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      • 6 Science of Reading Strategies for Teaching Sight Words
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      • The Best FREE Progress Monitoring Assessments in Reading for Students with Learning Disabilities in Reading
      • Teaching Fluency to Students with Dyslexia
      • 5 Minute Fluency Focus Sequence with Social Emotional Learning Skills
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8/29/2020 0 Comments

What does it feel like to have a learning disability in reading?

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​Do you know w​hat it feels like to be a student who has a learning disability in reading?

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​Do you want to know w​hat it feels like to be a student who has a learning disability in reading?

Let me give you a chance to feel what it feels like!
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Let's pause for a moment of reflection! 

​Ask yourself: 

How did you do? 

​How did you feel as you were reading?

After we ask students to read a passage, we ask them comprehension questions to assess their understanding of the text, right? 

Do you think you can answer some comprehension questions about what you just read?  

Let's try!

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So w​hat does it feel like to be a student who has a learning disability in reading?

By: Miss Rae
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Learn more about Dyslexia!

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0 Comments

7/10/2020 0 Comments

Remote Learning with Reading Workshop

Work smarter, not harder! ​

​This is a great piece of advice to give to any teacher you know.  I know we have all heard the jokes about teachers having weekends and summers off, and while I do hope that teachers take time for themselves during their breaks, I know that their work lives never end!  And when the pandemic hit and we had to move our classrooms into our homes, teachers worked even longer hours.

So here are some ways to work smarter and not harder during remote learning.

Here are some tips for making our remote reading workshops smarter!
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Start by sending students recorded mini-lessons. These can be viewed repeatedly if needed.  A support of some sort (i.e. graphic organizer, mnemonic reminder, visual reminder, strategy anchor chart, etc.) should accompany the video recording to support the student's access of the general education curriculum.  Small guided reading groups can be scheduled with students using an online platform like Google Meet.  Additionally, a weekly one on one check-in for all students can include progress monitoring assessments and/or meeting with the teacher for direct instruction. Progress monitoring assessments can determine the frequency and need for the check-ins. Such data can guide the goal of the check-in (i.e. instructional-based, emotional support needed, clarification of academic misunderstandings, etc.).
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Learn more about Teaching Strategies for Remote Learning!

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0 Comments

6/21/2020 1 Comment

3 Steps to a Remote Learning Writer’s Workshop

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3 Steps to a Remote Learning Writer’s Workshop l Miss Rae's Room Teaching Blog
Writer’s Workshop is a student-centered framework for teaching writing, based on the idea that when students write often, for extended periods of time on topics of their choosing, they learn to write best.  We have mastered this in the traditional classroom
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Now, we have to master Writer’s Workshop in our virtual classrooms!

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, remote learning will now forever be a reality in our lives.  And because of this, it is important that we learn to translate our best practices into remote learning best practices!
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3 Steps to a Remote Learning Writer’s Workshop l Miss Rae's Room Teaching Blog
Most of the workshop model can be implemented rather successfully through distance learning.  Mini-lessons can still occur.  These can be recorded lessons for students to watch and re-watch if needed!  And they still can be developed based upon students' writing. 

Independent writing can obviously still happen too!  That one should be a no brainer!
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3 Steps to a Remote Learning Writer’s Workshop l Miss Rae's Room Teaching Blog
To support independent writing in the classroom, we have charts and visuals around our traditional classrooms.  Think about which of these need to also be provided to students at home.  Perhaps students can have access to online writing reference and pictures of visual supports from the classroom.

During a typical mini-lesson, we often record our major points points you want students to be able to reference or have access to on an anchor chart. Give students access to a digital anchor chart either through a picture of one or a chart on Google Slides or Docs. 
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3 Steps to a Remote Learning Writer’s Workshop l Miss Rae's Room Teaching Blog
Offering feedback through comments on shared documents is great.  But I would still suggest personalizing student feedback.  

Personalizing feedback helps to build relationships with students.  Research has shown that relationships are beneficial for student success for a number of reasons, but in particular, they help to protect against the effects of negative stress.  About 45 percent of adults in the United States reported that their mental health had been affected from worry and stress during the pandemic (KFF, 2020).  Children feel this stress too.

So how can you personalize feedback?  Apps such as Mote (a Google Extension) allow educators to leave friendly comments on G Suite apps.  Educators can leave messages about student writing to promote encouragement for further development of ideas and skills.

You can also still conference with your students!  This can be done individually or in small groups.  When looking at your students’ writing, if you see a small group of students who all need to conference about a similar issue in their writing, you can pull them for a small group instructional conference.

You can also create homogeneous groups of writers.  This group can meet weekly to small group share and edit.  They could meet as partners for peer share and edits.  They can also contact each other for help as they would in the traditional classrooms.

I would suggest setting aside one day each week during your writing block for student-teacher conferences.  Teachers could schedule a 5 to 10 minute virtual conference with students.  Teachers should plan to conference with all students within a two week time period.  If all student writing is being housed electronically, the writing can be pulled up on the screen during the virtual conference for a richer learning experience.

Make sure to support ALL students during this time.  Students with learning disabilities might need to meet with you weekly for support.  Students who just need that extra time may also need to meet with you weekly.

We can still support our students - even if we are not in the classroom with them!

By:  Miss Rae

Reference:  KFF poll

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1 Comment

3/18/2020 0 Comments

5+ Ideas for Distance Learning with Learning Disabilities

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5+ Ideas for Distance Learning with Learning Disabilities l Miss Rae's Teaching Blog
Teaching our students with learning disabilities requires specialized instruction from a specialized instructor. Special Education teachers are able to masterfully design lessons that include an abundance of multi-sensory tools because as we know - this is how our students with learning disabilities learn best.  But now all teachers are being asked to instruct from their computer screens, and multi-sensory instruction seems virtually impossible - pun intended!

I’m sure this won’t surprise you, but - teachers are amazing! They have been able to transition to distance learning virtually (pun intended) without any professional development and little to no distance learning resources. 

But what we do continue to have are goals for our students.

We will be able to …
-keep our students’ skills fresh
-prevent regression and
-stay connected
Even virtual relationships are important!
And here are 5+ Ideas for achieving those goals for Distance Learning with Learning Disabilities:
1. Phonemic Awareness
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Related Phonemic Awareness Resources:
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2. Decoding
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Related Decoding Resources:
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3. Fluency
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4. Spelling
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Related Spelling & Decoding Resources:
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5. Comprehension
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​Related Comprehension Resources:
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​Related Decoding Spelling & Comprehension Resources:
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6. Social Emotional Learning
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And make sure you are checking in on your students every day. Ask them how they are feeling. Let them know that it's okay to feel how they are feeling.

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​Happy & Healthy Teaching!

Miss Rae
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6 Steps to Teach Students about their Learning Disabilities l Miss Rae's Room Teaching Blog

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0 Comments

3/14/2020 4 Comments

When COVID-19 closes your school, remember the students with disabilities

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When COVID-19 closes your school, remember the students with disabilities l Miss Rae's Room Special Education Teaching Blog
Don't forget about students with disabilities when COVID-19 closes our schools.

Teachers all over are scrambling to transition from delivering instruction in their classroom to delivering it online. But is this equitable for ALL students?

The U.S. Department of Education gave some guidance to K-12 districts about closing for COVID-19. They told districts that if they close due to COVID-19 AND continue to offer instruction remotely, they MUST make that learning accessible to ALL students. This includes students with disabilities. And for students with disabilities, this means that services outlined in IEPs must be offered “to the greatest extent possible.” When schools re-open, Special Education teams will need to meet to determine if students with disabilities who missed services are entitled to make them up.
Are schools ready for this? Are us teachers ready for this? Are our students with disabilities ready for this? And more importantly, is remote learning beneficial for our students with disabilities?
If we cancel school and implement distance learning that can be accessed by some, but not all, of our students, it's unethical.

On the other hand, if schools close and do not move to distance learning, the federal education department stated that schools are then NOT required to provide services to students with disabilities during that time.

I know what you are all thinking... 'We have to continue teaching. Students have to keep learning. What about the regression they will show when schools re-open?'

We can offer suggested activities for ALL students.
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Suggested at Home Activities for COVID-19 School Closures l Miss Rae's Special Education Teaching Blog
These activities should not be graded or required!

We can offer summer school for our students. We can extend our learning time when we return. We can offer extra instruction or after school tutoring.


We are stressed right now. And our students are smart. They can read us. They can read the world. They are feeling the stress of the world too - no matter how much we protect them. It's most important for our students to stay healthy and safe.

​By Miss Rae
4 Comments

1/1/2020 3 Comments

What is the difference between an ACCOMMODATION & a MODIFICATION?

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What is the difference between Accommodations and Modifications? l Freebie l Miss Rae's Room l Special Education
So what really is the difference between an ACCOMMODATION and a MODIFICATION?  Aren't they the same thing?  

No.  Accommodations and modifications are different from each other!

Accommodation

An accommodation is a way to help students learn the same material or take the same test in a different way.  ​

For example...
  • Shorten the number of problems
  • Material is read aloud
  • Multiple choice test instead of essay assessment (but assessing same content)

Modification

A modification is a change to what the student is expected to learn.

For example...
  • Multiple choice test instead of essay assessment (but assessing content that is less complex than the grade level standard/content)
  • Easier text to read

​By:  Miss Rae

Grab these accommodation trackers...

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3 Comments

11/29/2019 2 Comments

Specially Designed Reading Instruction

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Specially Designed Reading Instruction l Miss Rae's Room Teaching Blog
When we start to think about Specially Designed Reading Instruction, I think it is helpful to start by viewing it in light of the continuum of instruction...or the RTI triangle!
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Let's look at each Tier a little more closely...
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IDEA tends to be our course textbook in Special Education - if you will.  So what does IDEA say about Specially Designed Instruction?
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Using a student's evaluations, determine the areas of reading in which the student demonstrates lagging skills and/or a disability.  Incorporate those targeted areas into a student's IEP goals, and then, instruction.  Now, we can check off the first component of some pricey packaged curriculum!
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The next step in designing Specially Designed Reading Instruction is to be explicit in your instruction.  Click the slideshow below for Explicit teaching tips!
To be systematic, you should follow a scope and sequence for your instruction.  This should be a logical sequence to get a student closer to a grade level standard.

So let's say the student's grade level standard is to read CVCe words.  The following would be a logical progression to mastery of that standard:

1. advanced phonemic awareness skills
2. letter identification
3. letter/sound identification
4. VC words (decoding and encoding)
5. CVC words (decoding and encoding)
6. CVCe words (decoding and encoding)

Below is another example of a scope and sequence...
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In order to help students achieve these steps to mastery (and oh, you know, try to do it while simultaneously learning other new curriculum like their general education peers), employ multi-sensory learning!  Make sure to always include a spiraling review of previously learned skills for reinforcement, and most importantly, teach all components of reading, just focus more time and intensity on a students lagging skill areas AND do it all through multi-sensory learning!
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It is essential that this instruction be applied in the classroom to generalize the skill.  When Specially Designed Reading Instruction is paired with reading time in the classroom with a general education teacher, a student will make faster progress!
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Lastly, I know I probably don't have to say this, but I wouldn't feel right not saying it - as with all Special Education students, the most important step in designing Specially Designed Reading Instruction is to Adapt & Modify for individual student needs!

Also, don't forget that a student eligible for Special Education services may not require distinctly different methodologies or interventions, but rather increased intensity. Or a student may require both!  But ultimately, we should be giving a student what they need, not just because we can offer it.  Our goal for Special Education should be to teach independent application of skills and strategies.

By Miss Rae

Grab this FREEBIE to help you plan Specially Designed Instruction!

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2 Comments

11/17/2019 2 Comments

Can a student have a 504 plan and an IEP?

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Yes, a student can have a 504 plan and an IEP.

For example, a student with an IEP comes to school needing a temporary medical plan, should receive a 504 plan. This would be a short term 504 plan for short term accommodations. A broken hand would require a student to have the accommodation of a scribe (someone to write for the student).

These instances are few and far, though.

​In general, everything that is included in a 504 plan can be included in an IEP so there is not typically a need for both.
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Can a student have a 504 and an IEP? Miss Rae's Room Special Education Social Emotional Learning
2 Comments

10/14/2019 0 Comments

Tips for Negotiating IEP Team Meetings

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Identify The Problem!
*Understand that interests may conflict.  In the end, decisions should be made based upon the needs to be about the student


*Identify the conflict or problem that is causing disagreement  Ask ‘Why?” and “Why not?” to look for a cause and for a purpose to move forward.

*Discover how the conflicts have developed...sometimes things have happened in the past, and these experiences are shaping the parent’s presentation and beliefs.  Beliefs can be misinterpretations and misrepresentations as well. So make sure the facts of the dispute are accurate.

*Know that parents might be fearful!  They want to feel confident that their child is getting the best.

*Ask questions and pause to actively listen to the answers

*Establish objective criteria - all meetings should use fair standards and fair procedures (AKA federal and state laws) when designing the IEP.  Some of what may be causing the issue is beyond the school’s level of control.

*Actively listen-listen to the other side too, instead of trying to be one step ahead

*Allow time for venting - to be heard.  This may help you identify the true cause for conflict.

*Don't lose control by reacting to outbursts; instead, actively listen to what is being said.  This may also help you identify the true cause for conflict.

*Make emotions explicit and acknowledge them as legitimate.  Say “I understand that you are feeling hurt (angry, etc.), and I feel terrible that you feel that way.”

*Remember that an apology can diffuse emotions

Establish Equality!

*Every team member is of equal and utmost importance.  Each team member’s voice is equal.

*Interests can help to define the problem.  If we look for a parent’s interests, we can help to solve the conflict by coming up with compromises.  Say “We are all invested in the best interest of (student’s name).” Sometimes behind conflict lies the shared and compatible interests.

*Be hard on the problem, but soft on the people.  If you know this student should receive specially designed curriculum, but the parent does not want the student to, try to understand where the parent is coming from, but stick to what the student needs.  You want to solve the problem, but not attack the parent and/or break the working relationship.

*Teaching students is an integrated experience (one’s behavior impacts the behavior of the others and vice versa).  Due to this, it is important to have a positive working relationship with a student’s family.  

*Remember - unlike your students, you may not be able to “solve” the parent so - don't try to solve the people, but rather the problem.

*Put yourself in the parent’s shoes.  When conflict arises, separate the conflict from the parent.  Typically, conflict is rooted in people's thinking and/or perception. Openly discuss other's perceptions and then...

*Use a surprise attack!  Look for chances to act inconsistently with their perceptions.  Show data, when they have said you don’t know their child.

*Make your proposals consistent with their values.  For example, if their goal for the child is academics, propose the programming you are recommending by discussing how it will support the student’s academics.

*Draft the IEP together!  Agreement is easier when both all parties feel ownership in the idea.

*Sit side-by-side and work as partners.

*Do not be confrontational! 

*Don’t defend your ideas with belief, but rather, with data.

*Document the data together.

*Reason and be open to reason.  Ask parents to state their reasonings and suggest applicable objective criteria.  Say “I’m suggesting that Special Education services be received in the classroom, and you want the services to be delivered outside of the general education classroom.  Let’s look at what the law says about the least restrictive environment decisions.”

*Be open to criticism and advice.

*Know that understanding is not agreeing.

*Speak to be understood. 

*Speak for purpose.

*Use “I” statements.
​

*Understand the power of emotion!  Do not personalize anything that happens or gets said in the meeting.  Always remember that all members of the team are here for the student!

The data of the disability’s impact

on academic performance and

related service needs should drive

the IEP decisions!
​

Plan the Purpose!

*The teacher and the parent want the same thing! 


*Ask for parent preferences.  Ask “What is it that you are looking for?”

-Look for mutual gains and shared interests.  Say “We both want the same thing for your child.  The reason I am suggesting XXX is because the data shows XXX and research supports XXX.”

*Invent different options for the meeting:  * separate judgment from options * create a wide range of option choices * search for mutual gains (put yourself in their shoes and see how the “problem” looks from their perspective) * generate options to their “problem” * generate consequences to each option (some can be negative, but don’t threaten) * invent ways to make their decision easy 


*Agreement is often based on disagreement.  Be inventive about ways to join differences.  Say “I’m suggesting that Special Education services be received in the classroom, and you want the services to be delivered outside of the general education classroom.  The law says that students who receive special education should learn in the least restrictive environment. However, I understand your reasoning so let’s have the student receive services in the classroom 4 days per week, and one day per week, I will teach the student outside of the general education classroom, focusing on lagging skills.”


The purpose of every meeting should be...


TEAM:

*Build a working relationship - independent of agreement or disagreement - with parents before the meeting.  In this way, you deal with the “people problem” before it becomes a “people problem”.

*Remember perceptions should not drive the IEP decisions.  The data of the disability’s impact on academic performance and related service needs should drive the IEP decisions!

By Miss Rae
Grab these Tips for Negotiating IEP Team Meetings in ONE Resource!
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Tips for Negotiating IEP Team Meetings l Miss Rae's Room
0 Comments

9/7/2019 1 Comment

Beginning of the Year Special Education Teacher TO DO List

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Special education teachers are more likely to depart than any other group of teachers. Studies have demonstrated that an average of 13.2% of us leave the job each year.

The job of a Special Education Teacher can be overwhelming. Trust me - sometimes I feel like I had an IEP written just for me with a team that supports my needs and goals... But since that's not going to happen, the only way to not become a statistic is to start your year organized to stay organized for a successful year!

Take these steps during the first few days of the school year as a Special Education Teacher for stress free year!
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The first step you want to take is pretty straightforward - ask for a list of students you will have on your caseload.  You will be the liaison or case manager for these students.
Next, you will want to access your students' IEPs. 

Most school systems have online databases for their IEPs.  You will most likely get a login during your teacher orientation days.  If you already work for a school system, then you probably already have access.  
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Some teachers prefer printing out a hard copy of the IEP while others prefer downloading it as a file to save in their documents and some like to just view it directly from the database.  You decide whatever works best for you because that is all that really matters in the end!
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Classroom and testing accommodations are hard to keep track of.  This is especially true for Special Education Teachers with larger caseloads.  However, classroom and testing accommodations must be implemented!  You will need to be able to employ testing accommodations at the drop of a hat sometimes.  You will also need to have accommodations on hand when you group students for state- and district-wide testing.  

I typically use a Google Sheet for this.  I use this method because I can access it from anywhere, and I can sort by accommodations to make testing groups.  However, you can keep a list in any way that works for you!

After each IEP meeting, you may propose new accommodations for the classroom or testing, once the proposed IEP is signed, it becomes the active IEP.  Once we have an active IEP, update your student accommodations spreadsheet!

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Read more about how I create my IEP at a Glance sheets HERE!
Close reading is a reading strategy that many of you have probably heard of as an educational buzzword over the last few years.  The strategy is an interaction between the text and the reader that involves observation and interpretation.  During the first read of a text, the reader reads the text for key ideas and details to answer the question of what the text is mostly about.  This is the type of read that you want to do when you first encounter a student’s IEP.  

We have all heard the saying that every day is a new day so every school year should be a new year!  

Take a minute to think about “that kid”.  Whether you think about a student you have had in class or a student you sat next to when you were in school, the story is always the same.  He or she disrupts the classroom on a daily basis, sometimes by the minute.  The other kids have conflict with this student.  All of the teachers know this kid’s name, and all of the students know that the teachers did not like this student.  I would imagine the teachers do not read the IEP about this student because they already know the story.  This student never has a chance to be anyone else, to prove the stories wrong, or to have the stories forgotten.
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Now, take another minute to think of yourself as a child.  Think of the teenage you.  And now, think of the adult you.  Have you changed over the years?  Of course you have!  We all change, and our students change too.  They change developmentally.  They change from their experiences.  And they change from their interactions with others, including you, as their teacher!

A student’s IEP should report the facts about a student.  No one’s interpretation nor opinion should sway the IEP.  But we are human, and this does happen.  Plus, we never know how the previous student and teacher relationship influenced a student’s progress.
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So because change is normal, because data can be subjective, and because everyone should be given a second chance, on your first read of the IEP, just read it for the facts.  

After years working in an urban school district therapeutic middle school classroom setting for students with emotional and mental health challenges, I transitioned into an inclusion classroom in the suburbs.  It was a second grade classroom of possibly the nicest children I thought I had ever encountered!  The general education teacher that I co-taught with would often tell me things like, “You can discipline them you know” or “It’s okay to raise your voice once and awhile.”  And every time she would say things like this, I would think, “What for?  These kids are great!  They say words like ‘please’ and ‘thank you’.  None of their sentences ever include a swear word, and they don’t even know what having an attitude is.”  It felt like I had died and gone to teaching heaven.

Then, in October, we got word we were getting a new student who our Assistant Principal said looked like a “heavy hitter.”  Ugh!  The good times are over!

A very think IEP was in my mailbox the next morning.  I read through it immediately.  It told the tale of a boy who was deaf in one ear and extremely violent.  The narrative spoke of desks being thrown at teachers, students being attacked, and constant work refusal.

When this boy entered our classroom on the first day, I was immediately terrified.  His history looked like any other that I had previously worked with, but this second grader towered over me and was easily three times as strong as me!

Are you expecting me to tell the story of how we built a strong relationship and as a result, he never demonstrated any of these behaviors?  Well, I’m not going to tell you that story.  He just never showed any of those behaviors.  He was homeless, living in a shelter, during most of the time that he was with us, and he still never even showed a symptom of trauma.  

We did form a good bond, but I cannot take credit for him acting as a role model student.  He was a great kid, affable, polite, and a hard worker.  He never showed a drop of anger or violence. 

We re-wrote the IEP, and as a result, his story was re-written.  But he did that by himself.

As a result of that experience, I don’t even read any of the narrative portions, including the current performance on the IEP so I am not persuaded - or jaded - by others’ views.  I want to meet a student as he/she is.  I want to give the student a chance to show me who they are and who they will be for me!  Because every child should be given the chance to be who they want to be!

Just like you don’t judge a book by it’s cover, don’t judge a student on the opinion of other teachers!

After the first week, I complete the close reading strategy.  I read students’ IEPs for comprehension of the full text.  I read them to fully understand the main idea and key details.  At this point, I know the student well enough to not let their previous story change my view of them.

While reading student IEPs, review their goals.  You will get a better sense of them as you create IEP at a Glance sheets, which we will discuss next, and again, as you match progress monitoring assessments to them, which we will discuss later.  

On your first of the IEP, just read through them to get a general sense of what your instruction will need to look like during the year.  For example, if you are reading a number of decoding goals, you will know that your instruction will need to be phonics heavy!
You can read more about how I write IEP goals HERE!
The most important component of special education - next to the students - is the data!  

Data is a special educator's lifeline.  

We employ data for eligibility determinations.  We use it to monitor progress toward a student's IEP goals.  We use it to set goals for students, determine extended year programming, report at meetings, and qualify our statements in meetings and on special education documents.  We need the data to justify the TEAM's decision about a student's plan.

We know the importance of data.

The hard part is tracking it!

Here's how I do it?

First, I review at my students’ IEP goals and objectives.  During this process, I pair each objective with an assessment.  For example, if a student has a sight word reading goal using the Fry Word List, I pull out the Fry Word List.  

​Read more about how I match assessments to goals HERE!
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Some IEP goals and objectives are tested weekly. For example, I will complete a weekly running record on a student’s reading either weekly or biweekly. Other objectives I may assess monthly.  This may be a student’s writing objective regarding a narrative piece of writing. As a result, I will plan to have a completed narrative writing piece once per month.  

All of these assessments are added to my Google Calendar!  I like to use Google Calendar because I am able to access it from anywhere.  It also sends me alert reminders, and trust me, you will need the reminders!

I assess my students about three weeks prior to district reporting periods.  The reason that I choose this timeframe is because Special Education Progress Reports should correspond to your school or district’s report cards’ distribution dates.  So when I sit down to write my Progress Reports, all of my data is at my fingertips.  When you write your Special Education Progress Reports, you want to report on student progress toward their IEP goals and objectives.  You want to ensure that you are able to report data, not just an anecdotal observation.

With the evaluations that I plan, I can demonstrate progress throughout the year by comparing assessment data at the start of the year to assessment data throughout the year.

I prepare for all of these assessments at the start of the year when I have the energy to do so!
IEP goals are written for a student to achieve in one year.  Therefore, the IEP team must meet at least once a year to review a student’s IEP, to determine if changes need to be made, and to develop new annual goals.  This meeting is called an annual review.  

At least every three years, students are re-evaluated for Special Education eligibility.  

Both of these dates are recorded on the IEP.  Mark these on your calendar!  

Annual review meetings need to happen on or before the annual review meeting date.  Three year re-evaluations need to also occur on or before the date stated.  Parents have to give consent for the re-evaluation of their child.  Once consent for testing is received, you will begin testing the student.

In some school districts, Special Education Teachers are expected to schedule and chair the annual review meetings.  This is something to check with your district on.  If this is the case, you will want to schedule the annual review meeting with the parent about one month prior to the annual review date.  You may want to also make a note of this date on your calendar, if you have to schedule and chair the meeting.  

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If you are not expected to schedule these meetings, you should still mark the date on your calendar.  As the student’s Special Education case manager or liaison, it is your responsibility to alert your school’s Special Education coordinator or IEP team chair if the date is approaching and you have not received a confirmation of the meeting date yet.  It will also be your responsibility to attend the meeting and update the IEP, including the IEP goals.  

In terms of the three year re-evaluation, most districts do not have the Special Education Teacher schedule and chair these meetings.  Instead, your school’s Special Education coordinator or IEP team chair will most likely obtain consent for testing as well as schedule and chair the meeting.  However, again, as the case manager or liaison, it is your responsibility to alert your school’s Special Education coordinator or IEP team chair if the date is approaching and you have not received a confirmation of the meeting date yet. 

Typically, an IEP’s expiration date coincides with the annual review date.  However, you should double check this when reviewing IEPs.  If an IEP expires prior to the annual review date, you should make note of the expiration date on your calendar.  This is because regardless of the annual review date, the IEP team will need to meet before the IEP expires. 
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Next...

Copy the IEP at a Glance sheets and...


Provide one copy of IEP at a Glances and student IEPs to all staff providing services to the student

Ask staff members to sign off on the date that the IEP was received.  The IEP is a legal document, and each teacher working with a student on an IEP has the responsibility for understanding required IEP classroom modifications and accommodations.

If all teachers have access to the IEP through the database, I save some precious resources - paper and time!  I only give teachers the IEP at a Glance with the understanding - or note - that they will look at the full IEP in the school’s online database.

Staff members such as Physical Education and music teachers should be aware of classroom modifications and accommodations as well as medical needs, behavior intervention plans and more.  




Classroom teachers have a bit more involvement in the IEP process.  Therefore, their responsibilities include familiarity with the student's IEP, implementation of PLEP A modifications and accommodations, adherence to confidentiality regulations, consultation with specialist(s) such as Occupational Therapists or Speech and Language Pathologists, attendance at Team meetings, and participation in the development of the IEP.

After each IEP meeting, a new IEP will be proposed, once the proposed IEP is signed, it becomes the active IEP.  Once we have an active IEP, distribute the new IEP to all teachers and ask them to sign and date that they have received it.  I also give them a copy of the new IEP at a Glance as well.
I organize my students’ goals and objectives along with the assessments I have chosen for each on tracking forms.  All forms contain a student’s name, goal(s), and objectives. The forms, then, vary by the assessment schedule. For example, some goals and/or objectives may need a spot for weekly tracking while others may need a monthly.  

When a student is assessed, I record the score (AKA the data) directly onto the form along with the date.  This keeps my data all on one form that I can pull out on the spot when it is needed.

So, if a parent states “Ben says he completes all of his work, but you lose it,” you can pull out your trusty form with evidence that Ben has completed 30 percent of his assignments in the last month.

I break out the three-hole punch and get wild!  I keep all of my tracking forms in a binder.

When my caseload is on the small side, it makes my life easier to organize my binder sections by student.  In this way, when I need my data for a particular student, I can quickly find it, and I don’t have to flip from section to section when I am writing reports.
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Here’s how each section of my binder is typically organized:
-IEP at a Glance
-Communication log
-Progress monitoring data

I like to use plastic pocket dividers for each student’s tabbed section.  In this way, I can keep any notes, etc. in the pockets.

However, as caseloads sometimes grow over the years, it has become more efficient to have the sections organized by assessments.  So when my Google Calendar alerts me that I need to test math fact fluency, I can quickly flip to the section containing the sight word assessments and tracking forms for that probe.  

I also keep reference sheets in my binder for easy access.  For example, I always keep a reference page that correlates reading levels to lexile levels.  I keep the DIBELS' grade level correlation chart as well.

Some data needs to be tracked more frequently.  For example, lagging skills in executive functioning, behavior, attention, and social emotional capacities often needs to be tracked within a 30 minute time period or during one subject area.  

The binder can become too cumbersome when to employ for frequent data tracking.  Often times, I clip my forms to clipboards for easy access. The forms I use can be copied onto cardstock and cut smaller to be placed on a key rings for easy access as well.
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If I have access to an iPad or tablet, I use Google Forms.  You can make a simple form that enables you to just hit a button each time the data needs to be recorded.  Google Forms will save the data, and when needed, Google Forms will compile the data into one spreadsheet for analysis when it’s needed.

And there you have it!  Your data is tracked!  Now, you can continue on with just being a teaching rockstar and start to plan for the first few weeks of school!

You can learn more about my binders HERE!

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During the first two to three weeks of school, I want to complete all of my assessments to obtain baseline data for my students.  This data guides my instruction.

It’s important for students to feel comfortable with you to demonstrate their best on assessments, though.  So I typically plan getting to know you type activities for the first day, and then, I intermingle my assessments for the days following.  

A few getting to know you activities I like to include are tasks like reading interest surveys and learning styles inventories!  Give your students a chance to show their multiple intelligences by making posters, videos, or Google Slide presentations of who they are as a learner!

Grab Back to School small group activities HERE!
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Send a liaison/case manager letter to student families (Hi!  I will be your child’s IEP case manager)

Send an introduction letter to all families of students on your caseload.  This letter should explain your role as the student’s liaison:

“I will be your child’s special education teacher this school year.  I will be working with your child on his/her Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals.”

Similar to building positive relationships with your students, you want to get off on the right foot with your students’ families.  

You also want to infuse your teaching philosophy into your letter in order to help families understand your teaching style and the goals you have for their children:

“I am excited to be working with your child, and I look forward to seeing the progress that will be made.  My goals for your child this year include maintaining high expectations by learning strategies and making modifications, creating a community of lifelong learners, and learning how to be good citizens and students.”

Let your families know you are always available for them as well as their children, and give them the best ways to reach you such as email or your direct phone number at school:

“Please feel free to contact me if you have any concerns, questions, or comments regarding your child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or special education services.

I can be reached via…”

Lastly, set a goal in the form of a call to action for your families:

“Let’s work together to make this a successful year!”

If you send these immediately, you may not know the times that students’ services are scheduled yet, but if you wait to send this until the second week of school, you could also include a schedule of their IEP services.  Oftentimes, related service providers send their own letters with the days and times that they will see a child; however, families may appreciate having this listed all in one place!

“Your child’s services have been scheduled as follows:
Monday - Speech 9:30-10:00, Reading 1:00-1:45
Tuesday - Reading 1:00-1:45
Wednesday - Speech 9:30-10:00, Reading 1:00-1:45
Thursday - Reading 1:00-1:45
Friday - Reading 1:00-1:45”

And don’t forget to have the letter translated into families’ home language!

​Grab a FREE Special Education Teacher Welcome Letter HERE!

​Now, here is the rewarding part!  These are the reasons that you will cite for staying in the role of a Special Education Teacher!

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You can grab all of the forms in the images in my Special Education Teacher Binder by clicking HERE!

And that's it!  You have built a strong foundation for a successful year as a Special Education Teacher!

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Happy & Healthy Teaching!
PEACE,

Miss Rae

References:  
Ingersoll, R. (2001). Teacher turnover, teacher shortages, and the organization of schools. Seattle: University of Washington, Center for the Study of Teaching and Policy.
​Plash, S., & Piotrowski, C. (2006). Retention issues: A study of Alabama special education teachers. Education, 127, 125-128.

Click HERE to learn how to tackle this list!

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Beginning of the Year Special Education Teacher TO DO List l Miss Rae's Room
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