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Around the IEP Table: This Week's Intentional Thoughts
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Reader, This year I want to try something different with the newsletter, so welcome to issue #1 of Around the IEP Table. Intentional Priority ⭐When what you've planned for and set up for your classroom doesn't work the first week... it's okay to shift and pivot. Teaching is a lot of work, and we often feel the demands need to take up our time outside of contract hours. Now that decision is up to you as an individual, as only you can decide what work-life balance works best for you. But here's a gentle reminder I'd like you to carry this school year - school will always be there. And in the event your school needs to replace you, they will - without a second thought (I know firsthand, unfortunately). But your family? They won't. The paperwork, the duties, the responsibilities... there will always be more to do, something else to check off your to do list (or add to it), a due date looming, emails that need your attention... still there Monday morning at 8am. But that baseball game your son pitches at for the first time, the first time your kid rides a bike, says their first word, or even does something for the last time (as a mom of a 2.5 year old - I'm always prepared for the firsts but my goodness, never prepared for the lasts you don't know are coming)... life doesn't wait. Your students are resilient. Your school has been there and will continue to be there. Sometimes, a successful day looks like your students getting off the bus, eating lunch, and making it home safely. And that's okay! I know it's so much easier said than done (I still struggle with it!), but leave work at work the best and the most that you can. This Week's FocusThis week, I want you to: ✅ Get all of your due dates mapped on your calendar. Inside the SystemOur brand new workflow tool, the IEP Timeline Calculator, can help you map all the due dates for your entire caseload in 2 clicks and less than 30 seconds a student. Check out this IG post to see it in action. Beyond the SystemIf you need guidance and best pratices for your IEP timelines, this free IEP Writing Timeline is here to help. Looking AheadNext week, we're talking about progress monitoring before it becomes overwhelming. Until then, I'll see you inside our free Facebook Community.
Stephanie |
The Intentional IEP
Learn best practices in special education. Join 50,000+ special education teachers and build your advocacy efforts with topics including IEP writing, IEP team collaboration, IEP implementation, and progress monitoring.
Welcome to issue #4 of Around the IEP Table, Reader! Intentional Thought ⭐ Baseline data isn't about proving and knowing what your student can do right now so you can see how far they go. Baseline data is one of those special education terms we use constantly. "Collect your baseline data." "You need a baseline before writing the goal." "Make sure you get beginning of the year baselines." But what are we actually talking about? What does any of it mean? Simple terms: baseline data is a...
Welcome to issue #3 of Around the IEP Table, Reader! Intentional Priority ⭐ Build a lesson-planning system that stays at school. I want to touch on lesson planning this week because I know some special ed teachers have a protected planning period... and some don't. And some teachers technically have one... but it gets filled with meetings, coverage, paperwork, student needs, and all the things that apparently could not happen at any other time. That is why I will never tell a teacher that the...
Reader, Welcome to issue #2 of Around the IEP Table. Intentional Priority ⭐ I'm going to start this week's intentional thought by telling you, there is no single best way to collect data. I have seen some beautifully organized binders (I have them!), some digital forms that can be accessed from anywhere, using sticky notes (my personal fav!), tally sheets, clipboards, spreadsheets... or a hybrid combination of all of the above. So let me let you in on a little secret, Reader: the best data...