Show:
Coffee Talk
(Active Support Builds Partnership)
Yours, Mine, Ours
(Clarify Roles, Responsibilities, Boundaries)
Marathon, Not Sprint
(Ongoing, Regular, Direct Communication
"... how I wonder..."
(Work From Common Objectives)
IEP: is NOT a Communication Plan
100
Case managers may use a phone call, text, face to face, home visit, meeting at school, note, to communicate with parents outside of the IEP meeting.
What are some possible forms of communication with parents?
100
Contact the case manager when there is a question specific to the IEP and specialized instruction... Reach out to the Assistant Principal for logistics like schedule, locker... Contact the transportation office if student doesn't need the bus... Connect with the general education teacher about course content and accommodations...
What is a "point-of-contact" plan for parent-school communication when a student has an IEP?
100
Begin the first parent contact with an attempt to discover something you have in common such as a mutual interest (the student is one strong possibility).
What is a relationship builder?
100
Sincere curiosity, wondering out loud with parent, perspective taking, clarifying, suspending judgment...
What is active listening?
100
Parent identifies various areas in which they need communication. Who communicates, what is communicated, and how often communication occurs is clearly delineated.
What is developing a communication plan with parent?
200
To build the relationship, respond to a question, discuss a feature of the IEP, seek clarification, or resolve conflict
What is the purpose or intent of your communication?
200
The parent has met with the IEP team twice to determine the student's program. The casemanager (CM) works with the school team to make agreed upon revisions. Yet, the parent returns the Prior Written Notice wanting several changes that were not agreed upon at the IEP planning meeting. It could be time for the CM to contact the Team Lead or Principal to pursue this next step of due process.
What is a conciliation meeting?
200
Familiarize yourself as a case manager, with the student's assets, passions and interests. Learn what the student avoids. Speak with the student's prior teacher about strategies they might have used to engage the learner. Immerse yourself in the evaluation report, knowing the details of the student's learning preferences. PREPARE and PLAN. Provide student data and work samples to the family of the student. Listen with an open mind. Answers do not have to be provided on the spot.
What are methods to minimize anxiety and build one's confidence in engaging parents?
200
The EPS SEAC members, the parent handbook, student's (child's) case manager, PACER organization...
What are resources relative to special education that help one understand their role as a parent on an IEP team?
200
Some parts of an IEP are worthy of a more thorough or preliminary conversation such as ESY, Extracurricular Activities, work experience prior to the development of the IEP or when considering a change to the IEP.
What is "chunking" information into pallatable bits (sort of like objectives to a goal)?
300
Starbucks, Starbucks, Starbucks
What is Jeff's "go-to" spot for getting to know parents, staff, community members?
300
The parameters of time, purpose of meeting, expectations for participants' interaction, roles of participants, and decision-making protocol are clarified at the beginning of the communication session.
What is "establishing communication norms"?
300
A preliminary conversation with the family prior to the IEP meeting can set the stage for a productive meeting. The case manager might ask what the student is interested in doing over the summer (as a preliminary conversation about ESY).
What communication behavior is a precursor to the successful IEP meeting?
300
up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky...
What is a twinkling star?
300
CORE team meets with parent quarterly to modify curriculum/identify power standards.
What is an example of how an IEP team communicates to problem solve an area of the curriculum?
400
Asking parents how the student learns, identifying favorite family activities, inquiring what the student's assets are, learning about the student's passions, and discovering environments are where student interacts with peers
What is building a relationship with parents that is culturally sensitive?
400
The content of the casemanger's and parents' communication is focused on the education of the student and their goals. Case managers become knowledgable about school policies and protocols, as well as of their role as a member of an IEP team.
What is learning one's professional responsibilities and boundaries?
400
Reeboks, Adidas, Nike, New Balance, Tretorns, Converse
What is footwear for running either a Sprint or a Marathon? (Ha Ha)
400
attention, avoidance, grief, anxiety, control, collaboration, problem solving, social networking...
What is the function of a behavior you might be witnessing on the part of a team member?
400
The parent follows the communication procedure written out by the IEP team and coach for her student to be on a sports team.
What is an example of how an IEP team created and now uses a documented process to communicate adaptations needed in the area of sports activities?
500
tomorrow, next week, five weeks from now, during conferences at the end of the semester, etc
What is the time frame of the next communication which, when identified, will also serve to put the protocol in the hands of the case manager?
500
Each school has a special education Facilitator/Team Leader who helps to organize the overall structure and services of all students with IEPs. The student's teachers are the content area specialists who design lessons for their students. Their case manager is the point of contact for about 20 students' individual IEP teams. The IEP team includes the parent, teacher and school administrator. The paraprofessional assists the student to practice a particular skill first directly taught by the teacher.
What is the structure of the department of special education services within the school?
500
IEP meeting to discuss new interventions and strategies, follow-up discussion with parents to point out student progress, pulling in other team members to support with ideas and expertise, again discussing outcomes with parents, altering the intensity of the service, and finally, reconvening the IEP team to refer student to another setting.
What is trying a continuum of services prior to raising the idea of an outside referral?
500
I noticed you sent me several e-mails yesterday, I noticed you left me a couple of voicemails yesterday, I understand you connected with the Principal yesterday... Is there something I could help you out with or explain?
What is noticing a behavior with the intent to problem solve?
500
Parent communication plan, Individual Health Plan, Emergency Health Plan, HIPPA protected information, prescribing a para professional for non-specific activities such as after enrichment ...
What are items are not addressed by the IEP as there are other communication vehicles for addressing these issues?