Ways in which the students strengths can help address the identified areas of concern? & ' ( , R S | - 3 O P Z ^ ` a vkb h h CJ h h CJ aJ h >*CJ aJ h >*CJ aJ h h CJ aJ h=33 h CJ aJ h 6CJ aJ h CJ aJ h h 6CJ aJ h h CJ aJ h h >*CJ aJ h h >*CJ aJ h h 5CJ aJ h=33 5CJ aJ h h=33 5CJ aJ % A y z ' ( R S O P r s n o # c , 4 ? But by shifting the focus and putting a big emphasis on strengths, this new kind of IEP helps adultsand kidssee that theres more to these students than their weaknesses. If there are many areas checked on both sides of the chart, the child may have a pattern of strengths and weaknesses consistent with that of identified GT/LD students. (informal) (singular) In an interview, you may be asked, "What are your strengths and weaknesses?"En una entrevista, quizs te pregunten, "Cules son tus puntos fuertes y dbiles?" b. Schools often overlook strengths in favor of disabilities. K has strong expressive and receptive language skills and a large vocabulary. He correctly capitalizes and uses appropriate ending punctuation. Public speaking. Academic Standard:By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in grade-level text complexity band, proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. This assessment is sometimes abbreviated as PLP or called present level of academic and functional performance (PLAAFP). What are strengths that the student has that make them socially adaptable or socially accepted? However, in a recent writing sample he had difficulty writing complete sentences and was unable to spell a number of sight words. ThePresent Level of Performance Examples below will help you write an great PLOP section in your childs IEP! And you can advocate for more teacher training in strengths-based IEPs at your childs school or in your local district. For example, a 4th-grade student who obtains a grade equivalent score of 2.2 on a reading test is performing at a level equivalent to a typical student at the end of the second month of 2nd-grade. Linda does excellent with short-term expectations but needs multiple reminders on long-term expectations. For example, students can lead the part of the meeting where they share what they discovered about themselves when taking the strengths test. How does the students disability affect her: Are the data being reviewed to determine whether the student is making progress: Based on observable (e.g., cursing or swearing) rather than subjective (e.g., being disrespectful) behaviors. He seems to be enjoying the classes and is willing to do an activity when asked by the teacher. Thanks again for your support! The IEP team can begin the process of developing a high-quality PLAAFP statement by holding a discussion that centers around the four elements outlined above: student needs, effect on progress in general education, baseline information, and connection to goals and/or services. Sara struggles with math. An IEP team can use student strengths to develop student success goals within the student's iep. Fear of Failure 2. Strengths And Weaknesses Of Oral Reading. Give this a try instead: flip those immobilizing "weakness statements" into specific strengths and needs statements that point the way toward solutions. Is your child a visual, auditory, tactile, or kinesthetic learner? (This skill is important for reading comprehension.) Learning style. For starters, you can get answers to common questions about having your child attend IEP meetings. Open to Criticism 13. Use of this website is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Social skills. This student strength list can also be used during the development of student transition goals. He matches objects and pictures. Concerns/Needs: Billy needs to continue to develop pre-academic skills in the areas of number concepts and shape recognition to a more consistent level. Otherwise, Sara is happy, and seems eager to please her teachers by doing her best work. What This Means:This sample IEP goal focuses on the ability to find the main idea of a text. Someone may consider being on time a positive aspect of their education. Academic Standard:Determine the main idea of a text. Builds your self-awareness Self-awareness is crucial in a variety of personal and interpersonal settings. 3) Strengths or weaknesses observed but not listed can be written in as comments/notes. Three times out of four, the student needs to be able to correctly identify the main idea plus three details that support the main idea. Ks decoding problems affect his performance in the general education setting because he cannot independently read items like written instructions, worksheets, or content area texts. When thinking of your child, consider all aspects your child's development. The assessment can be done by such methods as tests, interviews, or observations. Real-World Learning is Prioritized. ECSE: For students Birth to three the IEP must address Physical/Motor Development; Basic Senses including Hearing and Vision; Self-Help Skills; Academic Performance/Cognitive Development/ Intellectual Functioning; Social/Emotional/ Behavioral Development; Communication and Current Health and Medical Status. Hannah is 9.5 and she a fourth grade student at Martin Elementary. It also must address how the students disability is impacts functioning in the general education curriculum or in age appropriate activities. Creative thinking abilities. Even if the student strengths seem silly or out of place, they may be meaningful for some students. Involving students in IEP meetings can help the team think about ways to develop strengths and work on weaknesses. These kinds of student self-assessments can help IEP teams develop a strengths-based IEP. JAVASCRIPT IS DISABLED. Goals should also be SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and time-bound). You can also learn more about how to develop SMART IEP goals, and then help steer the IEP team to include strengths in at least a few of your childs goals. Everyone also knows a student's strengths can be leveraged to support self-esteem and growth. Academic strengths include; curiosity, creativity, imagination, critical thinking, organization, time management, delayed gratification, and impulse control. Here are a few examples of common career weaknesses. Four times out of five, the child must correctly determine the meaning of at least 80 percent of the words or phrases. What This Means:This sample IEP goal aims to have a child read quickly and accurately by the end of the year. We have a variety of different types of student success goals that you can use to help your students shine. #18 Strength and Weakness - Perfectionist There's not a single detail of your work which isn't exactly the way you planned it. __________ is best at __________ has an amazing ability to, __________ always takes pride in his/her work when __________ is frequently recognized for __________ participates the most when __________ does this better than any other student, __________ is highly motivated by __________ is highly interested in. He matches shapes from a field of six. The 4th-grade fall benchmark is 95 wpm on a 4th-grade reading probe. It also tells the kids about their own abilities. Organization skills. Media inquiries:media@understood.org(preferred) or646-757-3100. Each goal should be tied to a specific state academic standard for reading. 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. Procrastination. She has expressed an interest in joining the work program next year. But theyre going to reach out to the reading teacher as well and get information for how that plays out in the general education classroom. Her/His __________ skills are a strength, as are her/his __________ skills. Jeremiah is reading at grade level and has good comprehension. He sometimes gets frustrated when writing and hurries through written work [what hinders learning]. A child's strengths, interests and talents can build the foundation for a productive and joyful life. Collaborative. 1. The IEP team can begin the process of developing a high-quality PLAAFP statement by holding a discussion that centers around the four elements outlined above: student needs, effect on progress in general education, baseline information, and connection to goals and/or services. Too often, IEP teams discuss a students strengths by saying things like What I like about Elana is And these kinds of comments can be hard to connect to the rest of the IEP in actionable ways. Chris scored in the low average range in written language. Kindness 6. Chris is currently reading at a DRA Level 20 at the second grade level, significantly higher than his testing last year (DRA of 14). Language assessment is an instrument for language teachers to identify the students' strengths and weaknesses in language learning, to place the student into a program and to measure the use of English in four basic skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Chooses 3-4 student strengths from the student strength list, Writes a narrative about each student strength picked, Includes behavior(s) that student demonstrates when using student strength, Student's family member(s) or an other person involved in student's life can endorse student strengths to strengthen them, Student identifies his own student strengths, if appropriate to student's abilities, Shares student empowerment strategies with other professionals who work with the student, Student's team members choose student strengths to use in student success goals, If student is working on student transition goals, student's team may want to include student strengths with industry or university partnerships. Communication skills. needs speech services) Forgetting to discuss progress on IEP goals Having vague statements that do not describe the child Remember- a teacher who has not met the student should be able to plan for the child after reading the IEP if the PLAAFP and Needs are well written! Sample IEP Goal:By the end of the year, the student will demonstrate grade-level independent reading ability on literature passages as measured by the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA), the Qualitative Reading Inventory (QRI-5), or the Star Reading assessment. Billy can match by color (field of 6) and sort items by colors (field of 4). Something that can be collected frequently. Given fourth-grade level (4.0) reading material, Nura will write three details from the passage in her own words with 85% accuracy on three out of four consecutive assignments. Being detail-oriented is typically a good thing, but if you're someone who tends to spend too much time on the specifics of a project, it could also be considered a weakness. In my school when we develop the PLAAFP statements, its a collaboration of many different people. Is there enough information in the PLAAFP to determine what special education, related services, accommodations, and program modifications are needed? Emphasizing strengths throughout this section as well as weaknesses not only sets a positive tone. His broad reading scores on standardized tests are: A number that compares the students performance to a typical student performance at a particular grade level. Steven is able to add with re-grouping, but struggles with subtraction. Because differences are our greatest strength. Elementary School: Academic Functioning Strengths/Current Status: Chris scored in the below average range in reading when re-evaluated in October. He has a strong reading vocabulary [strength]. His standardized test scores in math are in the superior range for all subtests. If Johnny sits for a long time, then he has difficulty with his focus on a book or worksheet. Strong Communication Skills and Interpersonal Skills. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. By noting your childs strengths, it will help you determine if hes making progress. At a minimum, the PLAAFP statement must contain information that: The measure of the level of a students academic or behavioral performance before a change (e.g., instructional or behavioral practice or intervention) is implemented. Additionally, you'll want to consider what your artistic pursuits reveal about you trait-wise. National Association of Special Education Teachers NASET | Completed Sample IEP 4 2-Social Development: Describe the quality of the student's relationships with peers and adults, feelings about self, social adjustment to school and community environment and behaviors that may impede When writing a profile of the student's strengths, think about the child as a whole. Use a strengths finder before the IEP meeting. Johnny loves math and science. It helps teachers get a better sense of how to help your child move forward. She has realistic work goals and is able to describe what it would take to live on her own. Wherever possible, use actual data, such as Standardized test Scores or percentile rankings. Theres a lot you can do right now. This guide walks teachers through the process of writing clear and positive student strengths narratives. What This Means:This sample IEP goal targets making inferences. Reframe the way the IEP team talks about strengths. Johnny easily completes the work when he can stand by his desk or at a table at the back of the room. The following are examples of strengths at work: Hard skills. Saras mom reports that Sara frequently cries about completing her math homework. Concerns/Needs: Steven needs to continue to work on writing sentences, varying the types of sentences and writing basic paragraphs. He is fast with his work, and he is eager to share his knowledge with his classmates. Academic Standard:Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade-level reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies. Given fourth-grade level (4.0) reading material on nonfiction topics, Nura will deploy her love of learning and her interest in science and history to write three details from the passage in her own words with 85% accuracy on three out of four consecutive assignments. The student's team might include student weaknesses as a part of the student's iep, but they should not be included in the student strength list. Comprehension is improving but it may also be a language problem since he does have Autism. Are your childs strengths, current scores, and other indicators of your childs PLOP documented in your childs IEP? The results from the evaluation (e.g., standardized tests, progress monitoring data)? So if a child has an IEP that has math service and it has reading service, the person who delivers the reading service is going to be the person who actually fills in that part of the IEP. Student strengths are more effective when they have specific behaviors that can be seen, heard, or otherwise observed by others. Thank you for reading! Procrastination. He was able to do calculations involving addition and subtraction with and without regrouping but was unable to do multiplication and division facts. It is merely a representation or guideline to get you thinking on the right track. Problem-solving skills. Looking to help your students shine through strengths-based ieps? If I'm on a project, I'm going to make sure to stick with it to the bitter, bloody end." Although this might sound like a strength, it's actually a weakness in disguise! Grab your notebook, look at your childs strengths, and consider her struggles. Elana will use her skills with a times table to help transition by May 15 to knowing from memory all products of two one-digit numbers with 90% accuracy in four out of five tries. On recent MAP testing in fall of 2006 he scored 206 in reading, which is in the low range. Decode multisyllabic words. Current formal evaluation (WISC III, Woodcock-Johnson R, other) Informal evaluation (teacher or parent observation, checklists, student work, other) Classroom performance in the areas of concern that will be the basis for the special education goals and objectives Grades History of testing if appropriate. Modules, case studies, activities, & more, Sample syllabi, curriculum matrices, & more, Sample PD activities, planning forms, & more, Resources & tools for independent learners, Feedback and testimonials from IRIS users, Kirby v. Cabell County Board of Education, 2006, p. 694, U.S. Department of Education, Code of Federal Regulation, 1999, Appendix C, Question 36. Then, find outwhat actions you can take if theIEP doesnt seem to be working. Its specific about how progress will be measured. But here are some common elements and approaches. Remember that student strengths can be based on work habits or personality traits. By doing so, they will begin to assemble the elements that will become the students PLAAFP statement. It may also address Adaptive Development; Community Access/ Use or Participation; and Legal Representation. The teacher can use this form to assess what the child's strengths and deficits are during social behaviors during the school day. Any of the areas listed can be strengths or weaknesses. Having students actively participate in parts of the IEP meeting can help in many ways. Tailoring the Strengths and Weaknesses Part of the IEP to your Aspie Child. Analytical skills. Coding 11. Jenny is helpful in class and eager to learn new concepts. As they do so, they should keep in mind that this statement should be written in concise, specific, and clear language that can be easily understood by all members of the IEP team. Steven participates in a RIL Science (with 7th grade Life Science curriculum) and a RIL Social Studies (with 7th grade US History curriculum) class during his 8th grade year. This student strength list is a tool for you to use when creating student success goals that the student can accomplish. Your child should have an IEP goal associated with each type of reading struggle. Present Level of Performance Examples : IEP Writing Tips, Present Level of Performance Examples for Writing this IEP Section, How to write present level of performance examples. It is our duty as special education instructors to discover and publicize those assets in order to develop them further. THE STRENGTH THAT'S ACTUALLY A WEAKNESS ANSWER "I'm a total workaholic. This weakness causes individuals to get only "parts" of information that they read or hear, but not the whole. He often is the first student to raise a hand at the beginning of class to remind his peers to be quiet and direct their attention to the teacher. Academic Standard:Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension. READING TEST RESULTS STRENGTHS NEEDS MEASURABLE GOALS. He knows many of the mechanics rules. Unfortunately, thats not the norm for most students yet. Saras standardized reading composite test score is at the 73rd percentile. He is beginning to use signs for the colors when he sees them. Wanting to control too many aspects of a situation. My writing and reading strength is my ability to get a lot of ideas. Steven does struggle with creating sentences and appears to lack confidence in his own ideas. Excellent attention to detail. Using measurement tests is common in IEP goals for reading. The information you include will be the stepping stone for the rest of the IEP. A strengths-based IEP often boils down to a shift in mindset. : PRESENT LEVEL OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS (Description of Child Section of IEP) Strengths/Current Status section: This section describes how the student is presently performing in the classroom and is written in objective, measurable terms. You can look at these typical IEP goals for reading to get a sense of what your child's goals may look like. Other student strengths can include being a good listener, team worker and leader. Something that often takes many hits for a child with learning and attention issues. A strengths-based IEP uses student abilities to help work on weaknesses. Really, it is a collaboration for all areas because whether its pre-vocational, whether its social-emotional, whether its math, whether its reading, its not just going to be one person who has information on that. This toolbox describes additional resources related to the information presented on this page. Ability to accept and learn from mistakes. Page 4: Procedural Requirements: Guidelines & Common Errors, Page 7: Challenging, Ambitious, Measurable Annual Goals, Page 8: Individualized Services & Supports, Page 9: Monitoring & Reporting Student Progress, Page 10: Substantive Requirements: Common Errors, Page 11: References & Additional Resources, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, Information on the students current academic and/or functional needs, An explanation of how the disability affects the students involvement and progress in the general education curriculum, Baseline data for monitoring student progress, Bridge between the PLAAFP statement and an annual goal. PLEP: present levels of educational performance, PLAAFP: present levels of academic achievement and functional performance. The skills a good student brings to the work table usually include creativity, organization and problem-solving. IEP goals are built around what the student can do and how the team can use those abilities. Steven has neatly written up to 10 simple sentences each week with few mistakes. He needs to improve his skills in subtraction and using strategies to assist him in solving equations. Concerns/Needs: Chris needs to improve reading skills in fluency and comprehension. K is a 9-year-old, 4th-grade student who is eligible for special education services under the category of Specific Learning Disability. Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) Statements. Although showing progress and putting in a great deal of effort, it is difficult for Chris to keep up with his peers in math. Academic Standard:Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. # + [ + R [ [ @ R R R F [ [ ) R ) R R V % @ [ [ %p,Q o : e $ V 0 q x x$ R x$ R [ ! Read grade-level prose and poetry orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression on successive readings. Engaging and Exciting. TWO blankies!" Ouch. Check the appropriate items in each category and bring forward to your IEP meeting or for a parent/teacher meeting. These list items are grouped into six different categories: Attitude, Academic Skills, Executive Function Skills, Social Skills, Motor Skills, and Sensory Processing Skills. Reading comprehension. Steven currently participates in a Resource Independent Living Math class. This category can encompass any type of team or . Many of them have kids who learn and think differently. Write a statement documenting the ways your childs strengths can help him learn and overcome his weaknesses. SO, with those Present Level of Performance Examples, practice writing a Present Level of Performance statement for your child. While he should continue to work on his sentences writing, Steven will need to vary the types of sentences he writes and continue to work on the format for a basic paragraph. 50 Examples of Strengths and Weaknesses for a Job Interview [List] That's why we have decided to give you something more: Every strength and weakness comes with a brief explanation clarifying the meaning of the term. Academic Standard:Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. Procrastination plagues every student's academic career. Her writing composite is at the 69th percentile. She has been employed there for four months approximately 15 hours per week. Strengths-based IEPs arent widely used yet. For children in EIP or ECSE programs the PLAAFP must address how their disability impacts their participation in age appropriate activities. The new term highlights the need for special education to address all of a students needs. Furthermore, for a more comprehensive assessment the manual also provides details about subtests from other batteries that can be combined with the WRMT-T/NU battery if additional information is . Its important for IEP goals to be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results-oriented and Time-bound). Steven is hard working and participates in class. Therefore, writing out your own Present Level of Performance Examples for your child will help you find the best ways to provide your child with a positive educational experience! Her visual memory and visual processing scores are above average, so she learns easily through pictures and images. IEP goals should reflect state academic standards, and they should be SMART and strengths-based.