Podcast: Change Your Definition of Appropriate IEPs
What was appropriate before may never be appropriate again in your child/student's IEP. Listen in and then join me to become a Master IEP Coach® at www.masterIEPcoach.com
Free IEP Checklist + LIVE Podcast for Parents & Teachers
LIVE Podcast Recording: The Special Education Inner Circle - Your IEP Checklist
This is NOT an old school IEP checklist!
IEPs have many boxes to check and forms to fill out, but somehow it always feels like we are missing something when we leave the IEP table.
Use these 13 IEP Checkpoints to fill in the gaps and create a more collaborative IEP meeting.
Get Yours Free IEP Checklist at: www.iepchecklist.com
Our Full IEP Agenda
Did you receive your full IEP agenda before your last meeting?
Parents, Teachers & Therapists... did you know what to expect when you walked into your last IEP meeting?
I've sat in on over a thousand IEP meetings in the past decade and one thing I can tell you for certain, there is no "standard" IEP format for meetings.
Every school, every district, every state will run their meetings just a little bit different.
This can be intimidating or confusing to ANYONE at the IEP table!
It's time to eliminate UNNECESSARY stress at your next IEP meeting.
Ask for an IEP meeting agenda.
No matter what your role is on the IEP team, you should know what is being talked about and in what order, when you show up to the IEP table.
We can't serve children well if we aren't all aware of what is happening BEFORE we sit down at the table.
IEP Truth: There's no law that says there needs to be an agenda. There's no rule that says everyone needs to know what is happening before the meeting....
Mamma Bears & IEPs
I love this pic of Berny & her mamma bear mug! She recently finished the IEP Coach mentorship and is helping special needs parents in her community. Find out how, here.
Raise your hand if you've ever felt your "mamma bear" instincts when you've been sitting at an IEP meeting!
A little secret... I know teachers and therapists feel that way too. They take the responsibility of their students seriously and often get protective during IEP discussions.
I know because I was a teacher and I am a mom. It happens in both situations. I see it everyday when I'm helping parents and schools.
When a district or a parent brings me into an IEP "situation", it's usually because many of the team members are in "mamma bear" mode.
If you find yourself stuck in an IEP conversation that seems to be going nowhere, try this:
- Write down the end result that you are looking for, such as, "more inclusion time".
- Write down 3 ways that more inclusion could be...
Face It to Fix It in Special Education!
| Why can't Special Education be easier?!?! I hear it at every one of my workshops from both parents and teachers. The truth is that most of the time Special Education struggles become 10x more intense because nobody wants to talk about the tough issues. I mean, what teacher really wants to tell a parent that their classroom is not the right fit? (Parents... did you know that teachers often feel like their risking their job if they tell you this?) No matter what "side of the table" you are sitting on, issues are brewing. Concerns are growing. Tension is rising. ACTION STEP: Take a moment this week (today!) and open up the conversation inside of your IEP team about ONE issue that has been keeping you up at night. You don't have to tackle every issue, in every conversation. Parents - maybe you need to finally... |
Kindness Bingo - FREE Download!
Chances are either Valentine's day is a huge deal for you and your family or you really don't care. It's ok either way. No judgement here!
No matter what your feeling are about the day, it's always fun to find new ways to connect with your kids (and students)... this week is the perfect chance to play Kindness Bingo!
I've attached a PDF (Download now)
or you can screen shot this pic and play on your phone.
Finish all the tasks with your kids and then TREAT YOURSELF to something special to celebrate.
Remember, kindness isn't just about doing for others, it's also about taking care of yourself. You'll see acts of kindness for both yourself and others... YOU are important!
Have fun!
With Love, Hope & Determination Always,
Catherine
Founder of the Become an IEP Coach Mentorship, Online IEP Help Center & EXTRAORDINARY Moms Mastermind
P.S. If you jumped to the bottom for the good stuff. The EXTRAORDINARY Moms Mastermind is 60% OFF for...
Is This YOUR Special Education Journey?
| This is it. The LAST week to sign up to be an IEP Coach for the January Mentorship. Before you scroll on by this email and think this isn't you... Wait! You have to see who is already IN the IEP Coach Mentorship... "Hi everyone! I am the mom of 4! My oldest has ADHD, ASD and anxiety. Last fall we went through a horribly traumatic experience with our school district. I felt lucky because I had a family member to walk me through the process and I have a back ground in special education, but what do other parents do? So here I am, becoming an IEP COACH! I’ve been helping other parents for about a year now just based on what I have learned on my own. I’m excited to take it to the next step!" "HI! I have two of the best kids! My youngest has Down syndrome. I have been fighting the system for most of the 15 years wanting the best education for my daughter. Don’t we all? I was so happy when I came across Catherine’s... |
3 Years of IEP Struggles, then BAM! PROGRESS!
Heather's son, Elijah, struggled for 3 years to make progress on his IEP goals.
She knew something needed to change.
She took the leap and decided to Become an IEP Coach for her family and for her community.
You have to watch this video to see what has happened!
Now it's YOUR TURN to BECOME AN IEP COACH!
Enrollment is CLOSING - Sign Up Here
See you in the mentorship!
-Catherine
IEPs and special education as we know it, needs to go...
There's a common theme happening in Special Education and it's nothing new, but it needs to change.
Listen to the video and then choose which one is right for you...
5 Ways to Get More (Nicely) in Special Education
Special Education can get sticky for everyone involved. Teachers, parents, therapists, and admins all struggle at some point to navigate and negotiate their way through rules and regulations that don't always make sense.
However, sometimes it's not the system that is stopping us from moving forward with what is better for a child. It's us, getting in our own way because we've been burned before or we think we've tried everything.
The next time you're feeling frustrated (or better yet, before you get to that point)... make sure you've tried these 5 strategies:
- Make Eye Contact - Don't just rely on notes and emails to make sure the team is understanding what you are trying to communicate. Whether you're part of the school team or you're a parent, we know everything has to be in writing, but face to face contact is critical for working together as a team.
- Know the Rules - Don't assume something can or can't be done. Always look for policies in writing and ask for them when necessary....