How to read an IEP: 5 things teachers should look for — from understood.org by Amanda Morin
Have you ever read through a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) and felt unsure about what to focus on?
Every general education teacher will have students with IEPs in class at some point. That’s why knowing how to read and understand an IEP is so important. If you’re called on to attend an IEP meeting, you may even help create the IEP.
There are best practices for getting the most important information from an IEP. Here are five key things to be on the lookout for when you read an IEP and how they apply to your classroom.
From DSC:
If you think teaching and learning is easy, you ought to try putting together a few IEPs and/or attend a few meetings where IEPs are being discussed and updated. Wow! You get a glimpse of how many needs are out there — and will better appreciate the scope/variety of the needs.
If you ever need to be humbled, attend an IEP meeting.
Also from understood.org, see:
What can teachers say when families raise concerns about their child? — from understood.org by Gretchen Vierstra, MA
When families have concerns about their child, they may come to you, their child’s teacher, for support. They may have recently noticed a behavior that’s out of the ordinary for their child. Or they may have observed a pattern of behaviors over time.
Families may turn to you as they seek out answers. This is especially true if you’ve built a relationship of communication and partnership from the beginning of the school year. This foundation will help families feel more comfortable sharing their concerns with you. How can you make the conversation as supportive and productive as possible?
Classroom accommodations for sensory processing challenges — from understood.org by Amanda Morin
Sensory processing challenges can make learning in a classroom tough. Learn about accommodations that can help.
Students with sensory processing challenges have trouble managing everything their senses are taking in. At school, they often have to cope with sounds, smells, textures, and other sensations that get in the way of learning.
What classroom accommodations can help students with trouble processing sensory information? Here are some strategies.