Managing a classroom with multiple paraprofessionals (paras) can be both a blessing and a challenge. But how do you communicate with multiple paras throughout the school day? Ensuring that everyone is informed, organized, and working efficiently requires clear and consistent communication. With different schedules, responsibilities, and the unique needs of each student, it’s essential to […]
Creating an IEP involves a series of steps that require collaboration among educators, parents, and other stakeholders. A well-defined timeline serves as a roadmap, guiding the team through assessments, goal setting, implementation strategies, and progress monitoring. But where do you begin and, perhaps more importantly, when should you start when you need to write an […]
Within the realm of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), impact statements hold immense significance in helping educators identify and address the unique needs of students with disabilities. These statements go beyond a mere acknowledgment of a student’s disability and delve into the specific ways in which it affects their learning and progress. By understanding the individual […]
As special education teachers, we have a lot on our minds when we are preparing for IEP meetings! And sometimes after the meeting is done, we are so busy getting back to the business of teaching that we forget to follow up on some crucial IEP details. Did you ever wish that there was a […]
Writing an individualized education plan (IEP) that meets the needs of each student can be a daunting task -especially when you have a large caseload! Fortunately, educators have access to IEP goal banks that can help them easily create accurate and up-to-date IEPs tailored to their students’ specific learning objectives. By using IEP goal banks, […]
I sat down this morning with my IEP coach hat on to get to work and all that was on my mind was setting resolutions for next year. Now, I am one of those people that either doesn’t set a resolution because I know it won’t happen OR I set one and by the end […]
As special educators, part of our responsibility is to support families of our students. In most cases, that means directing them toward resources that are specifically designed to address their needs and the needs of their child. For families of children with autism, there are many different organizations and resources out there that can help […]
You finally sit down after a long day, only to remember… you still haven’t touched that IEP due next week. Your brain’s foggy, the legal language feels like a puzzle written in code, and you’re expected to be the translator, the coordinator, and the miracle worker. Effective communication regarding student IEPs can be a major […]
Transitioning from one activity to another can be challenging for some students. Supporting them in a way that makes sense begins with including the goal in their IEP. The examples below are a great place to start to make sure that your students can effectively transition to new activities and classes with minimal assistance. Why […]
Transitioning a student from elementary school to middle school can be a challenging task and emotionally charged time. When an IEP comes into play, there can be even more challenges as the expectations for greater independence are given by the school, but parents are used to the more intensive approach in the elementary grades. The […]
Rewards, reinforcers, and token economies. What are they? What makes them the same or different? Which one works best for the special ed classroom? Let’s break down the differences and similarities and learn when the best time to use each is during the school day. Understanding Positive Reinforcement Positive reinforcement is powerful in any classroom, […]
While not specific to special education, the four functions of behavior are often discussed and used as the basis for intervention strategies. But what are they, why are they so important to understand, and how can they help shape your intervention in the special ed classroom? Let’s look at those questions further. Defining the Four […]
As much as we would love for IEP meetings to all run smoothly, sometimes that is just not the case. Personalities can clash, decisions on services can be disagreed about, and emotions can come into play. Being prepared to handle things that can go wrong can make the meeting run smoother and calm your nerves. […]
A few weeks ago on Instagram, I asked our community of parents of students who have IEPs, what are some things that have really changed the game for parents or really helped parents in being a part of the IEP team? Their insight and observations can be game-changers for parents during the IEP process. Examples […]
Parents often feel as though they have little input or say into what is in their child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). However, the opposite is, in fact, true. By law, parents have the final say on IEPs and are equal members of the IEP Team. So what happens if a parent disagrees with the team’s […]
Developing meaningful IEP goals starts by understanding what your student needs and what he is working towards. They should be SMART goals that the student can achieve within the IEP’s time period, and should be directly aligned with the child’s Present Levels of Academic and Functional Performance. If you are struggling to create and write […]
When it comes to writing a child’s next IEP, are you getting the data you need to complete the student’s IEP? Are you getting input from the other member’s of the IEP team? Learn more about IEP input forms and why they are so important to your data collection and IEP writing timeline. The Case […]
The difference between accommodations and modifications may have been drilled into your head as a special education teacher, but it is safe to assume that the rest of the IEP team may not be as familiar with the difference between the two. Before diving in to the IEP meeting, make sure that you take the […]
Paperwork is a never ending part of life for special education teachers. It induces stress and can be one of the most challenging aspects of the job to manage. Thankfully, there are ways to manage the impossible paperwork pile and finally relieve some of the stress it creates. The strategies below are ways that have […]
Keeping track of the IEP meetings for your students can be overwhelming. With so much to do and so much to remember, it’s no wonder that sometimes things unintentionally slip by. This year, set the systems in place that you will need to be successful with all of your annual IEP meetings – from start […]
Functional skills are skills that students need in order to gain independence and live independently. They range from simple to complex, but all of them have one thing in common: they help the student prepare for the world outside of school. When including functional skills in an IEP, which is typically done in the Transition […]
IEP meetings are not for the faint of heart! They can be overwhelming, stressful, and downright difficult if we are being truly honest with one another. But IEP meetings can also be encouraging, motivating, and positive. The problem is that you never quite know how a meeting is going to go until you are in […]
Behavior can play a significant role in a student’s education. It can make learning easier or it can make it a lot more challenging. For students whose behavior hinders their learning, there are specific things that are required and included in their individualized education programs (IEPs). Let’s break down FBAs, BIPs, and how they relate […]
For those who are new to the special education process, understanding what an IEP is and why it is important can take a bit of time… some research, and sometimes a little bit of deciphering. There are a lot of acronyms in special education and unless you are using the terminology as part of your […]
When you ask a special ed teacher what feelings come up during IEP season, the answers are rarely positive. Fear, frustration, exhaustion, and overwhelm are the most common feelings. No one went to college to become a special ed teacher to experience those feelings. In fact, while most colleges do a good job of addressing […]
Understanding the beginning steps of the special ed process can make the events flow much more smoothly. When the process is smooth and effective, it is easier to get the student the services he or she needs. Not sure about how the special education process begins? Let’s break it down. The Start of the Special […]
Teachers are always crunched for time, that’s no secret. And we have a lot of paperwork, that’s another not so secret secret. So any little tips or tricks we can pick up along the way to help us save a few minutes are like gold in our book. Today The Intentional IEP is going to […]
As special education teachers, we often need to give directions and help our students learn how to respond appropriately to complete a task. For example, how to use glue sponges or how to button a sweater. We can start with the lowest level of prompting, or there are times when a behavior needs to be managed […]
Play goals are an essential part of many Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). They are integral to a child’s development, and, for many young students, they are the key to success. However, if a student’s Least Restrictive Environment is virtual learning, figuring out the best way to address play IEP goals virtually can be challenging. Whether […]
With virtual learning comes the need for adjusted IEP accommodations to help students be successful. Figuring out what those accommodations should look like is challenging, though. This list of possible accommodations for virtual learning might help your IEP team when moving students into this Least Restrictive Environment (LRE): 1. The student can take breaks throughout […]
No matter how many Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) a teacher has written throughout her career, writing IEPs keeps teachers up at night! For some teachers, the stress of finding the right words makes sleep impossible. For others, the worry that the services will not be enough is what causes sleepless nights. No matter the reason, […]
There is so much planning that goes in to an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for students with disabilities. There are many different things to think about when planning and writing an IEP to make sure it is the best possible plan for each student. After all, the I stands for Individualized. We decided to come […]
We all know what IEP’s are- Individualized Education Programs. However, we may not understand why an IEP is so important! Did you know that IEPs didn’t even exist until 1975? Before that, millions of children with disabilities were denied a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) due to their disabilities. IEPs give students legal protection, and […]
No matter what subject you teach, chances are that you will eventually teach students with IEPs. Because of this, it’s important that you know common special ed jargon! The Oxford Dictionary defines jargon as “special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand.” This […]
LRE? FBA? LMNOP? Anything associated with special education can sound like alphabet soup to the untrained ear, and as special educators we talk in a special lingo – re: acronyms and jargon. Knowing special education acronyms and jargon is crucial for several reasons, especially for special education teachers, parents, and service providers. The IEP Process […]
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are notorious for taking over the lives of special education teachers. How can you actually plan during your planning period when you have 3 IEPs to write? These documents carry a lot of weight and have a LOT of sections, and to put it simply – IEPs take TIME to write. […]
A large and integral part of a special educator’s job revolves around IEPs. From writing them to attending meetings to making sure they get implemented, we live and breathe IEPs. Over the years, and with experience, you’ll learn a lot of tips and tricks for IEP writing. But what if you’re just starting out? Or […]
Accommodations and modifications. They are two words that are frequently tossed around the world of special education, and sometimes used interchangeably. However, it is important that we differentiate between the two terms, because they mean two very different things! Legally, we need to use the correct terminology on IEPs and other documents, so let’s take […]
When writing an IEP for a student with a disability, it is important to ask for input from many different sources. But why is this? Why not just ask for input from any general or special education teacher who works with that child, and be done with it? The answer is simple! Different people in […]
IEPs are the foundation to a quality special education program. In our teacher preparation programs, we practice writing present levels of performance, measurable goals, and finding just the right accommodations and modifications. But – what about the actual IEP meeting? The entire team in one place, reading your well crafted document out loud – PARENTS […]
When you start working in special education, it’s impossible to be prepared for the amount of acronyms and jargon that you’ll need to learn and remember. Give yourself time, grace, and a notebook to write everything down. While it seems like a lot, knowing the ins and outs of some of this new professional terminology […]
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