We look forward to helping our students establish a comfort level  that enables them to achieve the success they so deserve. Our teacher assistants are Roohi Shamim and Shahana Afroj. Both ladies haved served our students in special education classrooms for some time and continue to avail themselves of the workshops available to further their knowledge and expertise in the area of autism. Our class was formed nine years ago when a need was seen for students with autism , who needed a highly structured day, to be served in a full day class. We are the only class in the west district for students aged 3-6 yrs. in need of this extra support. The members of our team are dedicated trained professionals who just happen to truly enjoy their work !!

    Our Class, by design, is a STRUCTURED LEARNING CLASS. Our strategies are slightly different from those of a typical PPCD Classroom in that we provide increased individualized learning time as well as individualized scheduling. These learning routines have been scientifically researched and peer reviewed and are proving to be most successful with our students with autism. We believe that every student has unique strenghts that need to be recognized and developed. We value and respect the personalities of each child and strive to assist our students and their families by providing the support they need.

 As you all know, your child's progress does not occurr in isolation. Our children would not progress if the things they learned at school were not reinforced at home and vice versa. Please continue to spend time working with your children at home .There is no shortage of opportunities to network or receive training in order to help your little one. Simply refer to one of the websites on my links or go to the internet to research autism. Support groups for parents are the perfect avenue for networking, making new friends and finding out the latest information. Remember, early intervention is the key !!!          

                As always, thank you for your help and support.Please  use your communication book to let us know how things are going at home. Your input is vital and helps us to plan for your child as well as communicate with them regarding familiar topics. If you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to contact me.

                                                                                                                               Yours  Sincerely,           

                                                                                      Ann O'Dell , Classroom Teacher

                                                                                       aodell@houstonisd.org