Comments on: Sticky Note Heaven – Helping Families Remember Strategies Between Visits

By: Jennifer Sievers, MEd. ECSE

Jennifer Sievers, MEd. ECSE — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 18:22:40 +0000

hehe thanks! 🙂

By: David Munson

David Munson — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 18:09:40 +0000

That’s a great idea, Jennifer. Our early interventionists will be very interested in learning about your strategy for “syncing” up the intervention between the parent and professional. Thanks for sharing!

By: Dana Childress, M.Ed.

Dana Childress, M.Ed. — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 18:07:02 +0000

In reply to Jennifer Sievers, MEd. ECSE.

I love it that by asking that simple question, you are facilitating the parent’s learning process. How exciting that they are more able to use what they are learning because of it too! Thanks for sharing your process, Jennifer!

By: Dana Childress, M.Ed.

Dana Childress, M.Ed. — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 18:05:43 +0000

In reply to Jennifer Sievers, MEd. ECSE.

What typos? All fixed! 🙂

By: Jennifer Sievers, MEd. ECSE

Jennifer Sievers, MEd. ECSE — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 17:48:24 +0000

Sorry about the typos!!! That’s really embarrassing on my part 🙁

By: Jennifer Sievers, MEd. ECSE

Jennifer Sievers, MEd. ECSE — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 17:47:23 +0000

At our program we typically leave a copy of our contact note (similar to that format – with a summary of the visit and the home activity strategies) on each visit. Recently, as part of my goal of becoming even better with coaching/teaching families, I have started asking at the end of the visit, as I am writing my note – asking the families “okay, so what strategies should I be writing down here on this note?” Whereas before, of course we talk about, practice, etc etc the strategies during the visit, I used to just write them down on the note before I leave. I’ve found that just in the few times that I’ve been asking families before I write – it’s been a process of self-discovery, as I had found that the families don’t necessarily get the same information as I was trying to convey during the visit, and the things that are important to them to work on, and will fit into their routines, are not always what I was ‘going to write’ 🙂 I’ve also found too that the families I have started to do this with, are following through much better!

By: David Munson

David Munson — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 18:35:19 +0000

Following a training from Dr McWilliam in Montana last year we took his Next Steps form and revised it for our local use. It is a very simple form with the family’s name, date, early interventionist’s name and phone number, and spaces to write 3 things:
* WHAT WE DID TODAY – a summary of what was done, discussed, and covered at today’s visit.
* WHAT WE WILL DO UNTIL THE NEXT VISIT – the things that were agreed to work on, from today until the next visit. This is the most important piece…..the actual intervention!
* WHAT WE WILL DO ON THE NEXT VISIT – the plan for our next visit.

This form is printed on duplicate NCR paper so the family can have their copy (usually posted on the fridge) and the early interventionist has a copy for reference and part of the confidential record.

Dana, I can send you a couple versions of the form if you would like to forward them to Becky. Some of our folks prefer the 1/2 sheet version and others use the full sheet.

By: Dana Childress, M.Ed.

Dana Childress, M.Ed. — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 18:34:08 +0000

In reply to Becky.

Great question, Becky! Hopefully David can reply to share the Next Steps form he’s using. I checked the latest book by Robin McWilliam (Routines-Based Early Intervention) and didn’t see the plan but the book could certainly be a great resource.

In the past, I’ve created my own handout that I used at the end of each visit. It had a column for the strategy the family wanted to try (where we wrote a detailed “how to” description), who will try to use it, and what we expect to happen (how we hope the child will respond, etc.). I’d also write in a Plan B for if the strategy didn’t work between visits. I only wrote 1-2 strategies each week and the parent chose which ones to try. Then I would start the next visit by touching base on the plan to see how it went between visits. It worked really well.

Another resource that might help is Dathan Rush’s and M’Lisa Shelden’s Coaching in Early Childhood handbook and website (www.fipp.org). They have lots of info about using a “joint plan” like this as part of a coaching style of interacting with families. Hope this is helpful. Good luck!

By: Becky

Becky — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 00:00:43 +0000

Could you tell me where you found the Next Steps form? I am a new SLP in EI, fresh outta grad school. 🙂 Currently, I am using sticky notes and a Comfort/Success rating. I typically target one technique a week. Start by modeling technique, have Mom give it a try, give feedback, ask for feedback and leave her with reminders (frigables). That form sounds truly useful! I would love to give it a try!

By: David Munson

David Munson — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 16:59:19 +0000

We had a lively discussion about using sticky notes and we’ll be offering it to families who want to give it a try. Currently we’ve been experimenting with the Next Steps form (Dr. Robin McWilliam). We put it onto 1/2 sheet NCR as a reminder of 3 things: what was done today, what will be done UNTIL the next visit (largest and most important area on the sheet), and what will be done during the next visit. It is used with about 1/2 of our families….mostly with success. The sticky notes and wall clings are intriguing ideas! Thank you.