STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO WRITING PROPER IEP'S
OVERVIEW:
IEP4U Writer
The IEP provides the basic mechanism for organizing essential and relevant
curricular content for each student. There are a number of critical areas
that must be taken into account when developing IEPs These areas should
include consideration of what skills need to be taught and why, how the
skills will be taught, how the student's progress will be recorded and
verified where these skills should be taught, the standard of performance,
the anticipated date of completion and the instructional materials and
procedures which will be used to assist the students in acquiring and performing
the skills. The following should be taken into consideration when developing
IEPs: Students present and future needs.
1. Alignment with the State Adopted Standards
2. District Core Curriculum
3. Input from parents/ care providers
4. Students past achievement
5. Student present level of performance
6. Age appropriateness of the goal for the student
7. Functionality of the goal for the student
8. Needs of language learners
9. Entry requirement of adult programs
PRESENT LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE:
1. The first step in planning for a complete education program
is the determine of present levels of performance. Not only are these levels
of performance one of the legal requirements for IEP development, they
establish the basis for formulating annual goals and short term instructional
objectives (benchmarks).
2. It is preferable to state present levels in positive terms,
but that does not mean that teachers should avoid identifying those behaviors
which could be harmful to the student or others. Care must be taken not
to make these behaviors seem like the only observable behaviors of the
student. However, it is important to describe the situation in which the
behavior may occur.
3. Determine students needs based on assessment and the IEP process.
District approved standardized assessments, and the IEP process. District
approved standardized assessments, as well as classroom observational data,
may be used to establish present levels.
4. A reference to the most recently attained skills from the
previous years goals as well as a baseline to the proposed goal must be
included.
5. When appropriate, reference should be made as to how a skill
aligns with the State Adopted Standards.
A Sample of:
Present Level of Performance and Progress of THE STUDENT
Date
THE STUDENT is in the Severely Handicapped program. The curriculum for
this program differs from the general education curriculum in that the
emphasis is in providing THE STUDENT with instruction in subject areas
of functional academics, social skills, independent living, pre-vocational
learning skills as well as preparing THE STUDENT for transition into adult
day program upon reaching the maximum age for receiving public education
services. These areas of studies are correlated to the State of California
Standards through the use of the Special Education Alternate Curriculum
Guide.
Survival Words: THE STUDENT reads 30 survival words and safety
signs with one verbal prompt taken from the Brigance Inventory of basic
skills. When reading a meaning and definition of words, THE STUDENT can
select 20 of these words with up to 2 verbal prompts.
Money Skills: THE STUDENT recognizes HIS/HER coins (1, 5, 10,
25) and bills (1, 2, 5, 10, 20). When given a combination of 1 to 4 quarters,
THE STUDENT can identify the combined amounts from 25, 50, 75, and 1 dollar
with one verbal prompt. Through the use of the Touch Money Program, THE
STUDENT is beginning to add combination of coins up to 50 cents. THE STUDENT
can count by 5s up to 50 with one verbal prompt. When counting a combination
of bills, THE STUDENT can use 1s and 5s and knows to transition from counting
by 5s to 1s with one verbal prompt. THE STUDENT understands the $ up process
when giving the amount of money needed for payment and demonstrate paying
for items when using $5 and $1 dollar bills. When given a choice of using
a single bill, either a $1, $5, $10 or $20, THE STUDENT needs to use a
number line to prompt her as to the amount that is greater to the amount
being purchased.
Telling Time: THE STUDENT knows HIS/HER time to on the hour intervals.
THE STUDENT requires verbal prompts when reading times from 5 minutes to
55 minutes past the hour. When the hour hand of the clock is nearest the
next number may confuse THE STUDENT as to which hour to say.
Reading: THE STUDENT continues to participate in all areas of
class reading groups: Beginning To Read Series, Houghton Mifflin Readers,
as well as current events. THE STUDENT shadow reads with classmates and
answers comprehension questions at the end of each chapter with verbal
prompts.
Personal Data: THE STUDENT knows HIS/HER name and telephone number
by printing an well as verbalizing. THE STUDENT may need visual prompts
to remember the street number.
Lunch Selection: THE STUDENT is able to independently select
HIS/HER lunch choices on a picture menu. HE/SHE is able to read the choices
offered without staff input.
Planting The Student Garden: THE STUDENT has participated in
the germination, fertilization cultivation, and watering of the class garden.
HE/SHE has carefully tended the vegetables and can identify the difference
between plants and weeds. HIS/HER teacher has discussed the importance
of "knowing how" means eating.
Preparing Garden Salads: THE STUDENT can pick 3 different home
grown lettuce and vegetables from the student garden, wash, dry and prepare
the lettuce in a bowl. HE/SHE can take student orders for dressing and
pour the correct amount on the salad. HE/SHE may require verbal prompts
when spreading toppings on to the salad. THE STUDENT has demonstrated good
preparation skills however HE/SHE requires prompting to work at a faster
pace. THE STUDENT is reluctant to make mistakes and does not ask HIS/HER
classmates for assistance. This years emphasis is in reinforcing THE STUDENT
to work faster and with more confidence.
Adaptive Physical Education: THE STUDENT attends Adaptive P.E.
class at High School 3 days per week with an Adaptive Physical Education
Teacher and 2 Days with a Special Education Teacher. THE STUDENT plays
basketball but has some difficulty staying with an activity. THE STUDENT
can lift a 5 lb. Weight, walk a 3 inch line, jump 8 inches off the ground
and jog/walk for 120 seconds without stopping. THE STUDENT is interested
in shooting a ball at a hoop but seldom makes it.
Note: Did you know that if your
working on a PC and after you copy and paste, you could change all "THE
STUDENTS" to your students name at once by clicking on Edit then
on Find and Replace and entering the information once. Larry
ALIGN WITH STATE STANDARDS:
If needs can be met using State Standards,
develop goals and objectives. If needs cannot be met with State Standards,
reference the Special Education Alternate Curriculum Guide Standards, benchmarks,
and goal stems.
ANNUAL GOALS:
Annual goals represent the anticipated
achievement or progress to be made by the student during the school year.
SHORT TERM OBJECTIVES: (Benchmarks)
Short Term Objectives are the instructional
sequence needed for students to achieve their annual goal. Short Term Objectives
should contain the following components:
1. Anticipated Date of Completion
Project a date when the teacher is anticipating
the student will have completed the stated objective and be ready to move
to the next objective. If a student completes his/her objectives before
the next IEP meeting is scheduled, an addendum should be written. If a
student has met a large numbers of goals, a new IEP meting may be scheduled.
2. Observable Behaviors
State a specific action or act that cane
be observed and measured by another person.
Verbally label
Verbally express
Point to
Look at
Complete task
Follow Direction
Count
Choose/ select
Calculate ( add, subtract, multiply, divide)
Raise hand
read sight words
Wait for recognition
Remain in seat/area
Spell orally/paper
Answer questions
Decode
Write a story
Sequence events( orally- pictures- written)
3. Conditions
State where, when and under what circumstances
the observable behavior will occur.( Not all objectives will necessarily
have condition listed.)
Conditions.
Request assistance
Draw
Create a
Locate/ find
List
Cut/ Copy/ paste/ color
Group/ classify
Sort/Match
Put on/ Take off
Zip/ button, etc
Describe
Share results/ report findings
Make a prediction
When given questions orally
When communicating with others
During transition periods
During social conversation
During class discussion
When using school library
When reading a story
When given 10___ problems, questions....
When shown a variety of/ When given a choice
During collaboration in ( specific class
)
Prompts ( Identify and specify type # )
4. Criteria
State the extent of achievement or standard
of performance, which is required of the student. If the criteria required
from the students by the end of a year is less than 50%, it would be advisable
to consider writing a more attainable short
term objective.
within 5 minutes
3 out of 4 trials
4 times weekly
for 40% of trials
2 times daily
for 5 consecutive sessions
5. Mastery
State the level of achievement required
of the student before proceeding to the next objective Mastery
should be at a 70 % or higher level of
success.
7 out of 10 trial days
5 consecutive trial days
5 consecutive weeks
8 out of 10 trial days
6. The Indicators of a Quality Instructional
Program
Student-centered approach
Home/School/Community collaboration
Age appropriate functional activities and
critical skills
Effective instructional strategies
Access to standard-based core curriculum
Access to extra-curricular activities
Ongoing professional growth
Assessment and instruction in natural environments
Basic skills infused into activities
Integration with general education peers
Supports student independence and self
advocacy
Instructional program includes transition
planning.