Springtime in Schools: Preparing for Individualized Education Plans

The ice is beginning to melt, and springtime is justEducators of children with special needs should reflect
around the corner. For those of us who either work inon their students in much the same way as parents.
schools or have a child in school, this usually means theAs you prepare for each student's IEP, I would
beginning of the busy season we know as spring IEPencourage you to do the following:
time. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this1. Review your progress and anecdotal notes from the
process, annual Individualized Education Plans (or IEPs)past year.
are usually completed in the spring for students2. Write a list of strengths and obstacles that you see
receiving special education services. As we begin toin the classroom environment.
embark on this busy time of year, it is important for3. Brainstorm ideas on how to overcome the student's
parents and educators alike to reflect on the past yearobstacles.
and the progress that the child/student has made, and4. Make a plan for where you would like to see the
look toward the future.student 1-2 years, 4-5 years, and 8-10 years from now.
Parents of children with special needs sometimes feel5. Send home parent questionnaires, and request
that they are not an integral part of the IEP process.parent input when beginning the IEP planning process.
As you prepare for your child's IEP, I would encourage6. Set-up a team meeting to review progress, and
you to do the following:receive input from parents and all professionals
1. Reflect in writing on the progress that your child hasinvolved for next year.
made over the past year.7. Consider typical developmental milestones when
2. Write a list of your child's current strengths andplanning and writing IEP goals and objectives: Do you
obstacles.need to work on another developmental milestone
3. Prioritize the obstacles your child faces, and writebefore moving on to something else?
down ideas to overcome them.8. Administer a questionnaire to each student regarding
4. Write out where you would like to see your child 1-2enjoyable activities and his or her learning preferences.
years, 4-5 years, and 8-10 year from now.Once again, it is crucial for school personnel and
5. Write down any goal or objective ideas that youparents to work together. By planning ahead and
would like to see your child's school team work on withasking for parent input, the springtime IEP season can
him or her in the next year.be more enjoyable and promising for the future!
6. Ask your child if he or she would like to learn aboutFor parents and professionals alike, the IEP season
something in particular during the next year of theircan be overwhelming. By planning ahead and thinking
education.about your child or student's IEP, it can become a
After thinking and writing about your child, it is a goodmore enjoyable and exciting experience for all. It is
idea to sit down with your child's IEP team prior to theimportant to remember to work as a team, because
IEP to brief them on your thoughts, IEP ideas, and goalsas a team we can accomplish so much more than we
for the future. It is important to work together withcan individually!
school personnel in order to achieve the most success."Working together, ordinary people can perform
Remember: The more we all work together, theextraordinary feats. They can lift things a little higher, a
greater the results we can achieve!little farther, towards excellence.