Tips for a Successful IEP Meeting
Start with something positive
An IEP meeting can be stressful for parents. You are determining whether or not their child has a disability, or you have already decided on this and you are meeting to make sure that they are still making progress. This can be upsetting and uncomfortable for parents as a lot of the information that is going to be shared may not be positive.
Always start your IEP meeting by telling the parents the good things that you think about their child and how much you enjoy working with them. This sets a positive tone at the beginning and lets the parent know that you are on the same page, both working for what’s best for their child.
Make sure the parents know you hear them
Teachers often feel as though we know what is better when it comes to the classroom and in school accommodations. This is understandable, but you have to put yourself in the parents’ shoes and make sure that they know that you are listening to their ideas and concerns.
This child is their whole world, and they don’t want to come to the meeting and feel like they were steamrolled.
Take all of their opinions in, and if you disagree, explain with respect why you think differently. A respectful conversation is going to go far in keeping a positive home-school partnership.
Stay calm no matter what
Occasionally, there are going to be disagreements during IEP meetings. Hopefully, these will be rare for you. Remember that no matter what the disagreement is about, all parties at the table are fighting for what they think is best for the student, but sometimes we have different opinions of what that looks like.
When these disagreements occur, try not to get upset. Keeping calm and level-headed, and showing the parents that you hear them, will best diffuse the situation. A calm, rational conversation is going to be the best way to resolve these disputes.
Keep an open mind
Before a meeting, you may have some ideas of what you think is the best option for this child. The parents have probably done some thinking themselves, as well as any other related service providers that come to the meeting and the general education teacher. Be open to their ideas; maybe they are bringing something to the table that you didn’t think of that would be a great addition to the IEP.
Have data ready
Make sure that you show up at the meeting prepared. Remember that anything that you bring to the meeting should be added to the formal notes. So whether it is appropriate to bring hard copies of data, or prepare yourself with information to remember to bring up, make sure you show up ready to go!
Keep it simple
When you work in a field every day, the jargon begins to sound normal to you. Just think about when you are talking to a doctor or a lawyer. They say things conversationally that sound like they are German!
Parents often feel like this when in an IEP Meeting or a parent-teacher conference. When you are talking to parents, make a conscious effort to use simple language.
A parent who feels confused or intimidated is not going to feel like they are a valued, respected member of the IEP Team.
Also, check out:
5 Things to Remember When Talking to Parents
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