Whether your child is experiencing back-to-school jitters or they just need extra help preparing for the change in routine that comes with a new school year, knowing what to expect can help calm anxiety and feel ready.
Both of our templates (one for elementary school students and one for middle/high school students) let you fill in the blanks with information about your child's new schedule and new teacher(s), with helpful language to get ready for back to school!
Print this visual story PDF, or make a copy of this Google doc to digitally customize your back-to-school elementary school story with your own text or photos.
Print this visual story PDF, or make a copy of this Google doc to digitally customize your back-to-school middle or high school story with your own text or photos.
If your child has an Individualized Health Plan (IHP), you can empower them to participate in their health care by teaching them what's in their health plan, who they can get help from at school, and how to tell when they need medical attention. For example, you can discuss your child what seizure symptoms to watch out for or let them know which staff member will help make sure they get the right medication. Our printable template is fill-in-the-blank style to customize it for your child's health needs.
Print this visual story PDF and fill in the blanks, or make a copy of this Google doc to digitally customize your story with your own text or photos.
Fire drills come with loud sounds and a break from routine that can be hard for our kiddos to practice. Make it easier by reading a visual story that primes your child for what to expect from a classroom evacuation drill. Our printable template includes blank space for you to include any special accommodations from your child's school emergency plan, such as sensory items, mobility equipment, or medication kept in the classroom that should accompany them during the drill. Some schools have classroom emergency supplies prepared and others ask parents to provide items, so make sure to discuss this with your IEP team so you can communicate about your child's needs and prepare them for what to expect.
Print this visual story PDF and fill in the blanks, or make a copy of this Google doc to digitally customize your story with your own text or photos.
Our visual story focuses on classroom evacuation, but we also recommend Carol Gray's school lockdown Social Story to prime your child for practicing lockdown procedures.
If your child tends to wander or elope, their physical safety is a huge concern. These two visual stories use concrete language to help explain the dangers of going unsupervised near water or running into the street, with gentle coaching on how kids can stay safe.
Print this visual story PDF to read with your child, or make a copy of this Google doc to digitally customize your story with your own text or photos.
Print this visual story PDF to read with your child, or make a copy of this Google doc to digitally customize your story with your own text or photos.
If you want to really prepare your child for the changes and challenges they may face at school or in their community, we highly recommend creating your own custom Social Story! In our article What is a Social Story?, we talk to Social Story™ creator Carol Gray about what makes Social Stories so effective for kids with disabilities and how to write one that's tailored to your child's individual strengths and needs. Check out our article How to Write a Social Story — With Templates to see an example of how to put Carol Gray's guidelines into action and get tips for creating a dynamic and engaging Social Story for your child.
If you're an Undivided member, be sure to follow our step-by-step walkthrough to create your own Social Story!
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