“In educational situations, it is essential that parents understand
the nature of the weak areas, what skills need to be learned to
strengthen those areas, and how the strong areas can be used to help
remediate the child’s weak areas.”
http://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/articles/tests_measurements.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IEP_guide/links
Subject: Do teachers’ lesson plans reflect children’s IEP goals and
objectives?
the IEP journey are listed below in question form. Answering yes to
these questions and the ones posed in a later section (reviewing the
IEP) indicates that our destination may be in sight.
Do teachers’ lesson plans reflect children’s IEP goals and
objectives?
Is the staff person responsible for teaching an objective(s)
monitoring the child’s progress as indicated on the IEP?
Are the periodic reviews taking place as scheduled or as needed?
Are related services being provided as indicated on the IEP?
Has an IEP meeting been scheduled to discuss expected changes in
objectives, goals, services, and/or placement?
Does instruction focus on the child’s strengths and needs?
Are team members working together to implement IEP goals and
objectives?
Have friendships and natural supports been facilitated within the
school and community for full implementation of the child’s program?
Has the team made appropriate instructional modifications in order to
support the child’s participation in integrated school and community
settings?
http://www.hyperlexia.org/iep_roadmap.html
Using the PEPSI
to identify Student Strengths and Growth Needs
Once a PEPSI profile is established, there is a graphic
representation of a student’s strengths and weaknesses. Use the
following example of a seven year old youngster to practice looking
for student strengths and areas that might be important to focus on
as part of an individual education plan.
Area Strengths Build-ons
Physical Good large muscle coordination
Dresses self
Prints own name
Not washing hands after toileting
Needs help tying shoes
Runs out of energy before tasks are completed
Emotional Very trusting
Enjoys helping when asked
Tattles to solve problems with peers
Has frequent tantrums
Very stubborn, willful
Philosophical Wants to be praised
Usually tells the truth
Very loving
Bossy with others
Takes others’ things and cries when confronted
No recognition of others’ needs
Social Likes to please the teacher
Loves to organize things
Tends to interact with adults or play alone
Possessive
Intellectual Counts to ten
Writes own name when asked
Reads twenty sight words
Likes to copy from the board
Preschool grade level work
Five minute attention span
Not able to follow two consecutive directions
Now, write two objectives for each of the PEPSI areas. Stay focused
on strengthening the student’s potential. Try to address one of the
objectives toward strengths the student already has.
Physical
1.
2.
Emotional
1.
2.
Philosophical
1.
2.
Social
1.
2.
Intellectual
1.
2.
Building on a Child’s Strengths
When I’m called upon to assist a child who is struggling in
school, I find the spotlight is often focused on a child’s
weaknesses. This is particularly common for the child with poor
social skills, communication skills, learning disabilities, and/or
any other disability. Children with disabilities already feel they
are different. It is up to us to teach all children that different is
not bad, and that each of us has special strengths. We can help that
process along by showcasing every child’s special interest and
strengths.
Years of remedial effort have been poured into fixing what’s
broken, the deficit, rather than capitalizing on the strength and
what works. In other words, if a child can’t read, hours are spent
teaching that child with methods that didn’t work in the first place.
If there are behavior issues, the same punitive measures are used
over-and-over, yet there’s no improvement.
When the spotlight shifts onto areas where your child shines, in
his/her areas of strengths and personal interest, there are often
very dramatic changes in work effort and negative behaviors often
dramatically diminish.
Child psychologist and recognized authority on ADHD, Dr. Robert
Brooks, developed the term “islands of competence” in reference to
these areas of strength. I interpret his concept in the following
way:
Everyone has strengths, but sometimes they’re not obvious. We must
find those areas of strength and build on them. Every person must
feel they are making a contribution to their environment. If we
accept both these concepts, the obvious thing to do is to build upon
them. Every child must feel important and every child must taste
success.
Once academic needs are determined and appropriate services are in
place, it’s extremely important to begin building self-confidence and
self-reliance. It’s essential to have a concerted effort both at home
and at school, with clear communication between the school officials
and the parents.
Dr. Brooks likes for each of his young patients to have a special
job at school in an area related to the child’s interests and needs.
It can be something like feeding pets or taking attendance to the
office monitor. This can take creativity and ingenuity, but it’s
essential.
The schools I visit are sometimes resistant to this effort. After
all, only recently has there been such emphasis on this positive
approach to resolve behavior issues or low self-esteem problems.
Sometimes school personnel look at us like we’ve lost a few screws.
But it works! Inappropriate behaviors diminish, the child walks
taller, often begins to show improved self-confidence, and
demonstrates reliability. He feels needed and recognized for his
efforts.
Sadly, the child with a disability that impacts behavior and
social skills is often the last picked to help out with different
tasks. In reality, it’s one of the single most effective tools to
help your child gain self-confidence.
The focus of scholastic effort must also be on the child’s
strengths. Following, are just few examples and suggestions for
compensating effectively for weaknesses and building on strengths.
If your child has excellent verbal skills and creativity, but writing
is a struggle, you might ask for daily use of a computer. If a child
demonstrates such a need, (and I see this often in ADHD and learning
disabilities), than the school is responsible for providing that
assistive technology. Remember your child doesn’t have to settle for
the broken computer in the corner of the room (which happens all too
frequently). Any needed equipment must be in working order and be
made available in the regular learning environment. If you’re
concerned about the condition of equipment, you can stipulate in any
504 plan or IEP that the equipment be in working order and located in
an area immediately accessible to the student.
Perhaps your child grasps math concepts, but has difficulty
performing the actual calculations on paper. A calculator is a great
assistive device for such children. There might be complaints that
the child has to first learn math the “old fashioned way.” Practical
experience has taught me that if a child can’t perform very basic
math calculations by, say, the fifth grade, it will probably always
be somewhat difficult. Is he/she going to suddenly become proficient
in this area when an adult or count fingers? Most likely not. This
person will buy a calculator for as little as $5.00 and finally
become successful in performing practical arithmetic calculations.
Why not start early to help the person with a math disability
progress rapidly with the concepts by using a calculator to bypass
the disability? This is not to say a child should not continue to
work on mastery of calculations as well.
Or take the fifth-grader who’s struggling with second-grade spelling,
perhaps spending as much as two hours a night trying to learn a list
of twenty words. The most common modification, if any is made at all,
is to cut the list in half. What if we let that child spend spelling
time becoming computer literate? With the use of a spell checker and
word processor program to offset organizational difficulties and
spelling difficulties, children suddenly blossom into creative
authors.
A child who is very distractible in the classroom can show dramatic
improvement when work is produced on a computer. Headphones can also
enhance learning. Many children with ADHD tend to lose the thought
somewhere between brain and pencil, but are excellent writers when
using a computer. There seems to be an instant direct connection
between brain and screen. Organizational skills show improvement.
Problem solving skills are also honed on the computer, bypassing
faulty circuitry that gets in the way of real learning. In each of
these instances weaknesses are diminished by technology that levels
the playing field for people with disabilities. The spotlight then
shifts from the writing weakness to the content strengths.
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/1580/strengths.html
An excellent way to actively involve all those invested in the
inclusion process is to implement the MAPS process when developing
the child’s IFSP/IEP. MAPS stands for Making Action Plans or the
McGill Action Planning System. The Kansas State Board of Education
has available a manual and videotape which describes the actual MAPS
process in detail entitled MAPS: A Plan for Including All Children in
Schools (1990). The MAPS manual and videotape might prove to be
helpful in developing strategies for creating a user friendly and
functional IFSP/IEP for children attending inclusive early childhood
programs. Information presented in the MAPS manual is geared toward
older students, however we have found that by using a modified MAPS
system we have been able to create IFSP’s/IEP’s which are built upon
the child¹s strengths and prove to be functional within the inclusive
setting.
http://www.circleofinclusion.org/pim/seven/maps.html
2. What happens next?
Development of Goals and Objectives
Goals and objectives should be based on assessment, and should focus
on using a student’s strengths and interest to address areas of
identified need. The best objectives contain specific information
about what we want a student to achieve, how instruction will support
the mastery of the goal, and are measurable.
http://www.parentsinc.org/newsletter/S98/SEQUENC.html
IDEA 1997 brings several changes to the IEP and the IEP team. Not
only will the role of the IEP team dramatically increase, the IEP
will move from a deficit-based educational plan to one that is
strength-based. IDEA 1997 is based on the belief that the majority of
students with disabilities can participate in the general education
curriculum to varying degrees.
http://www.cec.sped.org/pd/sbsre
The student’s areas of strength and need. Whereas a statement of
needs identifies the student’s weaknesses, a statement of strengths
identifies the student’s own “tools” which can be used to address the
weaknesses. The basis for these statements should be the description
contained in the IPRC’s statement. These statements might take the
form “Student demonstrates significant strength in…” and “Student
requires significant instruction/ support to ….”For
example, “Student demonstrates significant strength in auditory
learning”; “Student requires significant instruction/support to
develop reading skills.”
Goals for the student. Goals should be based on the strengths and
needs of the student and represent the best prediction of what the
student should be able to accomplish by the end of the school year
http://www.ldao.on.ca/articles/newiprc.html
The IEP is a written document outlining the who, what, when,
why, where and how of instruction and related services that
are to be provided to a student with disabilities. IEPs are built
upon the strengths of individual students and are
designed to help each student achieve success in school, at
home, at work, and in the community.
The IEP Implementation Checklist
p The IEP has been shared and discussed with appropriate staff
members and service providers.
p Instruction focuses on the student’s strengths and needs.
p Instruction reflects stated IEP goals and objectives.
p Identified modifications and accommodations are being provided.
p A designated IEP team member is monitoring the student’s progress.
http://www.msde.state.md.us/specialeducation/IEP%20Handbook2001.pdf
Strength Based Planning
Identify the strengths and resources of the student and student’s
family and use these strengths and resources to develop an effective
IEP and / or other service plan. One full day offered once in the
fall and once in the spring.
Target Group: Administrators, SPED teachers, social workers, FSWs,
Counselors, CSSS, 504
Site: District
Trainer: Felix Training Institute
http://rrsc.k12.hi.us/sped/kauai/kwsp2.htm
D. Exceptionally Appropriate Practices
1) Writes IEPs using a strength-based approach
http://www.bgsu.edu/org/focus/preschool.pdf
Strength-based assessments
Create Strength-based Functional Behavior Assessments/Interventions
Train on the development of Strength-based IEP’s
http://www.air.org/TAPartnership/consultant_pool/bios/w_hussey.htm
A good IEP has objectives that focus on a student’s strengths and aim
for positive outcomes
http://www.acl.on.ca/Daily_News/2001/oct01/oct17.htm
The result of the teamwork is and IEP that embraces John’s strengths
and the team’s goals
http://www.region3.net/Region%
20_III/Ann_Rpt/99_annual_report/annual_report11.html
Based on the child’s needs while building upon the child’s strengths,
the team drafts both annual
goals and short term learning outcomes.
http://star.nm.org/deafblind/forms/facts/IEPDevelopment.pdf
The focus of the IEP should be the development of strategies to build
on the child’s strengths in order to remediate weaknesses and build
self-esteem. Educators agree that the best strategy for helping the
child with learning disabilities is to concentrate on strengthening
the child’s existing abilities, while working steadily to improve
weaker skills. For example, if the child has excellent verbal skills
but is totally frustrated putting thoughts on paper, the IEP might
specify that his reports be given orally. If the child is strong in
math and poor in reading, the IEP might specify having him coach a
classmate who is struggling with math; reading support might include
reading two key paragraphs in the sports section of the newspaper
each night to a parent.
http://www.ldac-taac.ca/ldindepth/six.htm
5. What are the individual’s strengths, gifts and abilities?
So often when educational teams get together, they dwell upon the
things that the individual cannot do as opposed to identifying and
building upon the strengths and abilities of the individual. The
facilitator asks the participants to review the list which described
the individual as a way to identify some of his or her strengths and
unique gifts. In addition, they are instructed to think about what
the individual can do, what he or she likes to do and what he or she
does
http://ssd.k12.mo.us/Inclusion/maps.htm
This full-day workshop is designed develop participants’ skills in
the implementation of research-validated educational programming
for students with Autism and other significant disabilities according
to IDEA `97. It is intended for all staff working
with this population in an elementary through secondary environment.
First, participants will learn to develop and monitor IEP’s using a
strength-based approach, implement proactive behavior and
integration plans, and identify the major research-validated
strategies used with this unique population.
http://www.nasponline.org/pdf/prel_prog02_thurws.pdf
The student’s areas of strength and need. Whereas a statement of
needs identifies the student’s weaknesses, a statement of strengths
identifies the student’s own “tools” which can be used to address the
weaknesses. The basis for these statements should be the description
contained in the IPRC’s statement. The statements might take the
form “Student demonstrates significant strength in…” and “Student
requires significant instruction/support to …” For example, “Student
demonstrates significant strength in auditory learning”; “Student
requires significant instruction/support to develop reading skills.”
Goals for the student. Goals should be based on the strengths and
needs of the student and represent the best prediction of what the
student should be able to accomplish by the end of the school year.
http://www.ldany.on.ca/Special%20Ed/individual_education_plan.htm
Based on the child’s needs while building upon the child’s strengths,
the team drafts both annual goals and short term learning outcomes.
http://www.usdb.k12.ut.us/fss/hand7.htm
A child’s strengths should be a part of any IEP and these strengths
should be drawn upon when developing goals and objectives.
Strengths should be identified in all five areas described on page 1.
In addition, strengths should not be limited to only academics and/or
physical abilities. They can, and should, include interests skills,
hobbies, peronal traits, etc.
Examples:
* Matt is great at basketball.
* Dylan is trying really hard to talk.
* Benjamin knows how to use the computer.
* Emily likes to play board games with other girls.
* Nicole can read 4th grade textbooks.
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Village/9021/articles/iepplanning.h
tml
GALLERY
8:00AM-12:30PM
Strength-Based IEP
Sharon Gage
http://ww2.stclair.k12.il.us/cgi-bin/roomres/rreventcal.asp?%
5BVMonthNumber%5D=3&%5BVYear%5D=2001
Re: strength based IEPs
Ash,
as always your research and insights into building a good IEP is well appreciated. Mind if I link it to my page?
Anitya,as always the gladiator for all teacher’s out there. When did she suggest no teacher uses this approach? BTW a token system, if not mistaken, is dependent of negative consequences,ie no token.
As are most
systems built around extrinsic reinforcers…:) Positive behavior management really only exists when the reinforcers are intrinsic and even then it is pretty dicey- and not necessarily workable for an entire class…
Robin
Re: strength based IEPs
I have to argue that “no token” is not a negative consequence. It is the natural consequence in such a management program. Negative consequences involve the adult actually doing something of a punative nature: removing a token, rescinding recess, denying participation in a preferred whole class activity. A token system simulates life, if we work we earn money for the things we want and need (though I submit that the welfare system teaches children the opposite, unfortunately), if we don’t earn money, we don’t have the coin with which to buy that which we want. Token economies or point systems can teach youngsters valuable lessons about the way life is and also helps them to develop money management skills.
It is a classic example of a positive behavior manage system. Classroom teachers all over my building use point systems liberally to reinforce and encourage the appropriate behaviors they are teaching and expecting.
Negative consequences really just plain don’t work very well. We see the same children over and over again in the same situation: missing recess for whatever. Most teachers realize this in time.
Re: As are most
Point systems seem to work pretty well for our teachers. Certain children also need an individualized plan, as well.
Re: As are most
My sons LD self contained class has a unique reward system for good behavior. It is both a classroom wide program and individual program at the same time. Let me explain. The children have to earn 30 “good behavior” points then get to choose from a list of rewards what they want to use them for. Some examples are ice-cream, lunch with the teacher, excuse from a homework assignment, 5 points on a test, to miss a “special”, and to invite a student of their choice into the classroom. My son always chooses to invite a friend into the classroom. It has been great for all involved since he usually picks a regular education student. The teachers have noticed that the students invited to spend the day with the class have better respect for the LD students since they see they have the same classroom rules as they do and also learn the same material just in a different fashion and a little slower. The LD kids love having these kids in the classroom and alway make sure they are well behaved. The kids in the regular classes also have a reward system but this is in the form of a marble jar or the like and the class is rewarded as a whole when the jar is full with a Pizza party.
Well sure....
It was the “positive behavior management ” definition I was taking issue with. There is no doubt that a well structured system can work- and frequently does- and no doubt that it can be a life lesson as well. But it is NOT all positive:) Life lessons are like that. I am quite fond of response cost myself when I have to deal with these things- and that is by definition a relatively negative system.
Robin
Re: strength based IEPs
hi,
it was disappointing that this got narrowed into just a behavior plan issue.
how about discussion on strength based IEPs that do not have a behavior plan?
Re: strength based IEPs
I aplogize for the narrow scope this turned into,why it did,not sure.
Ironicly enough,my children both ADHD/LD had behavior issues needing managment within their public school placement. NOw? No issues exist,period.The school they attend has the philosophy of strength based curriculum in general. At the risk of again talking about this unbelievable school,I swear it exists:-) To give you an example; and I have talked about this before,there is a 9th grader at the school.He, the prior school year in public, was slated for an alternative placement,due to a behavior infraction. Mom placed him here instead. He has significant issues with reading and attentional problems. Anyway the director of the school,insists on finding out what the kid likes and desires to do. Most have an interest in science,which this school really has a strong focus in. Well this kid likes to cook. He wants to be a gourmet chef. Soo,the director allows him to cook. First it started at lunch,he brought a hot plate to school and would saute shrimp pasta,and other gourmet meals. Has a spice rack in his locker. The other kids would smell this wonderful stuff and ask for a taste,the kid made a deal with them and if they helped him cook,he would share his food.So lo and behold,a 9th grade kid,who never had or was the top dog at anything,only had bullies who would tease him,was now the topdog every lunch break. Has friends zesting lemons for him and other kids begging for more tastes. He now cooks breakfast and we had a luncheon before the last Christmas break,this kid planned it. Cool right? Once someone seemed interested in what my kids like,desire,and built on it,their behavior issues disappeared. My youngest,in public school,was very close to being labeled EH. He had significant issues and seemed pretty darn angry. He would turn his desk over,run out of class,big stuff. I would go to school everyday just to find out what new problem he found himself in. Well in this new school,I went to pick him up yesterday,there he was sitting at his desk,had a look like,”okay she is here now” I had a flood of past trauma,god what did he do? The director came over to me,and said,” he is teaching himself spanish,seems to be enjoying it,can he start staying after school,and I will teach him?” OMG,the look wasn’t,” I am in trouble”,the look was “can I PLEASE mom?” ahh,gee,hmmm,YES!!! My point,I suppose is,in actuality it doesn’t seem to be a need for behavior managment when the child is given the opportunity to build on strengths rather then always be remediating their weaknesses. Just my very humble opinion.
In the words of Einstein, Imagination is,raise new questions,explore new possibilities,regard old problems from a new angle.
Re: strength based IEPs
Boy, do you have that right, Socks. I’ve noticed taht whenever my son can’t do something at school, I hear that he is “oppositional”.
In the classroom he was in in the fall, he was “oppositional” and ahd a “bad attitude” all the time. Funny thing, the teachers in the class we switched him into love him. They keep telling me how much he contributes to the class, how the other kids are turning to him as a leader, and what good ideas he brings to discussions. The homwork load is less than half what was assigned in the other class, and he’s actually able to get it done. (it always had to be modified in the other class because he COULDN’T finish it all)
I was joking with him that he seemed to be learning just fine with only half the homework. He turned to me very seriously and said, “Oh, Mom, I’m learning SO much MORE in this class!”
Karen
Re: strength based IEPs
Karen,
I am now having to start getting seriously involved with our school and getting them to educate themselves with NVLD.
I had a meeting with the teacher friday—she is believing that my 7yo dd is behavioral/oppositional. She said that 75% of the day went fine but the 25% that my girl was asked to do something she would not. My frustration lies with the fact that everyone at the school (spec. ed teacher, teacher who has a masters in LD’s, and the pricipal) have never heard of NVLD, and the psychologist that did the physc. evalv. on her has just enough knowledge to diagnose but not to offer any true follow up. If they do not know what is really going on with her, how can they say that her actions are behavioral? She is still melting down before and after most school days and the response I got from the spec. ed teacher was that our family may want to look into family therapy! I was so shocked—I let her know that I was not apposed to that if I thought that would help—but would the counslor know how to guide us with working with NVLD—or even heard of it?
I am still pretty upset about what all took place on Friday—I have some phone calls into a few places in Portland, OR that should be able to help us out.
In the Source for NVLD by Sue Thompson it stated that NVLD is a “Low incidence diability and that public school districts are required to ensure that regular and spec. ed. staff are adequately prepared to provied educational instruction and serviices to these individuals and that the assessment of a pupil with a suspected low incidence disability shall be conducted by persons knowledgeable of that disability.” pg. 71. Have you ever had to deal with NVLD it that way? I am going to read some of your past posts for some quidance—if you or anyone else has anything to share, I would appreciate it.
Thank you, CD
Re: strength based IEPs
I doubt that you would get an adequate eval for any child with NLD through the public school system. Public schools often will try to base their assessment on the child’s full scale IQ, missing the significance of a high VIQ and low PIQ. They are also very unlikely to notice the subtle deficits in a child that young, or will chalk them up to normal develpomental differences. It’s all too common that an NLD child will be considered a “behavior” problem long before they are dx’d. My older son was put on a “behavior mod contract” in 3rd grade because he wasn’t finishing class work as expected. Unlike your daughter, he didn’t melt down, he just SHUT down, and quietly sat there doing nothing all day. We were told that he was “lazy”, and “not working up to his ability”.
We went outside for our older son, and now, (strongly suspecting NLD again) have set up a private neuropsych eval for our younger son this summer.
You do have a right to expect the school to educate their staff on your child’s disability. We have it written into my son’s IEP that all staff are required to read provided material on NLD. Our school has been pro-active in providing inservice training for teachers on NLD and Aspergers. (many of the interventions are the same or at least similar)
Even with that, however, we have found that the attitude of the teacher(s) makes or breaks the year. In 4th grade, my son had a teahcer who knew NOTHING about NLD when he entered her class. (neither did we!) She learned right along with us, and he couldn’t have possibly had a better teacher. This year, her was placed int he class of a teacher who “knew all about NLD” and had had an NLD child in her class the year before. It couldn’t have been a worse match, and we ended up moving him out of the class in Jan. She knew just enough to be dangerous from what I could see… she didn’t think she had anything to learn. I’d pick a teacher with a nurturing attitude, and awillingness to learn, over someone who thinks they know best any day!
I wish I could tell yout aht things get easier, but that hasn’t been our experience. I’m already feeling tired at the thought of dealing with next year’s set of teachers after having to deal with two sets of teachers this year.
Karen
Re: strength based IEPs
I just cannot thank you enough for your replys. You have been so faithful to me sharing your knowledge.
Yes, my girl does melt down, but not at school-at home before and after school at least 2 days a week—many times it is more. At school it is the shut down, dig heals in, “wont do anything that is asked of me”. That is the teachers look on it. The student teacher started sending her to the pricipals office to talk to him about why she was not doing the work that “the teacher” knew she was capable of doing. I quote her as saying, “I am aware of her learning disability, and nothing we are doing in the classroom is new to her, she did it all last year and is more than capable”
I get so frustrated when the school is saying the parents are the most valuable part of working with the child, yet they do not listen to you when we have concerns. The student teacher is done now and I am trying to get some instuction for our IEP team so we can do all we can for my girl.
I have spoke with 3 people on the phone and have gotted nowhere yet—just more numbers to call, more voice mail messages to leave, and more on line sites to visit. I have yet to talk to anyone who knows more than me about NVLD. Only one person had heard of it and she recomended me the book I already have with notes and dogeared pages. (The Source for NVLD, S. Thompson) I got the feeling that the only thing she knew about it was that there was a book available.
After reading this over I realize how upset I am sounding. I am so frustrated with all of this. I know you too are feeling it too. Thank you for your time.
CD
It is not true that only recently have teachers used positive behavior management. I took a course on this when I went to college in the “dark ages,” pre-94-142. Special ed. teachers have used token economies and similar approaches to diminish undesired behavior and increase desired behavior. Classroom teachers with whom I work have had their entire class on a positive behavior plan, and they have customized plans for particularly difficult youngsters for years and years.
Have all teachers always done this? No. Do all teachers presently do this? Of course not.
Just like doctors or any other group. Some doctors will use less invasive and more up to date methods than others. Of course, with the health plans we have today, we cannot choose doctors any more than we can choose teachers.
Please be careful when you suggest teachers do not, have not and are not. WE are not a homogeneous class of people and many of us do build on strengths.