No image or information displayed on this site or related domains including social media may be reproduced, transmitted, or copied without the express permission of The OT Toolbox. Get detailed teacher input regarding students on your IEP caseload. PDF Writing Strength-Based IEPs for Students with Disabilities in Inclusive A strengths-based approach is a pathway to increasing parent-school partnerships because it shows parents that their childs teachers believe in their childs potential, and students begin to understand that they are capable and valuable contributors at school and in life. Student weaknesses can vary considerably from person to person, but some common examples include difficulty concentrating, procrastination, poor time management skills and a lack of motivation. My favorite part of the strengths section of an IEP is when I get to write a current strength of a student, that used to be a weakness. This questionnaire is applicable to students ages 4-17. What are the strengths that make the student academically successful? Brian Stack, MEd is the principal of Sanborn Regional High School in Kingston, New Hampshire. Finally, students may find that understanding and leveraging their strengths and weaknesses can help them to develop better study habits, manage time more efficiently and become more successful in their academic pursuits. Reading and writing Tell us what interests you See your recommendations In order for student strengths to be effective in developing an iep, they must relate specifically and uniquely to each student. When adding your student strengths in an IEP, a team should approach this much like any other section of the IEP. Critical Thinking: A child who is good at critical thinking is often able to see different sides of an issue and make logical decisions. Many teachers, especially new ones, find it challenging to, IEP writing strengths and weaknesses examples. Check out Mary Falveys book,a great resource to share with parents, especially. With dedication and commitment, any student can become a successful academic. Strengths-based IEPs arent widely used yet. Create Strengths-based IEPs Special Ed | Frontline Education In some sections, IDEA lists the strengths of the child as the first item. She/He enjoys __________ and __________ . First of all, lets focus on the positives and students strengths. Critical thinking strengths: These include a students ability to analyze information, evaluate arguments, and solve complex problems. Manage Settings Communication, mathematics, management (for a kid? %PDF-1.6 % In this section, when writing the list of student strengths for IEP, we want to be sure to write newly achieved skills, other pertinent skills, personal qualities, family, and community strengths as well. Thanks again for your support! For example, if Elana struggles in math, what does she do well in that subject? Inside: Learn how to use Student Strengths or Child Strengths on an IEP, and the importance of doing so. Students' Strengths and Interests - University of Michigan This is an area of the IEP that needs more focus and attention. But, one concept of this really bothers me. When a skill is not acquired, the implication is not that the student is deficient, but rather that the student lacks the opportunity, experience, and instruction needed to master the skill at this time. Here are some other character strengths that I found on another site, and my commentary behind them. IEP QuickTips: Reframing Weaknesses as Strengths and Needs Weakness: Separating yourself from the rest of your team, being too judgmental, micromanagement, no integrity, etc. Though people may value different strengths to different extents, in general, parents and educators across cultures value these qualities and try to cultivate them in children and youth. Strengths-based IEPs aim to start with a strength for each of the skill sets discussed in this section. Self Criticism 3. Use phrases such as excels at, does at grade/age level, or does well to describe student competencies, and use these strengths to inform the IEP teams approach when writing goals and objectives for student growth. The strengths section balances that conversation with the more positive side of things. Being kind is a vital strength, both in the classroom and in the outside world. Being creative means being able to come at a problem from different and unusual perspectives. Have them fill out what their best answer is and then compare to find commonalities. A disability is never ones fault; its how they were born. IDEA is pretty clear about a students strengths being considered as part of IEP development. These helpful sentence starters can be best used with the assistance of the student and parents. In order to provide a wide range of options, some general strengths and along with some that are more specific to occupational therapy will be highlighted. Strengths-based IEP goal: Mike will use his skills with technology to dictate and complete his history chapter notes on time with 85 percent accuracy in three out of four consecutive assignments. Jonah is a 9-year old fourth grade student with average ability, whose achievement testing shows relative strength in reading and weakness in math. Student Strengths and Weaknesses: List and 13 Examples for Students Your child's IEP should have goals for each area of weakness in reading skills. This adapted example from Frontline Education illustrates how a shift from subjective to objective language gives more specific and useful information: Andi frequently misbehaves is better written as When frustrated, Andi may leave their seat and pace at the back of the classroom.. This is when the team discusses a students strengths, interests and preferences. Many of these were crowdsourced from our IEP parent group. The strengths should be identified, either through evaluations or anecdotal information from parents and teachers. Such as, if you are reading a book to your child, are they looking and reading along with you? We're so glad this post was helpful and resonated with you. Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Ethical Decision-Making & Social Responsibility, Topic 1 Caring for Ourselves: The Science of Emotional Resilience, Topic 2 Safety & Belonging in Classrooms and Schools, Topic 3 Addressing Trauma and Adversity: Supporting Student Mental Health, Topic 4 Committing to Racial Equity and Cultural Responsiveness, Topic 5 Teaching for Social, Emotional, and Academic Development, Topic 6 Supporting SEL through Family and Community Engagement, Wisdom (creativity; curiosity; judgment; love of learning; perspective), Courage (bravery; perseverance; honesty; zest), Humanity (love; kindness; social-emotional intelligence), Temperance (forgiveness; humility; prudence; self-regulation), Transcendence (appreciation of beauty and excellence; gratitude; hope; humor; spirituality), Many character strengths are associated with higher satisfaction with life. There are so many areas of strength that you could dive into: physical strengths, academic strengths, social skills, emotional regulationthe list goes on! This is the time to gloat about your student. ), Is resilient (again, disabled students have to put up with much more than non disabled students), Shows independence (seriously? And, its the concept of honesty. hb```g``c`e`XqAb,;i``hq@q%v]yd@H7@Z"Jb:\?8lkd;EqLg/n`Y%S93\ub`6 i*{`PL@ zr It is merely a representation or guideline to get you thinking on the right track. Students can also help the team think about how to use these strengths to develop strategies for success. What are Student Strengths? List + Test To Find Them Out . endstream endobj 448 0 obj <. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Copyright 2023 My Strengths and Weaknesses | All Rights Reserved | |, What Are Your Weaknesses? I love hearing from my readers and am always happy to help in whatever way I can. Check out this guide to see the top 13 student strengths and student weaknesses contributing to academic success! (Gratitude for Tweens and Teens Lesson 1), Students reach out to trusted adults to ask what they think are students strengths and talents. This student strength list is a tool for you to use when creating student success goals that the student can accomplish. Whos at the IEP Table? Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness. Strengths tests and self-assessments can help deepen the discussion about strengths. Organized students bring the right equipment to class, know where their classes are, and get there on time, and schedule homework and deadlines to avoid a last-minute dash before they are due. When working towards an IEP goal, he is curious about new material and is open to new ideas. Older students are more likely to participate in or lead more parts of the IEP meeting. Students identify their strengths to increase self-understanding. Copyright 2023. Adjusting these templates can help ensure that strengths are discussed throughout the IEP meeting, not just in the first section. View: List IEP Goals: Strengths and Weaknesses Questionnaire by SPED Helpline 5.0 (1) $3.00 PDF This questionnaire must be completed by the teacher of the student. Finally, setting realistic goals and having a positive attitude towards learning can go a long way in helping students achieve their academic goals. Copyright 2014-2023 Understood For All Inc. hands-on activity to help identify your childs strengths, questions about having your child attend IEP meetings, Working With Schools online community group. For example, some students may become easily frustrated when they cannot master a certain activity or game. Student strength lists can help! PDF Present Levels of Academic Achievement & Functional Performance (PLAAFPs) 2023 A Day In Our Shoes with Lisa Lightner. Sam will use his creativity and interpersonal skills to develop and lead his peers in a class vocabulary game with 90% accuracy in three out of four weekly opportunities. A students strengths can fit into different categories or domains. To do so is infringement of copyright law. Is she able to use a calculator? This graphic gives you 5 great examples of what that sounds like (just give it a click to see it full size): What do you think? When teachers can differentiate content (the delivery method or access to what is learned), process (the activities used to learn it), and product (how learning is shown or how it is assessed), students can generalize and transfer learning more effectively. Starting with character strengths begins to paint a picture of how the student positively impacts the learning environment. Taking a look at specific student strengths in the classroom is a great place to start. Being organized is all about properly managing your resources including time, supplies, and even effort. Her/His __________ skills are a strength, as are her/his __________ skills. On the other hand, weaknesses can also be identified while monitoring playground activities. I like to look at their special interests and include a few; if they share their love of Spiderman or Minecraft, and integrate it into their school day appropriately, that may be worth noting. Being aggressive refers to when students become loud and disruptive during class. It can also give kids a sense of ownership when they get to help make decisions about their IEP. Has a strong number sense, like knowing which is larger and which is smaller, Sees and understands patterns in nature and in numbers, Puts effort into making friends and keeping them, Accepts personal responsibility for actions (good and bad). A student's strength is a positive attribute that can be used to help students reach their goals and become more successful in life. (Gratitude for Tweens and Teens Lesson 3), A values-informed process to help students make the best possible ethical choices, Strategies for parents and caregivers to help teens understand and practice being humble. Thanks, Alexa! The use of strengths-based approaches is not necessarily new, however supporting individuals' needs in a strength-based model has been largely overlooked in special education. Sustained attention: A child who can sustain their attention is able to focus on a task for a long period of time. Because differences are our greatest strength. He likes to read and he also enjoys science activities. ESTP Strengths and Weaknesses: Top 5 List of ESTP Weaknesses, Nursing Strengths and Weaknesses: Top 5 Poll Results 2023, List of Weaknesses: 43 Examples of Personal Weaknesses, 50 Strength and Weakness Quotes: My Strengths and Weaknesses, Strengths and Talents: List of 40 Talents and Strengths, Expedia Strengths Based Assessment Reddit Answers, 10 Marketing Strengths and List of Marketing Skills, Top 10 Supervisor Strengths and Weaknesses for Interviews. She enjoys working with peers, enjoys class discussion on variety of reading materials and completes tasks on time. Cognitive Skills or Strengths: In this area, I would include skills such as processing, communication, reasoning and attention. This student will receive 60 minute tutoring sessions three days a week before school. Helping students identify and leverage their strengths, interests and preferences can lead to more self-awareness and self-advocacy. This is the list of child strengths categories: creativity, literacy, study skills, communication, hygiene, cognition, language, self-confidence, and courage. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Many parents encourage kids to attend at least the first part of the IEP meeting. List of Student Strengths For IEP Writing - The OT Toolbox Jeremiah is reading at grade level and has good comprehension. In order to overcome these weaknesses, it is important for students to identify them and create strategies for overcoming them. By doing so, students can become more confident and successful on the playground. We believe that adopting strength-based IEP writing practices is vital to reconstructing students with disabilities as capable contributors to their inclusive classrooms. We have a variety of different types of student success goals that you can use to help your students shine. This is especially true to students who will be graduating soon, and will be integrating into the community. Strengths-based IEP goals use a students abilities, interests and preferences to help chart a path to progress. Subjective language. But only the strengths-based goals use the students abilities and interests to help chart a path to progress. Students will identify the stereotypes they hold and consider the impact those stereotypes have on the fair treatment of athletes. 2. There are many different kinds of student success goals, but all student success goals must meet these basic criteria: student strengths, observable and measurable student behaviors/actions, and student success criteria. Character strengths are the positive qualities individuals haveas reflected in their thoughts, feelings, and actionsthat promote the well-being of themselves and others. Having students actively participate in parts of the IEP meeting can help in many ways. Examples of Student Weaknesses 1. It looks at what students can do, what the team wants them to do next, and how strengths might be used to set goals to help address a particular need. Others may prefer quieter activities such as reading or playing board games with friends. Imagine an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that focuses as much on your childs strengths as it does on your childs weaknesses. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. 481 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<67C5935B9099344ABEDAEEEBF4E20F8C>]/Index[447 65]/Info 446 0 R/Length 154/Prev 193707/Root 448 0 R/Size 512/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Yes, looking at the schedule modification section of the IEP, it states that the student requires a longer day and a longer year. Excerpted, How does your IEP team ensure that culturally and linguistically diverse families are welcomed, involved, and able to make the most informed decisions? However, by being determined to succeed you can stop small setbacks from impacting your ability to achieve over the long term. You know that your child has strengths, or your student has strengths. Use a strengths finder before the IEP meeting. The teacher can use this form to assess what the child's strengths and deficits are during social behaviors during the school day.