I know the school year just started….but it is a good time to review the IEP with the school.
I know that you are probably just now getting your child and probably yourself, used to the new routine.
And it can take a few weeks to get our kids into the new swing of things because generally any transition can be tough for them, let alone a big one like starting a new year of school.
That is why, I chose to give the year some time before I really did an assessment of how Elizabeth was doing in her new school year. And thus, how was she really doing on the IEP goals we planned last May.
Because of her disorders of sensory processing disorder and global dyspraxia, the former creating anxiety and stressed feeling and the later a motor planning disorder, new things can increase anxiety, and that anxiety can make it more difficult for her to process information or plan the correct steps to complete the skills to accomplish tasks in her day.
So, by waiting a few weeks, I could generally feel better about REALLY seeing how she was REALLY doing. After she had gotten used to the “new” and her natural new-school-year anxiety was less.
(Now keep in mind any crisis/or any situation in the crisis arena would have been one that we dealt with right away.)
And as much as we are giving her time to adjust to the year, it is a must to remember that teachers do not actually get to know your child well until they spend time with them, prior to these few weeks, they usually will have just really met your child, read the IEP and notes. But they have not been able to begin to really know your child.
They start by working with the information you provided to them prior to school and on
parent teacher night.
Why October? I usually gave everyone 4-5 weeks.
Which bring us to October (in Ohio’s school schedule)
And that is why the month of October holds so much weight for me because I think that October was when I felt everyone knew everyone better and the newness was gone.
And in October, I arranged my IEP review.
Because in October: The school will have had
The time with which they have come to know your child.
The time to have worked with your child
Even more important is that they will have seen how your child learns and functions in their day. How they learn
How your child does in a classroom in the school setting, on recess in gym, with their peers in conversations, during reading, with math skills…
Why go over the IEP -we just did it last spring?
True! The IEP season has passed and more than likely, you were incredibly relieved to have lived through it and come out with something resembling what you had set out to get. And I get it, you don’t want to head back into that arena again sooner than you need to but think about this:
Just like your child grows and changes and you need new school clothes.
They will have changed since the last time you wrote those I. E! P goals and they may need new ones. Maybe your summer learning was wonderful, and your child achieved new skills. Well maybe those new skills negate a goal on your IEP. So why work on something that is achieved or even if it partially achieved, since you can adjust the time spent on it.
Something to remember
The IEP is a working document, and you do have every right to request a review. Please don’t feel bad or wrong to ask.
What should I review?
During the review you can ask
-How are the goals working for my child??
-Do they need changed
-Do they need removed entirely
-Have the goals been achieved
-You can check in on all parts of their day and make any additions/interventions to the IEP based on what you learn.
-Is your child struggling in certain situations- can those be adjusted for their better success.
-Do goals need reworded
-Do the goals need their time/frequency adjusted?
This gives you the chance to get the IEP for the CURRENT needs of THIS year’s child, not the one from 5 months ago.
Not working off goals from five months ago.
The good of the review
And if you do it now, things will be in order. You’ll all be on the same page and things will be for your child to grow and achieve.
Because before you know it you will find yourself in holiday mode and before you blink it will be January and half the year will be over.
Do not be afraid
-To share your thoughts on how you think they’re doing on the goals
-How they come home from school.
-Are they stressed, overwhelmed or just fine?
-How hard is it to do homework?
-Is the reading level coming home for homework too hard or too easy?
It is your time to share and ideally it is a meeting of both sides coming together for the good of the child.
What to do before your meeting
Do a very detailed reading and review of the IEP.
Look at all and read all the words in it and at the same time you are reading, allow yourself to think of your child and what each goal really looks like for them right now.
-Then get a highlighter and highlight what concerns you, what you need explained. share with -Share the IEP with your private Therapist for their review- if you need to just give them a different color highlighter so you stay organized.
Put the child first
Then when you’re organized you can have a great discussion.
One that will bring everyone to the same page for the good of the child, really, we are all on the same team.
And you can come away with an IEP that best represents your child for the 2024-2025 school year.
Again, you are their best advocate and best representative
Trust your heart
See you next month.