Collaboration Tips for IEP Teams
Struggling to get everyone on the IEP team on the same page? These collaboration tips for IEP teams will make it easier!
Category: Team Collaboration
How to Effectively Communicate with Multiple Paras
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 […]
Questions the IEP Team Should Answer for Parents
Being a parent of a child with special needs lends itself to having a lot of questions and being an advocate. But sometimes, even the IEP can be confusing or there can be questions that parents have that relate to services. So, what is the IEP team’s responsibility in terms of which questions to answer […]
The Importance of Working with General Ed Teachers on IEP Data Collection
Collaboration between special education teachers and general education (gen ed) teachers is vital for the success of students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Effective communication and teamwork can lead to better outcomes for students, ensuring that they receive the support they need to thrive in the classroom. Without that collaboration, IEP goals can fall by […]
IEP Writing Timeline
Do you have an IEP writing timeline? Here’s why you should and where you can grab one! 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 […]
Team Building Activities for Special Ed Teachers and Paras
Team building is crucial for fostering a positive and supportive environment in any workplace, especially for special education teachers and the paraprofessionals who work in their classrooms. Collaborating effectively and building strong relationships within the team can greatly enhance the quality of education and support provided to students with special needs. Here are some team-building ideas tailored specifically for special ed […]
Enhancing IEP Team Collaboration Through Input Forms
Collaboration is key when it comes to developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) that truly meet the unique needs of students with disabilities. An essential aspect of this collaboration lies in gathering input from various stakeholders, including teachers, specialists, and parents, to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the student’s academic and behavioral performance. This blog post […]
The Crucial Role of General Ed Teachers in an IEP Meeting
General ed teachers play a crucial role in the IEP process and IEP meetings. IEP meetings are a pivotal platform for educators, parents, and professionals to develop personalized plans for students with disabilities. While special education teachers play a significant role in these meetings, it is important not to overlook the crucial contributions of general […]
Tracking Accommodations in the General Ed Classroom: Practical and Efficient Strategies for Special Ed and General Ed Teachers
Accommodations play a crucial role in ensuring the success of special education students in the general education classroom. These modifications and supports are designed to level the playing field and enable students with disabilities to access and participate in the curriculum. However, tracking the use of accommodations can be challenging for special and general education […]
5 Things to Do Before Your First IEP Meeting
As first year teachers, we know that the first time stepping foot into a classroom can be extremely nerve wracking. But as Special Education teachers, I think we can all agree that the most nerve wracking thing is going to be that first IEP meeting. No matter how much they teach us during our schooling, […]
10+ Things Not to Say in an IEP Meeting
When we are immersed in writing IEPs, we are often focused on all the important pieces that need to be entered into the document, and we should be! There is so much to add, and we don’t want to (and actually can’t!) leave anything out. As we prepare for the actual IEP meeting, there […]
What to Do When a Parent Doesn’t Collaborate on an IEP
Collaboration between special education teachers and parents is crucial for the success of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). However, there are instances when parents may not actively participate or collaborate in the IEP process. In this blog post, we will explore strategies that special education teachers can use when faced with challenges related to parental […]
How to Explain the Implementation of Service Minutes
When writing an IEP, the most important part we as Special Education teachers must adhere to are the services. If you write in the IEP that you are going to see a child 5x a week for 30 minutes, then you need to make sure you see that child 5x a week for 30 minutes […]
How to Send Home a Proposed IEP Draft
How often do you find that when you are in an IEP meeting, the parents have questions about what is included in the IEP or have questions regarding the goals, data, or maybe they just need a bit more clarity. Probably more than you would think, right? One way to help alleviate that stress and […]
How to Get Teacher Buy In for IEP Collaboration
Getting your general education teachers to buy in for IEP collaboration can be a daunting task. However, the outcome can be incredibly rewarding if it is done correctly. Here are ten tips to help make sure that your staff members feel comfortable and prepared to collaborate on IEPs. 1. Provide Training Before any collaborations take […]
The Importance of IEP Input Forms
Schools develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) to ensure that students with special needs receive appropriate educational services. The IEP document serves as a plan that outlines a student’s specific educational goals and objectives and the services that will be provided to help the student reach those goals. Writing an effective IEP requires thoughtful consideration […]
Why It’s Important to Meet with General Ed Teachers Prior to IEP Writing
When writing an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for a student, it is important to meet with general ed teachers ahead of time. This consultation can provide invaluable insights into the feasibility of accommodations and modifications that may be necessary for the student, as well as information on any potential time limits or class size […]
What School Staff Needs to Know About IEPs
For special education teachers, IEPs are second nature. The acronyms make sense, the laws surrounding the documents are understood, and the necessity of providing services is a given. Not all school staff understand what IEPs are, however, and that can lead to misunderstandings and putting the school in jeopardy because services are not provided. […]
IEP Teams and IEP Implementation: How to
One of the major difficulties for IEP Teams is making sure that everyone is on the same page about students’ goals and accommodations. We have all felt the tension of trying to keep everything and everyone up to date using a method that doesn’t force us to run papers back and forth from folder to […]
How to Handle Aggressive Parents
One of the things that does not get talked about much during teacher training is how to handle aggressive parents. While it should not even be an issue, unfortunately, aggressive parents are not as uncommon as they should be. Knowing how to deal with them and setting appropriate boundaries can make your life easier […]
Types of Questions to Ask Parents Prior to an IEP Meeting
Preparing for an IEP meeting requires the juggling of a lot of different components. From paperwork and writing the actual IEP to communicating and documenting interactions with families and teachers, there is a lot to get done. One of the most important pieces to ensuring that the meeting will run smoothly though is to […]
Supporting and Reporting On Students in the Inclusion Classroom
While an inclusion classroom may be the least restrictive environment and proper placement for a child with an IEP, reporting and supporting still need to be done. How does an inclusion teacher support and report on students in the classroom? We asked veteran teachers to share their wisdom and ideas with us on how […]
How to Better Explain IEPs to General Ed Teachers
Explaining IEPs to those not in special education can be challenging. There is a lot of jargon and acronyms that are typically not found outside of the special ed setting. But making sure that your general education teachers understand the IEPs for the students in their classrooms is essential. We asked general ed teachers […]
How to Help General Ed Teachers Understand Their Role in an IEP
The IEP team is comprised of many different people, but not all of them understand their role in the IEP process or IEP implementation. General ed teachers role at the IEP table is crucial, but they can often be confused about what they are responsible for, when their participation in meetings is necessary, and how […]
How to Include a Para in the IEP Writing Process
The IEP writing process is challenging enough, but when you do not use your secret weapon to help you, it can be even more difficult. What secret weapon, you ask? Your para. Working with paraprofessionals is arguably one of the most challenging aspects of the job of a special education teacher. Managing other adults – […]
Why You Should Be Sending Out IEP Input Forms
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 […]
How to Handle Parents with Unreasonable Expectations
Parents with unreasonable expectations IEPs can be a challenge to deal with. They may feel that their child deserves more than your school is willing to offer, and they are not satisfied when it comes time for you to provide them the truth about what you can do. How to Handle Parents with Unreasonable IEP […]
Keeping Families Included in the IEP Process
When we think of those in charge of crafting a well-written Individualized Education Program (IEP), we often think of the special education teacher, general education teacher, speech language pathologist, occupational therapist… and so on and so forth. If we limit our “team” to those working in the school, we are missing out on a huge […]
Including Students in the IEP Process
For some special education teachers, the thought of including students in the IEP process is energizing, and for other special education teachers, this thought is incredibly overwhelming. Both sets of feelings are valid. The vast spectrum of student needs that fall under the special education umbrella allows for a wide variety of participation possibilities within […]
Who to Ask for Input for a Child’s IEP
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 […]
