Is she able to use a calculator? As you are writing your childs Present Level of Performance (PLOP) statement, have you considered your childs learning strengths? That same day, my younger son came up to me with two baby blankets, one in each hand, and said, "Look, mommy! Her at grade level math skills are a strength, as are her social skills. Is your child a visual, auditory, tactile, or kinesthetic learner? There should be a direct relationship between the present levels of performance and the other components of the IEP. For example, a 4th-grade student with a percentile rank of 27 has received a score that is higher than 27% of 4th-grade students nationwide; this students score can also be referred to as being at the 27th percentile.. Examples of Well Written Present Levels and Needs ECSE: Academic Performance / Cognitive Development / Intellectual Functioning Strengths/Current Status: Billy has shown nice progress since the last IEP in several of the pre-academic areas. We believe that adopting strength-based IEP writing practices is vital to reconstructing students with disabilities as capable contributors to their inclusive classrooms. A new case manager or team member reading the Description of Child section should be able to identify the educational needs of the student. This likely means asking students to help identify their strengths, interests and preferences. However, learning strengths are just as important! For students ages three to five, the IEP should address all areas of concern and provide a clear picture of the students functioning. In his/her classroom behavior, he/she demonstrates responsibility by _______________. Page 4: Procedural Requirements: Guidelines & Common Errors, Page 7: Challenging, Ambitious, Measurable Annual Goals, Page 8: Individualized Services & Supports, Page 9: Monitoring & Reporting Student Progress, Page 10: Substantive Requirements: Common Errors, Page 11: References & Additional Resources, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, Information on the students current academic and/or functional needs, An explanation of how the disability affects the students involvement and progress in the general education curriculum, Baseline data for monitoring student progress, Bridge between the PLAAFP statement and an annual goal. But all IEP goals for reading share some common features: Below are sample IEP goals associated with six reading skills. Any of the areas listed can be strengths or weaknesses. Student Strengths and Weaknesses: List and 13 Examples for Students | My Strengths and Weaknesses Do you know your strengths and weaknesses? Aidan will complete his science lab reports on time and with 85% accuracy in three out of four consecutive assignments. When Writing your childs Present Level of Performance (PLOP), begin with your childs Can Do abilities. Middle School: Academic Area: Steven participates in Resource Independent Living Integrated Language Arts class (reading and writing). Sing Your Way to Sight Word Success: Free Song for Teaching 'A,' and 'Is. But IEP teams can reframe the strengths discussion so it focuses on abilities: What does Elana do well?. By doing so, they will begin to assemble the elements that will become the students PLAAFP statement. Creative thinking skills. Show kindness to others. Ks learning disability negatively affects his decoding skills, which are at a low 2nd-grade level. Helping students identify and leverage their strengths, interests and preferences can lead to more self-awareness and self-advocacy. Then, find outwhat actions you can take if theIEP doesnt seem to be working. The main areas of concern (e.g., academic, functional) and how do these concerns relate to district or state standards and benchmarks and the students postsecondary interests? Reframe the way the IEP team talks about strengths. Embed specific strategies into each particular goal, rather than merely listing the strategies on a separate page He was able to do calculations involving addition and subtraction with and without regrouping but was unable to do multiplication and division facts. Even if the student strengths seem silly or out of place, they may be meaningful for some students. By noting your childs strengths, it will help you determine if hes making progress. What This Means:This sample IEP goal targets making inferences. 1. How does the students disability affect her: Are the data being reviewed to determine whether the student is making progress: Based on observable (e.g., cursing or swearing) rather than subjective (e.g., being disrespectful) behaviors. Sam has a strong character, is eager to learn, and is curious about a new subject. Please find below samples to support educators when developing IEPs. Spelling test scores are a strength. The following are examples of strengths at work: Hard skills. Other student strengths can include being a good listener, team worker and leader. (This skill is important for reading comprehension.) Does he have abilities in subjects such as science, social studies, reading, writing, mathematics, social skills, and logic? In the school MAP test in 7th grade, Steven improved the most in his comprehension of information (improved by 32 points). For preschool children, the part of the statement describing how the disability affects involvement and progress in the general education curriculum is different. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. The Present Level of Performance Examples you write can be incorporated into your childs next IEP. Its specific about how progress will be measured. Student Strength Statements for IEP | Iep, Student, Sped teacher May 21, 2017 - 4 million free and priced teaching resources created by teachers for instant download including lesson plans, interactive notebooks, unit plans, novel studies, worksheets, printables, quizzes, task cards, math centers, projects and more. You aren't satisfied with anything less than 100% perfection. Although Steven takes a little longer to process things than his peers, he always works hard and tries his best in class. Create Your Child's Educational Success Story! Weaknesses must not be looked at with resentment. The academic strength in this example is the ability to do math; the academic weakness is the inability to do history. Looking to help your students shine through strengths-based ieps? The table below contains portions of one students PLAAFP statement that relate to his reading skills and shows how each element is addressed. This weakness often undermines the reading and thinking process. It is much easier for David to express himself by speaking rather than by writing. Access to the general education curriculum? One is your childs. : PRESENT LEVEL OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS (Description of Child Section of IEP) Strengths/Current Status section: This section describes how the student is presently performing in the classroom and is written in objective, measurable terms. For example, the results of career exploration activities and formal and informal assessments can assist students and parents in identifying the young adult's strengths, weakness, preferences, and interests related to their post-secondary goals. Both of the Kansas SDE documents above explain each of the elements within a high-quality PLAAFP statement. If Johnny sits for a long time, then he has difficulty with his focus on a book or worksheet. He will engage in activities for longer periods of time but can be easily distracted as many children his age are. (informal) (singular) In an interview, you may be asked, "What are your strengths and weaknesses?"En una entrevista, quizs te pregunten, "Cules son tus puntos fuertes y dbiles?" b. phrase. Creative thinking abilities. The skills a good student brings to the work table usually include creativity, organization and problem-solving. You don't have to devote half the interview to these answers. My writing and reading strength is my ability to get a lot of ideas. This category can encompass any type of team or . National Association of Special Education Teachers NASET | Completed Sample IEP 4 2-Social Development: Describe the quality of the student's relationships with peers and adults, feelings about self, social adjustment to school and community environment and behaviors that may impede Strengths-based IEPs arent widely used yet. This IRIS Case Study describes how to clearly define a students behavior so that when they occur they can be reliably identified, measured, or counted. Writing is a weaker area; Student writes a lot when . (i) the strengths of the child; (ii) the concerns of the parents for enhancing the education of their child; (iii) the results of the initial evaluation or most recent evaluation of the child; and (iv) the academic, developmental, and functional needs of the child. Elana will use her skills with a times table to help transition by May 15 to knowing from memory all products of two one-digit numbers with 90% accuracy in four out of five tries. If I'm on a project, I'm going to make sure to stick with it to the bitter, bloody end." Although this might sound like a strength, it's actually a weakness in disguise! Academic Standard:Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension. Self Criticism 3. Involving students in IEP meetings can help the team think about ways to develop strengths and work on weaknesses. Tailoring the Strengths and Weaknesses Part of the IEP to your Aspie Child. We had an IEP meeting, and one of his proposed goals was to be able to visualize and identify what 2 of something looks like, or what 3 of something looks like. She is very polite and overall has a very positive attitude when it comes to school. __ a fill in the blank option. For example, a student's academic excellence may make her a strong reader, but it might not be something that is of importance to her. A strengths-based IEP often boils down to a shift in mindset. Jenny is helpful in class and eager to learn new concepts. 1) Describe Your childs learning strengths. Elementary School: Academic Functioning Strengths/Current Status: Chris scored in the below average range in reading when re-evaluated in October. Brian Stack, MEd is the principal of Sanborn Regional High School in Kingston, New Hampshire. Versatility. If there are many areas checked on both sides of the chart, the child may have a pattern of strengths and weaknesses consistent with that of identified GT/LD students. He correctly capitalizes and uses appropriate ending punctuation. Sara requires a lot of support to stay on task, especially to complete her math problems. Jos follows classroom rules and expectations and actively participates in table groups. Looking collectively at the data from assessments, Hannah has various strengths and weaknesses. Some people are better at math than history. Any of the areas listed can be strengths or weaknesses. Information about student performance on the MCAs and District test is critical to understanding the students present level. Strong Communication Skills and Interpersonal Skills. Physical abilities (fatigue, sensory issues, etc.). Linda has passed her MBST requirements. Determining patterns of reading difficulties The three types of difficulties mentioned in the preceding section involve underlying patterns of strengths and weaknesses in specific language and reading abilities, sometimes termed components of reading (Aaron et al., 2008; Hoover & Gough, 1990). Emphasizing strengths throughout this section as well as weaknesses not only sets a positive tone. She is on a third grade instructional reading level. What This Means:This sample IEP goal focuses on the ability to find the main idea of a text. Understood is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization (tax identification number 83-2365235). But as more schools make strides in student-led IEPs and other areas, they may inspire more districts to rewrite their IEP templates. What This Means:This sample IEP goal aims to have a child read quickly and accurately by the end of the year. Pertinent comments by parents and teachers Comments that could lead to classroom modification/adaptations Progress on goals and objectives as well as any other changes since the last IEP Common Mistakes Including eligibility or placement statements Using jargon or vocabulary that is not easily understood Identifying a need for a service (i.e. In his classroom behavior, he demonstrates responsibility by coming prepared to class with materials ready to learn. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Strengths-based ieps allow teachers and parents to identify student strengths and use them as a tool for success. . Having students actively participate in parts of the IEP meeting can help in many ways. He is usually off by one number with his answer. (You can also try a fun hands-on activity to help identify your childs strengths.). It's important to note that if you start the transition process at age 14, 15, or 16 you will need to repeat the evaluations as your child grows into young adulthood. __ (4) multiple-choice options. Strengths-based IEP goals use a students abilities, interests and preferences to help chart a path to progress. Sample IEP Goal:By the end of the school year, the student will read grade-level text orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression at 90 words per minute with 90% accuracy, as measured by teacher records on three consecutive occasions. Billy is able to sort by object and color (field of 4). This list of strengths and weaknesses examples helps you to self evaluate and recognize those that apply to you. Additionally, you'll want to consider what your artistic pursuits reveal about you trait-wise. Please enable JavaScript on your browser to best view this site. My first language also affects my weakness in writing and reading. The Understood Team is made up of passionate writers and editors. If not, you and your childs case manager can look for a free strengths assessment online. And, focusing on and cultivating your child's strengths will help build self-esteem. Copyright 2014-2023 Understood For All Inc. should be based on the state academic standards, SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and time-bound), Like other annual IEP goals, they generally, Each goal should draw on two pieces of information. His standardized test scores in math are in the superior range for all subtests. It is also common to pick a weakness that is minor or that signals a strength. Know how to present these employee strengths and weaknesses in the best way when answering interview questions. Engaging and Exciting. Something that can be collected frequently. Hannah is 9.5 and she a fourth grade student at Martin Elementary. Jos is caring and kind and demonstrates loyalty in friendship. Several examples of IEP goals that include specific strategies and Universal Design follow: "Trevor will edit his writing for a project/topic of choice" using text-to-speech, spell check, and an editing checklist." "Using audio books, Natalie will answer inferential questions about novels that she selects from a pre-approved reading . When student strengths are utilized, students will become more active and enthusiastic participants in their educations. Johnny loves math and science. This Center for Parent Information & Resources (CPIR) document provides additional detail on both academic and functional skills, as well as examples across a wide range of skill areas. Because differences are our greatest strength. It looks at what students can do, what the team wants them to do next, and how strengths might be used to set goals to help address a particular need. Leaders embark on a journey to the bank of success. Heres what you need to know to help develop a strengths-based IEP for your child. With his quick work ability and high energy, Johnny has a difficult time sitting in a desk for a long period of time. Problem-solving skills. It may also address Adaptive Development; Community Access/ Use or Participation; and Legal Representation. Steven is hard working and participates in class. . The second introduces the connection between the PLAAFP statements and the annual goals, with examples. The paragraphs in the IEPs present level of performance are likely to be the first things new teachers read about your child. All Rights Reserved. The health and medical related resources on this website are provided solely for informational and educational purposes and are not a substitute for a professional diagnosis or for medical or professional advice. Give this a try instead: flip those immobilizing "weakness statements" into specific strengths and needs statements that point the way toward solutions. Jenny actively participates in class discussions and engages well in peer-to-peer workgroups.