Summer Reading: The Reason Why and Tips to Help Make it Happen
So all of my kids are strongly encouraged to read over the summer by their teachers (and their dad and I too). Well, summer break began a few weeks ago and my kids and I may have read independently for a handful of times very briefly. I have a difficult time reading unless it is […]
Denied an Evaluation Because of Good Grades? Read on…
Has your child been denied an evaluation for special education services because of good grades? That simply should never be the sole reason to deny an evaluation or services. How well your child is doing in school should not be the sole determinative factor of whether they receive special education services. If your child cannot […]
Mental Health and Special Education: Emotional Disturbance Classification
Rates of childhood behavior problems, anxiety and depression are rising significantly. Many mental health disorders develop in early childhood, yet go undiagnosed and untreated for years. According to the CDC: 7.4% of children aged 3-17 have a diagnosed behavior problem, 7.1% of children aged 3-17 have diagnosed anxiety and 3.2% of children aged 3-17 have […]
Dyslexia Accommodations
I recently worked on accommodations for a child with Dyslexia and his 504 plan and wanted to share some thoughts for success in school for all those with Dyslexia. A 504 plan for those with Dyslexia is helpful in providing the services to cater to the individual needs of the student. First let’s start with […]
Is Your Child Making Adequate Progress Toward Annual Goals?
Progress monitoring is a scientifically based practice used to assess your child’s academic progress and evaluate the effectiveness of instruction. Progress monitoring basically tells the teacher what your child has learned and what still needs to be taught. You might be asking yourself “aren’t they taking tests all the time?”. It may appear so but […]
Can a School Recommend Medicating Your ADD/ADHD Child?
It is an unfortunate fact. Schools oftentimes suggest that parents medicate their ADHD child. Now, I understand ADHD symptoms quite well. I was diagnosed when I was younger and managed to get through my entire schooling experience (except law school) without medication. Oftentimes teachers were unaware I was not paying attention because I have the […]
Are your IEP Goals “SMART” Goals?
How to Make Your IEP Goals SMARTSPECIFIC 1. SPECIFIC IEP goals must be specific. Simply stating generalities such as “do better”, “try harder”, “understand”, “have a good attitude” or “appreciate” just won’t cut it. Rather, the goal needs to specifically state what the goal is looking to achieve. For example, “read 20 more words”, “80% accuracy”, […]
Thoughts on School Observations
Observations in the classroom and in other settings can provide valuable information about your child’s ability to learn. If you are concerned about behavioral, emotional, or academic issues with your child at school did you know you are allowed on school observation during the school day? Now I realize many schools may not just roll […]
Tips for a Successful IEP Meeting
It happens to all of us. Days before the IEP meeting we start to get nervous and sometimes even begin to feel we are preparing for war. We often doubt whether we are prepared enough. We question whether we are asking too much, or sometimes not enough. Here are some suggestions to bring confidence and […]
IEP vs. 504 Plan: What’s the Difference?
Without a doubt, one of the most common questions parents have regarding special education is, “what’s the difference between an IEP and 504?” This is understandable as each has their own nuances and apply protections differently. Let’s take a look. IEP vs. 504: What is the legal difference? An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) falls under […]