Sage-Tips

What are some procedural steps you would take prior to school events to help ensure successful experiences for parents?

Establish effective school-to-home and home-to-school communication.

• Provide printed information for parents on homework policies and on monitoring and supporting student work at home.
• Send home folders of student work weekly or monthly for parent review and comment.

What are three things you will do to prepare to write an IEP?

Here are nine steps to make sure your are prepared for your child’s IEP:

1. Review Your Child’s Progress Reports.
2. Research IEP Goals.
3. Select Achievable Goals.
4. Prep The Teachers.
5. Include Social Goals.
6. Get a rough draft of the IEP.
7. Review & Compare.
8. Return The Revised Draft.

What strategy is most effective in encouraging parental involvement in student learning?

Strategies include: Collaborative homework that requires parents and children to work together— particularly for elementary and middle grades. Providing enrichment materials that students can take home to use with their families. Establishing formal school initiatives that encourage student learning at home.

What strategies will you use in helping to establish parent family partnerships?

Promoting Family Involvement

• Recognize the disconnection.
• Train teachers to work with parents.
• Reduce distrust and cultural barriers.
• Address language barriers.
• Evaluate parents’ needs.
• Accommodate families’ work schedule.
• Use technology to link parents to the classroom.
• Make school visits easier.

How can a student prepare for an IEP?

Be Prepared and Get Organized

1. Obtain a copy of the school’s IEP form.
2. Become an expert in your child’s educational performance and needs.
3. Develop your child’s ideal IEP.
4. Gather information and material that supports your ideal IEP.
5. Ask who from the school district will be attending the IEP meeting.

How can I improve my IEP?

Bringing Your Best to IEP Meetings

1. Bring the learning goals and plans, and when it is your turn, share your vision for how to help the student strive to reach those goals.
2. Bring some solid strategies and suggestions—and go big.
3. Share what you believe.
4. Ask the hard questions.
5. Say what needs to be said.
6. Fully participate.

What are the key components to a successful IEP meeting?

Bringing Your Best to IEP Meetings

• Bring the learning goals and plans, and when it is your turn, share your vision for how to help the student strive to reach those goals.
• Bring some solid strategies and suggestions—and go big.
• Share what you believe.
• Ask the hard questions.
• Say what needs to be said.
• Fully participate.

How do I prepare for an IEP meeting?

Prepare questions to ask the family about their dreams, expectations, and concerns for their child. Create an “IEP one-pager” to use at the meeting.

How can I find support for my child with an IEP?

Look for parents who have already experienced an IEP meeting at the same school or with the same district. These parents can provide valuable information about what can be expected at the initial meeting. There are also a number of support groups across the country.

How do you communicate with a parent with an IEP?

Be flexible with how you communicate with one another. In-person meetings can be difficult to schedule. Ask parents if texting, calling, or emailing would work better. Use the IEP one-pager throughout the year to update families on their child’s progress.

How can I improve my student’s IEP progress?

The start-of-year IEP meeting is only the beginning of this partnership. Schedule regular follow-ups with families. While regulations require these yearly check-ins, a student may be more likely to make progress if their teacher, specialist, and family are continually updating one another. Be flexible with how you communicate with one another.