Do you invite students to be active participants in their IEP process?   This time of the year I am busy preparing for annual reviews .  Writing multiple IEPs is a lot of work for me, but the biggest contributors to this process are my students .  I am always so impressed by how serious my 4th grade students take this process.  Because of this process and hearing my students' voices, we have been able to create better IEPs that reflect what THEY tell us they need....

As a student's special education teacher or program manager, it is your job to make sure that an IEP is being followed.  Part of that is ensuring that teachers and staff working with your students are informed about certain applicable aspects of their IEPs.  An IEP is a confidential legal document so there are many things to think about when sharing information. ...

It is really important for teachers to include books that provide mirrors (books where students can really identify with the characters) and windows (books where the students can see into the lives of those that are different from them).  A book that may be a mirror for some, may be a window for others. Books that include characters with disabilities and illnesses are so important to include in our classroom and home libraries.  They provide windows AND mirrors, often at the same time, for ourselves and our children.  Through the magic of reading, our students can learn about others and be more accepting and inclusive. ...

I recently got an email from a newly graduated teacher headed towards the first classroom of her very own.  She wanted to know what were some must-haves for her special education classroom.  I tried to think of some of my favorite items and some less-obvious things.  I came up with 17 things that made my classroom life easier and better. If you're not a special education teacher, that is okay!  Most of the things on this list will apply to you and your classroom too! ...

As a parent, heading into an IEP meeting is overwhelming.  Even well-seasoned parents of children with special needs get nervous before walking into a meeting where the sole purpose is to dissect what their child can and cannot do.  There are some things that special education teachers can do for parents to elevate some of the anxiety that comes with attending IEP meetings. ...

It seems that as soon as spring hits, teachers start fantasizing about what their classroom will be like in the fall.  We start thinking of all of the ways to improve what we have been doing this year.  We say things like, "Next year, I will always have my attendance in on time" or "I'm going to be so much more organized next year."  You may already know your teaching assignment for next year.  You may be getting excited for a new classroom configuration you want to try out or a whole new grade level you've never taught before.  But, my tired teacher friend, I urge you to slow down and remain present in THIS year. ...

I've never really been a fan of teaching writing, but I always really dreaded when it was time to teach informative writing.  Even as a student, research projects were the worst!  As a teacher, I especially hated when it was time for research projects to begin.   For me, the topic was always too big and I didn't know where to start.  I had a hard time staying on topic.  I never really knew when it was time to be done researching and time to begin writing.  I found that a lot of my students were having the same issues and knew there needed to be a better way. ...