educator, you understand that addressing these topics can be difficult and perhaps, at times, uncomfortable. At the core, issues like sex, dating, and relationships are deeply personal and unique to every individual’s life experiences. But, they are a part of the fabric of who we are and how we interact with one another. You need to be able to explain and teach these issues in a way that your students can understand.

Often, students with various needs are not taught these topics in a manner that they can understand or relate to. It’s important for them to learn how to date, what appropriate personal boundaries are, and what sex is. It would be naïve for all of us to think that students are not thinking about these things. Just because they may have varying needs, does not make them any less interested in all the aspects of being a teenager.

That’s why our Healthy Relationships Curriculum specifically addresses these issues head-on. We know that you want to be able to have appropriate and direct conversations with your students. We have designed lesson plans that provide you will the tools and resources you need to be successful in teaching these issues. With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, I cannot think of a better time to address these topics with your students.

If you have questions about our program, feel free to email me. I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

All my best,

Jen Falkowski, M.Ed.

Jennifer.Falkowski@wfspa.org

As an educator, I know I don’t have to convince you that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted special education students. These students require specialized resources when it comes to their academics, social skills, and various activities that they participate in. Students with varying needs may have a cognitive challenge, a learning disability, be on the autism spectrum, or perhaps they just require extra support. I know when I was working as a special education teacher having my students adhere to a routine was at the foundation of their success. Yet, the pandemic has disrupted everyone’s routine, especially special education students.

In addition to the disruption to routines, special education students frequently miss out on critical social and life skills, which impacts their ability to engage with others. That was already an issue for them, but the pandemic has exacerbated the issues they are now facing. Without a solid foundation, students with varying needs can face lifelong and unnecessary struggles when it comes to developing meaningful relationships.

Many school districts have adjusted their class schedule in an effort to keep both their students and faculty safe from the coronavirus. While we all understand why schools have taken this approach, the disruption of students’ routines cannot and should not be minimized. It is a difficult time for schools across the nation, as teachers now have to find innovative and unique ways to not only educate their students but keep their students engaged in what they are learning. Regardless of whether your school has implemented in-person instruction, online, or a hybrid format, it is essential that educators have the sufficient tools and resources they need.

As many of you know, it can be difficult to achieve requirements under IDEA and to fulfill IEP transition goals without face-to-face instruction. That’s why our Healthy Relationships Curriculum is made specifically for special education teachers and educators who work with students that have varying needs. When you use the Healthy Relationships Curriculum, you not only receive a program that can be taught virtually or in a traditional classroom setting, you have our support and can contact us with questions or concerns at any time. When you purchase our program, you will receive over 100 educational videos, 39 ready-to-use lessons, outcome measurement tools, and an online portal that connects you with us. Our online portal is also designed for you to connect directly with your students and their family—now more than ever, this type of interaction is a necessity.

I believe that this pandemic has illuminated the issues for special education students that were already existent across many school districts and states for years. Yet, by illuminating the issues, it has given everyone an opportunity to discover and find resolutions. I believe that the Healthy Relationship Curriculum could be the very program you have been searching for to help your students.

If you have questions about our program, feel free to email me. I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you and hear about your experiences.

All my best,

Jen Falkowski, M.Ed.

Jennifer.Falkowski@wfspa.org

Finding a balance between school, work, and a social life can be hard for teachers, and it can be especially hard for students. Right now, our nation is in the throes of a public health crisis. Over 400,000 Americans have lost their lives to COVID-19 and as many public health experts have warned us about, we are at the beginning of a dark winter.

Students are having to balance their schoolwork, possibly having a job, and trying to navigate a social life that is probably non-existent. Suffice to say, students are facing a lot of distractions and many might even be struggling with anxiety and depression. What we are all experiencing is very difficult and hard for adults to cope with, let alone students who have varying needs. The constant news cycle and apprehension we all have to do just the ordinary tasks of life—like grocery shopping—will make anyone lose focus and forget what their priorities are.

Due to the pandemic, many schools have stopped in-person instruction. If schools are providing in-person instruction, they are likely doing it through a hybrid model with students only attending a few days a week.  A traditional academic environment has somewhat disappeared, and virtual learning has become our new normal. Some students love school and learning, others despise it. So, having a well-rounded and highly adaptable program, like our Healthy Relationships Curriculum is crucial.

With all of the distractions your students are facing, they need to learn how and why prioritizing their schoolwork is important. Our program provides educators and special education teachers with the tools and resources they need to ensure their students understand what steps they must take to prioritize their schoolwork.

As you probably know, students with varying needs must understand each assignment completely and fully before they can even being to work on it. Sometimes it helps it they rank each task by importance and deadline, as well as give themselves ample time to complete the assignments. Students with varying needs require extra support and need things clearly explained to them step-by-step. That’s why our Healthy Relationships Curriculum not only teaches students how to prioritize their schoolwork, but it provides both them and educators with clear and concrete instructions

When you purchase our program, you will receive over 100 educational videos, 39 ready-to-use lessons, outcome measurement tools, and an online portal that connects you with us. Our online portal is also designed for you to connect directly with your students and their family. Our curriculum is centered around teaching your students critical life and social skills and regardless of the modality by which your students are learning. Thousands of educators and schools have used our program over the years, and that’s why we are confident your students will succeed with it.

If you have questions about our program, feel free to email Jen Falkowski, M.Ed. at Jennifer.Falkowski@wfspa.org.

 

Our nation is in the midst of a public health crisis, political turmoil, and social unrest. This past year and the beginning of 2021 have been difficult, emotionally taxing, and unsettling.

Like many of you, I worked as a special education teacher for years and I know this time of year—winter—can be particularly challenging.  It’s January and students are coming off the holidays. It can be tricky to get them to focus on their studies, and with many schools being closed for in-person instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this can seem nearly impossible.  Or, perhaps your school is offering in-person instruction but is operating on a hybrid model with students only attending a few days a week. This disruption to a traditional academic environment has meant that video calls, digital assignments, online quizzes and exams, and teaching in front of a laptop have become the new normal.

I don’t need to convince you, but the group of students who are feeling the greatest impact of having to learn in a virtual environment are students with varying needs. Students who are on the autism spectrum, have a cognitive challenge, a learning disability, or a unique need require specialized instruction and a curriculum. Working with students who require additional support is a central component of special education, and that’s why it is so important educators are prepared to teach critical life and social skills—regardless of the modality.

As many of you know, it can be difficult to achieve requirements under IDEA and to fulfill IEP transition goals without face-to-face instruction. That’s why our Healthy Relationships Curriculum is made specifically for special education teachers and educators who work with students that have varying needs. When you use the Healthy Relationships Curriculum, you not only receive a program that can be taught virtually or in a traditional classroom setting, you have our support and can contact us with questions or concerns at any time.

As a part of the program, you will receive over 85 educational videos, 39 ready-to-use lessons, outcome measurement tools, and an online portal that connects you with us. Our online portal is also designed for you to connect directly with your students and their family. Our curriculum focuses on topics on hygiene, social skills activities, cyber bullying, sex education, life skills, as well as helping your students navigate practical daily, home, and community activities. We have designed lesson plans that provide you with the tools and resources you need to be successful.

Now more than ever, your students need support, and that is why we are so passionate about our Healthy Relationships Curriculum. We know it’s made a difference in the lives of students and educators, and we’d encourage you to contact us and learn more about all the resources we offer.

— Jen Falkowski, M.Ed

We recently spoke with Jen Falkowski, M.Ed., from the Healthy Relationships Curriculum to learn how and why the program has been beneficial for special educators and schools across the nation during the pandemic.

Question: The COVID-19 pandemic has been incredibly difficult on so many individuals, especially educators, as they’ve had to adjust the way they teach. Tell us what you’ve been hearing from them.

Answer: The impact that the pandemic has had on our educators, students, and schools is truly nothing educators thought would happen in their lifetime. We’ll be feeling the effects of this pandemic long after it’s over. But, we’re about eight months into the pandemic and at this point, educators are in a routine. Obviously, many are exhausted and rightfully so. It’s hard to worry about your students’ health, the health of your colleagues, the parents, and your own health—while ensuring that your students with varying needs continue to receive quality education. While the modality of learning and school may have changed, I can affirm that the drive and motivation from the educators I’ve been working with has never been stronger.

Question: The Healthy Relationships Curriculum has been designed for students with varying needs in mind. Can you tell us why the pandemic has been especially difficult for them?

Answer: As a former special educator, I know that students with varying needs must have consistency and a routine. Our program contains planned activities for students and these activities meet them at their cognitive level and can be adjusted. Students with varying needs must have a learning environment that while structured can address concerns, issues, and questions as they arise.

Question: The Healthy Relationships Curriculum is a unique program because it can be taught in-person, virtually, or in a hybrid model. How has this format benefited both educators and teachers?

Answer: Many school districts are adjusting their class schedule to their local environment in an effort to keep students safe and going beyond the typical academics. If the virus is skyrocketing in a particular community, then that school district may cancel in-person classes for a few days, or even a few weeks. That’s why our program works so well. It’s highly adaptable and can be taught regardless of the school’s format. Our lesson plans, videos, and student activities can be taught whether a class is meeting in-person or the special educator is meeting with a student on a virtual format.  

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. We all know that bullying can have serious and lasting effects and that’s why students need to have the tools and skills to navigate bullying if they encounter it. Bullying is just one of the countless topics that our Healthy Relationships Curriculum covers.

There are many distractions in school, but by far the biggest distraction is being picked on by your peers. Bullying can take many forms, but the result is always the same for the victim, feelings of sadness, confusion, despair, anger, and powerlessness. These feelings make learning an afterthought. Bullying can cause students to be less engaged in lessons, decline to speak up in class, and less likely to participate in classroom discussions out of fear of being bullied.

It can be difficult for students to recognize and comprehend a situation in which they are being bullied. It is especially difficult for those students with unique challenges such as cognitive impairments, on the autism spectrum, or a learning disability.

The Healthy Relationships Curriculum is geared towards enhancing the student’s social skills and preparing them for independent life. In a world that is unfortunately plagued with bullying, how to handle oneself when being bullied is a crucial skill. Our program is designed to provide educators with the tools and resources they need to teach their students who have various needs.

 

The Healthy Relationships Curriculum is a highly adaptable program that provides teachers and special education directors with the resources they need to teach their students critical life and social skills. The shift to online learning has caused a lot of difficulty for educators, students, and families. Maybe the biggest challenge is the students’ inability to easily communicate with their peers and more importantly their teachers. There are scheduled class times where students get some face time with their teachers but how can they reach out for help when not in class?

Along with a plethora of education tools included in the Healthy Relationships Curriculum, the myHRC portal allows students to easily access their teacher for help. The portal also allows parents or guardians to communicate with teachers to gain a better understanding of the virtual learning environment.

Virtual learning has also taken teachers out of their workplace, eliminating opportunities to brainstorm with colleagues. Fortunately, the portal allows you to connect with colleagues and even other special education professionals across the country, providing you insight into what others are doing to best serve their students.

A student’s progress is at the front of every parent’s mind. With the outcome measurement tools included in our curriculum, individual progress can be monitored by parents as well as administrators in real-time. If parents want to get involved in their child’s education, our curriculum even provides home supplements to reinforce skills learned in class and encourage family participation.

While the coronavirus pandemic has uprooted many school systems and forced a divide between educators, students, and parents, innovative solutions work to bolster communication between all parties and ensure a quality education. Our Healthy Relationships Curriculum has all the tools necessary for you to teach and effectively communicate with your students.