Clear Eyes Kind Hearts

Hi! This Page Is for You

Sometimes school can feel hard. Maybe reading takes longer than it does for your friends. Maybe sitting still is really difficult. Maybe you feel worried or sad a lot.

When school feels hard, there are grown-ups whose job is to help. Getting help doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It means the grown-ups are working together to make school easier and better for you.

This page has some activities and ideas to help you understand who’s on your team and why getting help is a good thing.

Your Support Team

Lots of people care about you and want to help you do well in school. Here are some of the people who might be on your team:

Family – The people at home who love you and want you to be happy and safe.

Teacher – The person who helps you learn new things every day.

Counselor or Therapist – Someone you can talk to about feelings, worries, or problems. They help you figure out what to do when things are hard.

Doctor – Takes care of your body and health. Sometimes talks to your family about things that might help you feel better or learn better.

Coach or Mentor – Someone who helps you get better at something you care about, like sports, art, or music.

Special Education Teacher – A teacher who knows extra ways to help kids learn. They work with your regular teacher to make sure you understand everything.

Speech Therapist – Helps with talking, understanding words, or reading.

Occupational Therapist (OT) – Helps with things like writing, using scissors, or staying organized.

Activity: Draw Your Support Team

Get a piece of paper and some crayons or markers.

Draw yourself in the middle of the page.

Around you, draw or write the names of the people who help you. You can draw:

• Your family members
• Your teachers
• Your friends
• Anyone else who helps you feel safe and learn

Color them in to look like the real people in your life!

When you’re done, you can show it to a grown-up and talk about all the people who care about you.

Why Do Some Kids Get Extra Help?

Every person’s brain works a little differently. Some kids learn to read really fast. Some kids are amazing at math. Some kids are great at remembering things. Some kids are super creative.

And some kids need a little extra help with certain things.

That’s completely normal and okay.

Think of it like this:

• Some kids wear glasses to see better
• Some kids use inhalers to breathe easier
• Some kids get extra time on tests to show what they know
• Some kids work with a special teacher to learn in a way that makes sense for their brain

None of these things are bad. They’re just tools that help kids do their best.

What Is an IEP or 504 Plan?

These are fancy names for plans that help kids learn better at school.

IEP stands for “Individualized Education Program.” That means it’s a plan made just for YOU – not for anyone else.

504 Plan is named after a rule that says schools have to help kids who need it.

Both of these are just ways of writing down:

• What’s hard for you right now
• What kind of help will make it easier
• Who will help you
• How everyone will know if it’s working

Think of it like a recipe: The plan tells the teachers exactly how to help you learn best, just like a recipe tells a cook how to make your favorite meal.

Things You Might Hear Grown-Ups Talking About

Sometimes grown-ups use big words when they talk about school and learning. Here’s what some of them mean:

Accommodation – A change that makes something easier without changing what you’re learning. Like getting extra time, sitting in a quiet spot, or using a computer to type instead of writing by hand.

Goals – Things you’re working on getting better at. Like “I will read 20 words per minute by December” or “I will raise my hand instead of calling out.”

Progress – Getting better at something over time. You might not notice it every day, but grown-ups keep track to see how much you’re improving.

Evaluation – Tests and activities to figure out what you’re good at and what’s hard for you. Not like school tests with grades – more like puzzles and games to understand how your brain works.

Meeting – When your family, teachers, and other helpers get together to talk about how you’re doing and what might help you.

Activity: Things That Help Me

Think about things that make school easier or make you feel better. Here are some examples:

• Taking breaks when I’m frustrated
• Having someone read directions out loud
• Drawing pictures to remember things
• Moving around instead of sitting the whole time
• Working in a quiet space
• Having a friend to sit with at lunch
• Listening to music
• Taking deep breaths when I feel worried

What helps YOU? Draw or write about 3 things that make you feel calm, happy, or ready to learn.

You can share this with a grown-up so they know what works for you!

It’s Okay to Ask for Help

Some kids think asking for help means they’re not smart or not good enough. That’s not true!

Asking for help is brave.

It means you’re paying attention to what you need. It means you care about learning and doing well. It means you’re smart enough to know when something isn’t working and you need to try a different way.

Everyone needs help sometimes. Even grown-ups. Even teachers. Even doctors and scientists and professional athletes.

The people who do really amazing things in life aren’t the people who never needed help. They’re the people who asked for help when they needed it and kept trying.

When You Feel Worried or Sad

Sometimes getting help at school can feel confusing or scary. You might worry:

• “Will kids make fun of me?”
• “Does this mean I’m not smart?”
• “Will I always need help?”

If you’re feeling worried, here are some things to remember:

You’re not alone. Lots of kids get extra help at school. More than you probably realize, because everyone’s help looks a little different.

Getting help doesn’t mean you’re not smart. It means your brain learns differently, and that’s okay. Some of the most successful, creative, and interesting people in the world had IEPs when they were kids.

You can always talk to someone. If something about school is making you feel sad, worried, or frustrated, tell a grown-up you trust. They want to know so they can help.

Activity: When I Feel Worried

When you feel worried, scared, or upset, what helps you feel better?

Some ideas:

• Talking to someone
• Drawing or coloring
• Playing outside
• Hugging a pet or stuffed animal
• Reading a favorite book
• Taking deep breaths
• Listening to music
• Being alone in a quiet space for a few minutes

Draw a picture or write about what helps YOU when you’re upset. Keep this somewhere you can see it to remind yourself.

You’re Going to Be Okay

School is just one part of your life. The things that make you special – your sense of humor, your kindness, your creativity, the things you love – those don’t change because you need help with reading or math or paying attention.

You are more than your grades. You are more than what’s hard for you. You are a whole person with strengths and talents and things that make you YOU.

The grown-ups in your life are working together to help you learn and grow. Their job is to figure out what you need. Your job is just to keep trying, ask for help when you need it, and remember that you’re doing great just by showing up every day.

You’ve got this. And you’ve got people who care about you.