“I wouldn’t have waited. I would have stopped everything her second grade year and said no something is wrong. We fell way far behind and we are not making up that time.” – Sara Jo Orr on Trusting Your Gut as a Military Parent
Trust Your Gut is Here!
Partners in PROMISE COO, Jennifer Barnhill, sat down with #dyslexia military mom Sara Jo Orr to learn how her painful experience PCSing OCONUS, while not trusting her gut, helped inform how she advocates for her child. In her session, she mentions writing “All About Me” letters to help smooth the PCS transition.
All About Me Printable
A one-page “All About Me” document is a great way to introduce your child to their teacher(s) or other professionals who will be working with them. It can be used when your child enters a new grade, moves to a new school, or prepares for a significant transition. It can also be used in early childhood when a child attends daycare or preschool. The document can be the summary of your All About Me Book that you send out in the summer, a stand-alone resource, or your “go-to” for the beginning of the year.
This one-pager will allow you to drive the narrative for your child. It will include all the important things you think your child’s team should know, and it is a great way to open the lines of communication between you and your child’s team.
What should I include in My Summary?
Your child’s “All About Me” one-pager is a quick overview of their strengths, needs, likes, reinforcers, and more. It allows a new person to gain a few important facts and get to know your child before meeting them. We have provided a basic template below. However, this information can be presented in various ways, such as a pamphlet or a resume-style format. The most important item on the document, regardless of the format, is your child’s picture. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, right? Choose a photo that allows your child’s personality to shine through!
How Do I Create a One-Page Summary?
If you would like to use our template, ensure that Adobe Acrobat Reader is installed on your computer. Download the worksheet, open it in Adobe Reader, and click the text boxes to fill in your answers. After you complete the document, save it to your computer.
Once saved as a PDF, you can digitally send the resource to your child’s team. I also like to provide a hard copy and will print the document on colored paper or card stock so that it stands out. That way, it doesn’t get lost in the hustle and bustle of papers on a teacher’s desk.
You can also use programs such as Microsoft Word or PowerPoint, Apple’s Pages, Canva, etc., to create a one-page resource.
Who Should Fill Out an About Me Sheet?
You or your child can fill out this page. It may also be fun to have your sending teacher write one for your student so that you can see your student from the perspective of an educator.
About the Author – Carla Wyrsch
Carla Wyrsch is the spouse of a retired United States Marine and mother of two. She has devoted her career to educating and advocating for children with disABILITIES. Her experience spans a variety of settings, including residential treatment facilities, military bases, public schools, and the Lerner School for Autism at the Cleveland Clinic. Currently, she is a Tutor and Coach for a Special Education Attorney. She enjoys volunteering with Best Buddies of Greater Memphis, the Organization for Autism Research, and Partners in PROMISE, serving as a content creator and advisory board member. In addition to her work with children, she enjoys providing coaching sessions to professionals and parents in advocacy, behavior modification, and other best practices.
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