1. Take
Responsibility
It's time you take responsibility for your role
as your child's voice in their education and of the state their
education is in. This does not mean that you are solely
responsible for mishaps, but if we are going to move forward
with you becoming an equal member of the team, you must know
your role.
From this point forward you will be responsible for consciously
choosing the most effective action in any special education
situation. You will be in charge of increasing your credibility
and influence with the team. You will develop behaviors and
actions that will not only improve your own effectiveness, but
you will strengthen the entire special education team.
2. Create
a Mission
Every parent is given a voice in their child's
IEP. It's time to use yours effectively and strategically. No
longer will you hesitate on your input into the IEP.
It's time to create your child's Education Mission Statement.
This will include a clear definition of educational outcomes at
the end of their school career. Included in your plan are
descriptive qualities of your child's education that will assist
them in achieving their outcomes.
3. Plan for
Success
Educational success and mastery does not happen by accident.
Only using consistent approaches when collaborating with the IEP
team will produce results. You must create a systematic
approach that works for you in becoming an equal member of the
IEP team.
It's time for you to gain a reputation for excellent
follow-through and superior input on your child's top
educational priorities. By developing and communicating
priorities within the IEP, you will see consistent movement and
progress towards the desired outcomes.
4. Develop
A Winning Strategy
Team collaboration for IEP success is mandatory. Every team
member needs to clearly understand both short and long term
education goals. Everyday must be a new effort to achieve.
As an equal member of the team, you can find ways to share
recognitions of success without fear of diminishing the
weaknesses which still need to be addressed. It's time to
create effective, long-term professional relationships with the
IEP team. With mutual respect between IEP team members, the
child wins.
5. Listen,
Learn, Teach
It's your turn to listen, learn and teach.
Listening to IEP team members with an open-mind to their
perspective can bring new insights to your role on the IEP
team. Learning from IEP team members will broaden your
information for decision making. Teaching the team your
knowledge and expertise about your child will keep the focus on
your child's unique needs.
Listen, learn and teach are skills which require practice and
adjustment within each team. However, when these skills are
mastered you will have greater influence to lead your child's
IEP team. You also will develop faster problem solving skills.
6.
Cooperate
Understanding differences and how the contribute
to innovative and better solutions is key to IEP team success.
You never will agree with every team member. Your child needs
you to develop the skills to cooperate with their team to create
a better program education program.
The action of cooperation includes learning how to value other
team members, their knowledge and their participation on your
child's team. The goal of cooperation is to integrate every
team member's best idea. With integrated solutions, a special
education program has the potential to be much greater than an
individual strategy.
7. Maintain
Accountability
Accountability of all team members, including
yourself, is key to long-term success. The purpose of your
child's IEP, as stated by IDEA, is to prepare for Further
Education, Employment and Independent Living. This is not a
sprint of learning, but a marathon in life preparation.
By practicing these 7 strategies consistently you will bring
your child's education to a higher level than ever imagined.
Copyright 2009, Precision Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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"Providing you with the information and help you need
to change your child's special education outcomes."
Precision Education, Inc. www.precisioneducation.com (815)
302-1273 / (800) 432-0170
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