Writing Descriptions for Academic Level

Submitted by an LD OnLine user on

Dear Friends,

I am a new LD teacher, and I an intimidated by writing the Academic portion of my IEPs, for instance if I want to talk about Cognitive abilities, or spatial intergration, I need better discriptions of what these involve.

I know after I write my first 100 IEPs it will get less stressful.

Any help would be appreciated.

Sharon from VA

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 03/30/2003 - 7:41 PM

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This is just advise from a parent if you don’t mind, if an IEP is not working, please remember you can always go back an take a look. Get parental input when available, as much as possible. And mostly please take into account the child and the parents. Know that the parents and the child are just as afraid as yourself, and just want assurance. Please never take the questions and concerns from parents…. personal.

Know that you are human and no one expects to be perfect.:)

Goodluck..:)

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 03/30/2003 - 11:48 PM

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Dear Sharon,
Very often, schools have their own forms or use commercially available forms that help you frame your suggestions and descriptions in the appropriate language. There are also software computer programs for writing IEPs and books to help you. Check out the Council for Exceptional Children website: www.cec.sped.org for a list of resources. You should also read the old IEPs to see what your predecessor had to say. Try to parrot the language until you get comfortable. Don’t forget to go back to your textbooks and look up the terminology until you get a better feel for it.

Good luck.

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 04/01/2003 - 1:39 AM

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Don’t let the terms intimidate you. Write the IEP in a more understanding method as it can intimidate parents just as much. At this time of year, you should have a good understanding of what your student can or can’t do well. I have a student with visual perception difficulties. I may write…… Due to John’s difficulties with visual perception, having notes provided and additional space to write responses is helpful. or John struggles more with visual perception when he has to cope from the board or he is not sitting near the front.

Everyone develops their own style with time. Rereading the past IEP is a great suggestion until you get comfortable. and I dont’ think it will take 100!!

Good luck.

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