It’s easy to get overwhelmed creating and implementing IEPs. There is so much to do, so much to remember, and so much to organize. That’s why it’s always helpful to ask veteran teachers what they have found to be the most helpful for keeping IEPs simple yet effective.
If you’re struggling to simplify your IEPs, the tips and tricks below are sure to be beneficial.
How to Keep IEPs Simple
1 – Data, Data, and More Data
Data doesn’t lie and when you’re working with a child who has an IEP it’s important to gather as much data as possible. It will help you when writing goals, explaining interventions, and more.
2 – Be Detailed in Progress Notes
Speaking of data, use it to shape your progress notes while being as detailed as possible. While it may seem tedious to write overly detailed progress notes, they will ultimately make it a lot easier and less time-consuming to write the next IEP.
3 – Create an Outline
When you’re creating similar types of documents over and over again, having an outline to follow simplifies the process. In the case of IEPs, having a form that describes what needs to go in each section saves time and helps you become more efficient when writing. Depending on how you save your outline and what software your school district uses, you may be able to copy and paste parts of the document from one IEP to the next.
4 – Use a Goal Bank
A goal bank is a database of common goals that can be copied and pasted into the IEP. Each goal should be customized to fit the needs of the individual child, but much of the wording remains the same or similar from one IEP to the next.
Some schools already use a goal bank, but for those who don’t, The Intentional IEP Membership offers subscribers access to hundreds of pre-written goals. These SMART goals have been created by special education teachers and are appropriate for almost any IEP you come across. Learn more about The Intentional IEP Membership here.
5 – Plan Ahead
At the beginning of the school year, sit down and map out when each student’s IEP is due. Then count back the weeks to when prior written notices must be sent, when teacher and parent input forms should go out, etc., and jot those dates down on your calendar. Our free IEP Writing Timeline can help you determine the dates.
While it may be a lot of work initially to compile all of those dates, it will make the school year run more smoothly and make the IEP process a lot less stressful.
6 – Batch Work
You may have heard of batch working when it comes to other tasks, but it is something that not a lot of teachers take advantage of when dealing with IEPs. Instead of moving from task to task, student to student, and file to file, consider batch working your IEPs. For example, if you have three students whose prior written notices need to be sent one week, create and print them all out at one time. By batching work by the type or task that needs to be done, you can save time and energy.
BONUS: You can use our IEP Writing Timeline (it’s free!) to determine when to batch what.
7 – Stick with the Agenda
One of the most daunting parts of the special education process is the IEP meeting. Before the meeting day, write down an agenda that you want to follow making sure that you leave time for parental concerns and questions. On the day of the meeting, start promptly and stick to your agenda. After a few IEP meetings, you may find that your agenda is generally the same each time. If that’s the case, create a master template that you can use from one meeting to the next instead of creating from scratch.
IEP writing and the IEP process can be overwhelming but the tips and tricks above can make it easier.
If you find that writing IEPs is a challenge for you, we invite you to check out the Intentional IEP Writing course that’s designed to streamline the IEP writing process with a step-by-step framework. Learn more about it here!
IEP writing shouldn’t feel like guesswork! Inside The Intentional IEP, you’ll get access to the expert-led trainings you should have learned in college—covering everything from data collection to goal writing and implementation. Pair that with 10,000+ pre-written, standards-aligned goals and time-saving resources, and you’ll finally have the clarity and confidence you need to write strong, effective IEPs. Join today and start learning what they didn’t teach you in school!