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Jaydee Zakovi

SPED ABS CLASS SYLLABUS

2025–2026 School Year
Instructor: Jaydee Zakovi
Contact: jzakovi@helenaschools.org  406.324.2583
Class Schedule: TBD
Location: Room 201

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course supports high school students with disabilities in developing essential life skills, self-awareness, career readiness, social-emotional learning, and writing proficiency. Students will engage in assessments, hands-on activities, and projects designed to prepare them for post-secondary transition and success.

COURSE GOALS

  • Develop self-awareness and self-advocacy skills
  • Explore career and employment opportunities
  • Build independent living and everyday skills
  • Understand and regulate emotions; build positive relationships
  • Strengthen writing and communication skills
  • Complete transitional assessments to support IEP goals

SEMESTER 1: Foundations, Career Readiness, & Independent Living

Weeks 1–2: Foundations

  • Course overview and student introductions
  • Self-awareness and mapping strengths/needs
  • Begin informal assessments (interest inventories, interviews)

Weeks 3–6: Self-Determination & Advocacy

  • Goal-setting, decision-making, self-advocacy skills
  • Formal self-determination assessments (e.g., Arc’s SDS, AIR)
  • Informal observations and peer role-plays

Weeks 7–10: Career & Employment Readiness

  • Career exploration through aptitude quizzes and guest speakers
  • Formal employment assessments (Career Scope, O*NET)
  • Informal work samples, teacher/family interviews
  • Mental Health High School Curriculum
  • Paragraph writing practice

Weeks 11–14: Independent Living & Everyday Skills

  • Budgeting, meal planning, hygiene, transportation
  • Continued Mental Health Curriculum and writing support

Weeks 15–16: Transition Assessment Review & IEP Input

  • Wrap-up of emotional strengths and transition planning

SEMESTER 2: Understanding Others’ Emotions & Writing Skills

Weeks 1–2: Introduction to Empathy

  • Define empathy and practice empathetic responses
  • Writing prompt: Reflect on a time someone showed you empathy

Weeks 3–4: Recognizing Emotional Cues

  • Identify verbal/non-verbal emotional signals
  • Writing prompt: Describe a time you misinterpreted someone’s emotions

Weeks 5–6: Perspective-Taking

  • Understand others’ viewpoints through stories and discussions
  • Writing prompt: Write about a time you changed your opinion

Weeks 7–8: Emotional Regulation in Social Interactions

  • Learn strategies to manage emotions
  • Writing prompt: Reflect on managing your emotions in a challenge

Weeks 9–10: Building Positive Relationships

  • Develop communication and teamwork skills
  • Writing prompt: Describe qualities you value in a friend

Weeks 11–12: Conflict Resolution

  • Practice resolving conflicts constructively
  • Writing prompt: Write about a conflict and how you resolved it

Weeks 13–14: Understanding Cultural Differences

  • Explore cultural differences in emotional expression
  • Writing prompt: Reflect on interacting with someone from a different culture

Weeks 15–16: Capstone Project & Presentation

  • Create and present projects demonstrating emotional awareness
  • Writing prompt: Summarize your project and lessons learned

WEEKLY WRITING SUPPORT

  • Graphic organizers to plan writing
  • Sentence starters to begin writing
  • Peer review sessions
  • Teacher conferences for individualized support