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
