Lesson Plan
IEP Meeting Preparation Workshop
Parents will learn practical strategies and utilize tools to effectively prepare for IEP meetings, enabling them to confidently advocate for their child's educational needs.
Effective IEP meeting preparation empowers parents to be active participants in their child's education, leading to more productive discussions and better outcomes for students.
Audience
Parents of K-12 Students
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Interactive workshop with direct instruction, guided reflection, and practical tool application.
Materials
Ready for Your IEP Meeting (slide-deck), My Child's Strengths & Needs Checklist (worksheet), and Pre-Meeting Reflection Prompts (journal)
Prep
Review Materials
15 minutes
- Review the IEP Meeting Preparation Workshop lesson plan, Ready for Your IEP Meeting slide deck, My Child's Strengths & Needs Checklist worksheet, and Pre-Meeting Reflection Prompts journal.
- Ensure access to a projector or large screen for the slide deck.
- Print copies of the My Child's Strengths & Needs Checklist and Pre-Meeting Reflection Prompts for each parent.
Step 1
Introduction (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Welcome parents and introduce the topic: effective IEP meeting preparation.
- Briefly explain the importance of parent involvement in IEPs.
- Use the first slides of the Ready for Your IEP Meeting slide deck to set the stage.
Step 2
Understanding the IEP Meeting (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Discuss the purpose of an IEP meeting and who typically attends.
- Review key terms and acronyms that parents might encounter.
- Utilize relevant slides from the Ready for Your IEP Meeting slide deck to guide this discussion.
- Facilitate a brief Q&A session.
Step 3
Tools for Preparation (15 minutes)
15 minutes
- Introduce the My Child's Strengths & Needs Checklist as a tool for organizing thoughts.
- Guide parents through filling out a portion of the checklist, providing examples.
- Introduce the Pre-Meeting Reflection Prompts journal for deeper reflection.
- Allow parents a few minutes to begin writing in their journals or discussing with a partner.
- Refer to the slide deck for visual aids and key takeaways for these tools.
Step 4
Advocacy Strategies (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Share practical tips for effective communication during an IEP meeting.
- Discuss strategies for asking questions, expressing concerns, and understanding their rights.
- Use scenario-based examples to illustrate points.
- The Ready for Your IEP Meeting slide deck will have dedicated slides for this section.
Step 5
Wrap-Up & Next Steps (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Summarize the key takeaways from the workshop.
- Encourage parents to utilize the provided tools.
- Offer resources for further support.
- Conclude with a positive and empowering message, reinforced by the final slides of the Ready for Your IEP Meeting slide deck.
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Slide Deck
Pre-Meeting Power-Up!
Ready for Your IEP Meeting?
- Your Voice Matters!
- Learn how to prepare with confidence.
- Advocate effectively for your child.
Welcome parents warmly and thank them for attending. Briefly introduce yourself and the purpose of this workshop: to empower them for IEP meetings. Emphasize that their role is crucial.
What's an IEP Meeting?
Understanding the Purpose
- IEP: Individualized Education Program
- A legal document outlining your child's special education services.
- Who's there? You, teachers, administrators, specialists.
- A team effort for your child!
Explain what an IEP meeting is. Discuss who typically attends: parents, special education teacher, general education teacher, LEA representative, and sometimes other specialists or the student themselves. Mention the collaborative nature.
IEP Lingo: Don't Be Shy!
Decoding Common Acronyms
- FAPE: Free Appropriate Public Education
- LRE: Least Restrictive Environment
- SDI: Specially Designed Instruction
- ESY: Extended School Year
Always ask if you hear something new!
Introduce common acronyms parents might hear (e.g., FAPE, LRE, ESY, SDI). Explain them simply and encourage parents to ask if they don't understand something during an actual meeting.
Your Power Tools: Preparation!
Organize Your Thoughts
- My Child's Strengths & Needs Checklist: What does your child do well? Where do they need support?
- Pre-Meeting Reflection Prompts: Your questions, concerns, and hopes for the meeting.
Introduce the 'My Child's Strengths & Needs Checklist' and 'Pre-Meeting Reflection Prompts' as tools to organize their thoughts and concerns before the meeting. Explain how these tools help them remember important points.
Advocacy 101: Speak Up!
Effective Communication Strategies
- Be Prepared: Bring your notes, questions, and documents.
- Be Specific: Use examples of your child's experiences.
- Listen Actively: Understand the school team's perspective.
- Ask Questions: Clarify anything you don't understand.
- Stay Calm & Focused: Your child is the priority!
Emphasize being prepared with notes, questions, and specific examples. Discuss the importance of active listening and respectful communication. Suggest taking notes during the meeting.
Next Steps for Success
After the Meeting and Beyond
- Review the IEP: Make sure it accurately reflects the discussion.
- Stay Connected: Communicate regularly with the school team.
- Know Your Rights: Information is power!
- Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge your child's achievements!
Encourage parents to set goals for the meeting, understand their rights (mentioning a link to parent rights if applicable, but since I can't provide external links, I'll keep it general), and follow up after the meeting if needed.
You've Got This!
Empowering Your Role
- You are essential!
- Your child's success is a team effort.
- Thank you for being here!
End on an encouraging note, reiterating that they are their child's best advocate.
Worksheet
My Child's Strengths & Needs Checklist: Pre-Meeting Power-Up
Instructions: Before your IEP meeting, take some time to reflect on your child's strengths and areas where they need support. This checklist will help you organize your thoughts and ensure you bring important information to the discussion.
Section 1: My Child's Strengths
What does your child do well? What are their talents, positive personality traits, and areas where they excel in school or at home?
- Academic Strengths: (e.g., strong in math, loves to read, creative writer)
- Social/Emotional Strengths: (e.g., friendly, good listener, resilient, kind to others)
- Behavioral Strengths: (e.g., follows rules, independent, motivated, focused)
- Other Strengths/Interests: (e.g., artistic, athletic, good with technology, curious)
Section 2: My Child's Needs & Concerns
Where does your child struggle? What areas do you want the IEP team to focus on? What specific concerns do you have about their learning, behavior, or social-emotional development?
- Academic Needs: (e.g., difficulty with reading comprehension, needs support with writing essays, struggles with organization for homework)
- Social/Emotional Needs: (e.g., difficulty making friends, struggles with anxiety, needs help managing emotions)
- Behavioral Needs: (e.g., difficulty staying in seat, struggles with transitions, needs help following multi-step directions)
- Concerns for the Upcoming Year: (e.g., worries about transitioning to a new grade, concerns about specific subjects, hopes for new strategies)
Section 3: Questions for the IEP Team
What do you want to ask the teachers and specialists at the meeting?
Journal
Pre-Meeting Reflection Prompts: Journal for Parents
Instructions: Use these prompts to reflect more deeply on your child's needs and your goals for the upcoming IEP meeting. Writing down your thoughts can help you feel more prepared and confident to advocate for your child.
Prompt 1: My Vision for My Child
What are my hopes and dreams for my child's educational journey this year? What do I envision for their growth and success?
Prompt 2: What I Want the Team to Know
What is one important thing about my child that the IEP team might not know, or that I want to make sure they understand fully? This could be about their personality, home life, specific challenges, or unique talents.
Prompt 3: My Top Priorities
If I could achieve only one or two key things in this IEP meeting, what would they be? What are the most crucial areas I want to see addressed for my child?
Prompt 4: Potential Solutions & Ideas
Based on my knowledge of my child, what are some strategies, accommodations, or services that I believe could help them succeed?
Prompt 5: How I Will Advocate
How will I ensure my voice is heard respectfully and effectively during the meeting? What specific actions will I take to advocate for my child?