A Note from the Learning & Behavior Specialist
Welcome back!
For those who may not know me yet, I’m Sam Schwartz, the Learning & Behavior Specialist (LBS) at PVMS. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself, share a little about my role, and let you know what you can expect to see from me throughout the year.
The Learning & Behavior Specialist (LBS) supports students, teachers, and families by providing guidance around learning differences, behavior strategies, and child development. The LBS works closely with classroom teachers to observe students, identify areas where additional support may be helpful, and develop strategies that promote success within the classroom. When needed, the LBS partners with families and teachers to create individualized support plans, provides small-group or one-on-one support, participates in family meetings, and connects families with helpful resources. The LBS serves as a collaborative resource for families and teachers, helping to better understand each child’s needs, navigate challenges, build on strengths, and support continued growth at school.
As part of that role, you’ll find a section from me in school newsletters throughout the year. These write-ups are meant to be a resource for all of our PVMS families, whether or not I work directly with your child.
Throughout the year, I’ll share information related to learning, behavior, social-emotional development, Montessori practices, and other topics that connect what we see and support at school with what families may experience at home. My hope is to take some of the strategies, language, and ideas we use within our classrooms and make them accessible and useful to families as well.
Some months may include practical strategies you can try at home, while others may help explain the why behind certain behaviors or developmental stages. I’ll also include articles, resources, and opportunities to learn more when appropriate. Not every topic will apply to every child or family at that particular moment- and that’s okay! My hope is that these sections become something you can check in on each month, take what feels useful, and perhaps even tuck away an idea or resource that may be helpful down the road.
Supporting children works best when school and home can share knowledge, language, and tools. These newsletter pieces are one small way to help strengthen that connection and keep families included in the conversations we're having around children's learning, behavior, independence, and development.
As always, please feel free to reach out if something I share sparks a question or if there is a topic you would be interested in seeing covered in a future newsletter!