While it is important for an educator to get to know a child through direct experience, it is necessary to get some background information from parents and others who have worked with the child, both to provide continuity and to gain a deeper understanding of the child's accomplishments, strengths and needs. Special educators and classroom teachers must likewise communicate in developing a transition plan for a student. For example, if the student spends time in the regular classroom, the teacher should share lesson plans with the special educator and discuss modifications. Likewise, f the student is pulled out for special services, modified lessons taught by special educators will help prepare the student for transition back to the regular classroom and help keep the student from feeling too isolated from peers. Rosemary Karr, a professor of developmental mathematics at Collin College (Plano, TX), believes that the developmental educator must be a content area specialist as well as a learning specialist (Diaz, 2010, p. 20). Again, the importance of collaboration between classroom teacher and special educator is underscored. Both can share their expertise in designing a transition plan for the individual...

Karr says it is important to accept students where they are, not from where we would like them to be (Diaz, p. 21). The transition plan thus may have to restate goals that were not accomplished. The goals may have to be modified from the original goals. It is not to say that teachers should not challenge students or motivate them to work hard towards goals that have been set for them, but the transition plan should consider the "building blocks" already in place and build further on that foundation after insuring that foundation is solid.
References

Barblett, L., Barratt-Pugh, C., Kilgallon, P., and Maloney, C. (2011). Transition from long day care to kindergarten: Continuity or not? Australasian Journal of Early Childhood

36(2), pp. 42-50. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier database.

Diaz, C.R. (2010). Transitions in developmental education: An interview with Rosemary Karr.

Journal of Developmental Education 34(1), pp. 20-25. Retrieved from Academic

Search Premier database.