IEP – Individualized Educational Plan
·
Describes how students learn
·
Required by the government of every student with
a disability who is found to meet the federal and state requirements for
special education
o
Disability must have an adverse effect on student
learning
·
How the student best demonstrates that learning
and what teachers will do to help the student learn more effectively
·
Developing an IEP requires assessing a student
in all areas related to their disabilities, considering their ability to access
the general curriculum, considering how the disability affects the student’s
learning, forming goals and objectives that correspond to the needs of the
student, and choosing a placement in the least restrictive environment possible
for the student
·
Adoption of specific formatting is optional for
school districts
Examples:
·
IEP blank documents with/without Secondary
Transition
Observations/Experience:
·
Unfortunately I have no prior experience with
IEP’s. I didn’t even know what they were until we discussed them in our 493
class together. IEP’s didn’t really exist while I was in high school, and if
they were, they weren’t talked about or discussed with students.
·
Based on my research I think that IEP’s are
absolutely necessary for students. No two students learn the same, nor should they
be forced to. I also liked how the IEP really identifies if the child’s
disability interferes with their learning, if not then it has not effect on
their learning and I like that that distinction is made.
·
I know based on my classmate’s experiences in
the classroom IEP’s can become problematic in a way when a teacher is trying to
keep a uniform classroom. It got me thinking about this idea about making
concessions and “catering” to students. Sometimes, I feel like I want students
to learn the same way so that I can teach the same way and don’t have to
explain or have kids questions why someone gets to do something they don’t get
to do. Then, I realize that all children are different and that the point of
education and our job as teachers is to teach them something. If our
methodology of teaching is not conducive to their learning style we need to
adjust so that all our students have the opportunity to learn and not worry
about what is “fair” to all students.
·
IEP’s brings up a whole different set of
questions around ADD, ADHD, prescribed medication, parenting, etc. that I’m not
sure any teacher really wants to take on – but it does bring up some
interesting questions about how/why some students have learning disabilities.
Applicable to Teaching:
·
Almost every teacher I imagine will encounter a
student who has an IEP, or needs an IEP in their teaching career. Even if a
teacher is working primarily with gifted children does not mean that their
student’s will not have IEP’s. This is a great exercise to help prepare us for
circumstances we need to be aware of in our classrooms and give us some
background information on where to go for forms for IEP’s and the basics
regarding the process.
·
My instruction might change based on this
research in that I think I will always be more aware of my students who might
need a little extra instruction, or a different setting regarding their
learning. Also, I think I will be on the lookout more for students who may
benefit from an IEP who might not already have a plan in place or didn’t know
the availability of the IEP option.
IEP’s
Applicable to Students:
·
Now that I actually know what an IEP is, and how
the process works generally my students will obviously benefit because I know
what their plan entails. I will be cognizant of their learning boundaries and I
will be able to find out in what ways they learn best and I how I can better
help them to be successful.
·
Now, if a student asks me about an IEP, or
informs me of troubles they are having with their learning I will be able to
suggest if an IEP would be beneficial to them or not.
·
This applies to my future students because well…I
have no students now so they are all my future students!
Sources:
- General Background Information on IEP (Wiki)
- Various Documents for IEP’s (WA) #6: http://www.k12.wa.us/specialed/Data/ModelStateForms.aspx
- IEP
Document without Secondary Transition
- IEP
Document with Secondary Transition
· Secondary transition meaning high school to “world
of adulthood”
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