Family Friendly Tips
for Special Education Teachers
Consider using a planned statement to begin your part of an IEP meeting:
“We are here to discuss the needs of your son or daughter, (NAME). We want to work together with you to form a plan to support his special education needs. We want to hear from you, your concerns and thoughts. I have some ideas and I want to know what you think."
THE PARENT WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO HELP THEIR CHILD.
Use plain speech to explain your expertise. Examples:
“Special education is to help Juan grow in his areas of greatest need. Based on our testing he qualifies for special education in the area of math. The time that Juan works on this goal is called specially designed instruction. He will receive special education for xx minutes a day as shown here in our plan.
During specially designed instruction our goal for him is:_____________. (explain goal and instruction)
REMEMBER, SOMETIMES FAMILIES ARE IN A GRIEF CYCLE.
Tips
-Use nametags or table markers for names.
-Consider seating- make sure the parent is integrated into the educators as well.
-Start with parents offering strengths of the student.
- Focus most of the time discussing and clarifying SDI. That is what a parent wants to know, “what will be done to help my child?”