She is ahead of her peers in science and social studies, as well as in writing and reading. Both of the Kansas SDE documents above explain each of the elements within a high-quality PLAAFP statement. But more and more schools are shifting the focus from deficits to a strengths-based approach. Student involvement in IEP meetings can deepen the discussion about strengths. Growth Mindset Examples of Student Weaknesses 1. The key word is individual. That way, you can write the best PLOP statement possible. 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. This sample IEP goal measures comprehension with a variety of research-based reading tests, like the DRA, QRI-5, and Star. You see this all the time with standardized tests that a. In order for student strengths to be effective in developing an iep, they must relate specifically and uniquely to each student. When thinking of your child, consider all aspects your child's development. Several examples of IEP goals that include specific strategies and Universal Design follow: "Trevor will edit his writing for a project/topic of choice" using text-to-speech, spell check, and an editing checklist." "Using audio books, Natalie will answer inferential questions about novels that she selects from a pre-approved reading . 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. Chris needs to increase written language skills in the area of spelling and needs to expand his written language skills beyond simple sentences to paragraph writing. But all IEP goals for reading share some common features: Below are sample IEP goals associated with six reading skills. Problem-solving skills. And these insights can be a guiding force throughout the IEP meeting. Jenny is helpful in class and eager to learn new concepts. This kind of IEP gives much more weight to a students strengths, interests and preferences. Exceptional Education Teacher, /wp-content/uploads/module_media/iep01_media/audio/iep01_p06_mclean.mp3. All rights reserved. An IEP team can use student strengths to develop student success goals within the student's iep. What This Means:This sample IEP goal aims for a child to use strategies to figure out the meaning of unknown words or phrases. When choosing student strengths, pick student strengths that are easily observable and measurable. The academic strength in this example is the ability to do math; the academic weakness is the inability to do history. Although Steven takes a little longer to process things than his peers, he always works hard and tries his best in class. What This Means:This sample IEP goal aims to have a child read quickly and accurately by the end of the year. She is a student wit a mild cognitive disability, who receives services in the resource room in reading/language arts and math for 36% of her school day. Creative thinking abilities. What makes student strengths effective is their ability to be targeted for goal setting. Involving students in IEP meetings can help the team think about ways to develop strengths and work on weaknesses. Thank you for reading! The 4th-grade fall benchmark is 95 wpm on a 4th-grade reading probe. These kinds of student self-assessments can help IEP teams develop a strengths-based IEP. This questionnaire is applicable to students ages 4-17. These observational checklists will help you determine where your child's/student's strengths and weaknesses are. Any of the areas listed can be strengths or weaknesses. There should be a direct relationship between the present levels of performance and the other components of the IEP. # + [ + R [ [ @ R R R F [ [ ) R ) R R V % @ [ [ %p,Q o : e $ V 0 q x x$ R x$ R [ ! The assessment can be done by such methods as tests, interviews, or observations. From student work habits (work independently) to academics (reading comprehension), every area of a child's development can be highlighted using this easy to use, step-by-step guide. Starting with character strengths begins to paint a picture of how the student positively impacts the learning environment. If you're looking for more ideas on student success goals, be sure to check out our IEP goal bank. Steven does struggle with creating sentences and appears to lack confidence in his own ideas. His/her positive work habits show that he/she _______________, can _______________, and _______________. IEP goals are based upon your child's present levels. 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 skill is important for reading comprehension.) Use data to document your childs present level of performance. 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 plagues every student's academic career. The class is currently working on place value and will be moving into, adding money and making change, telling time, reading and creating simple graphs and some simple measurement to the 1/2 inch. 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. Flexibility. Cules son tus puntos fuertes y tus debilidades? Yes, there is enough information to determine annual goals and/or services and supports. Page modified . Academic strengths are traits and skills that serve students as a strong foundation to excel academically. Its important for IEP goals to be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results-oriented and Time-bound). Is she able to use a calculator? The table below contains portions of one students PLAAFP statement that relate to his reading skills and shows how each element is addressed. 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. She/He enjoys __________ and __________ . Include aspects of the classroom environment which interfere with your childs learning. An additional IEP goal, focusing on strengths, might be built around advancing vocabulary via Learning Ally audiobooks, or a goal working on more advanced technology skills. Someone may consider being on time a positive aspect of their education. He correctly capitalizes and uses appropriate ending punctuation. When working towards an IEP goal, he is curious about new material and is open to new ideas. An IEP is designed to be a "flow-on" document where the issues are identified up-front and the remainder of the document covers methods of dealing with them. This assessment is sometimes abbreviated as PLP or called present level of academic and functional performance (PLAAFP). Many parents encourage kids to attend at least the first part of the IEP meeting. For starters, you can get answers to common questions about having your child attend IEP meetings. In the meantime, you dont have to wait for your childs school to change its IEP template. She found the job on her own and reports that she really does enjoy it but would like to work more hours. Use of this website is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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. Four times out of five, the child must correctly determine the meaning of at least 80 percent of the words or phrases. Understood is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization (tax identification number 83-2365235). This weakness causes individuals to get only "parts" of information that they read or hear, but not the whole. Cognitive Strengths Weaknesses Comments/Notes Speaks articulately After the IEP team has discussed the information above, they can begin to write the PLAAFP statement. Concerns/Needs section: Educational needs are identified as a result of both formal and informal evaluation. It lists several types of syllables. By having a lot of ideas, I could easily understand the reading's topic and I have a lot to write on. Pertinent comments by parents and teachers Comments that could lead to classroom modification/adaptations Progress on goals and objectives as well as any other changes since the last IEP Common Mistakes Including eligibility or placement statements Using jargon or vocabulary that is not easily understood Identifying a need for a service (i.e. Hannah is 9.5 and she a fourth grade student at Martin Elementary. Transition Age: (For all students grade nine or older) The PLAAFP must address the Progress/Participation in General Education Curriculum as well as all five areas of transition: Jobs and Training, Recreation and Leisure, Home Living, Community Participation and Post-Secondary Training. For example, a student's academic excellence may make her a strong reader, but it might not be something that is of importance to her. One is your childs. Very high level of motivation in topics and activities that are of interest. The class has been working on addition and subtraction with and without regrouping. Present Level of Performance Examples: Present Level of Performance Examples #1 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. He seems to be enjoying the classes and is willing to do an activity when asked by the teacher. For preschool children, the part of the statement describing how the disability affects involvement and progress in the general education curriculum is different. 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. Schools have been focused for many years on areas of need because thats what qualifies kids for IEPs. In addition to school-based concerns, Ks parents worry about the effects of his learning disability outside of school. He sometimes gets frustrated when writing and hurries through written work [what hinders learning]. If not, you and your childs case manager can look for a free strengths assessment online. As you read the present level of performance examples, remember documents which show your childs current level of function are worth putting in with the PLOP statement. Middle School: Academic Area: Steven participates in Resource Independent Living Integrated Language Arts class (reading and writing). It is helpful, but not required, to briefly address the students present level in all areas. He keeps his work binders neat and organized. 20 Examples of Academic Strengths. IEP goals are built around what the student can do and how the team can use that ability to work on an area of weakness. That information is outdated by the time a students IEP is ready for an annual review, so school personnel will need to collect data prior to the IEP meeting. He has a strong reading vocabulary [strength]. Unfortunately, thats not the norm for most students yet. Physical abilities (fatigue, sensory issues, etc.). A student with weaknesses in visual, spatial, or sequential aspects of math may. Always seek parental and general education teacher input before choosing which strengths to highlight the student. But only the strengths-based goals use the students abilities and interests to help chart a path to progress. A pattern I've noticed throughout my career is that I often feel I could have done more, even if objectively, I've done well. Communication skills. He is making progress in his goal to read more fluently and to use more expression in reading. Student strengths are more effective when they have specific behaviors that can be seen, heard, or otherwise observed by others. Steven has neatly written up to 10 simple sentences each week with few mistakes. Concerns/Needs: Linda is a good worker, yet still needs reminders to keep her on task. Builds your self-awareness Self-awareness is crucial in a variety of personal and interpersonal settings. Iep Ethics No Response Strength Base Writing Being A Writer In this resource-rich article, teaching coach Elizabeth Stein makes the case for using an assets-based approach to designing accommodations and writing the IEP. Older students are more likely to participate in or lead more parts of the IEP meeting. For example, students can lead the part of the meeting where they share what they discovered about themselves when taking the strengths test. That way, you can write the best PLOP statement possible. 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 I love hearing from my readers and am always happy to help in whatever way I can. The student might use a dictionary or look at other words in the sentence (context clues). Saras mom reports that Sara frequently cries about completing her math homework. Academic Standard:Determine the main idea of a text. My positive attitude is definitely one of my strengths. Weaknesses: Analyzing complex information in a table or chart to draw conclusions about what the data say. Although that student strength might not directly relate to academic success, it may contribute to the student's participation in class. Public speaking. Time Management 10. Leaders embark on a journey to the bank of success. __ short passage and multiple-choice answer options. Embed specific strategies into each particular goal, rather than merely listing the strategies on a separate page The PLAAFP statement serves as the foundation from which all other components of the IEP will be built. He is self-conscious about his reading difficulties and works hard to hide his reading struggles from his classmates. Coding 11. By telling your employer that, you're letting them know you lack self-reflection. For example, if Elana struggles in math, what does she do well in that subject? 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. Strengths tests and self-assessments can help deepen the discussion about strengths. Her visual memory and visual processing scores are above average, so she learns easily through pictures and images. Schools often overlook strengths in favor of disabilities. Creative thinking skills. That same day, my younger son came up to me with two baby blankets, one in each hand, and said, "Look, mommy! Please enable JavaScript on your browser to best view this site. . Find out if your childs school already has access to a strengths finder. Youll also be better able to see what services will support your child in his learning. Concerns/Needs: Steven needs to continue to work on writing sentences, varying the types of sentences and writing basic paragraphs. __________ 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. When a students first IEP is developed, much of the information needed for the PLAAFP is collected in the initial assessment. However, learning strengths are just as important! 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. For example, student strengths such as "spontaneous" and "good listener" may not be as effective for student success goals because they are broad student strengths. This can help kids think about new ways to develop their strengths and work on their weaknesses. This guide walks teachers through the process of writing clear and positive student strengths narratives. But here are some common elements and approaches. Sam has a strong character, is eager to learn, and is curious about a new subject. Do you know your strengths and weaknesses? He demonstrates the following skills both in a 1:1 setting and during small group activities. Weave strengths into IEP goals. Because differences are our greatest strength. 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. Present Levels of Academic Achievement & Functional Performance (PLAAFPs) The results from the evaluation (e.g., standardized tests, progress monitoring data)? He needs to improve his ability to apply using reading 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. Your childs IEP should have goals for each area of weakness in reading skills. Kindness 6. Learn what Homeschooling is REALLY like and Overcome Your FEAR of Homeschooling! Create Your Child's Educational Success Story! Comprehension is improving but it may also be a language problem since he does have Autism. Emphasizing strengths throughout this section as well as weaknesses not only sets a positive tone. 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. Can his strengths enable better learning by using alternative teaching methods? Tailoring the Strengths and Weaknesses Part of the IEP to your Aspie Child. When working towards an IEP goal, she has a growth mindset and perceivers through challenges. Collaborative. This student strength list is a tool for you to use when creating student success goals that the student can accomplish. It is important to document a strength and interest-based learning approach in the student's IEP. In the areas of basic concepts, Billy demonstrates object permanence, cause and effect relationships. Looking collectively at the data from assessments, Hannah has various strengths and weaknesses. __________ is a hard worker in class. Write some Present Level of Performance Examples for your child too. Understood does not provide medical or other professional advice. To do this, IEP teams often need to gather more information. Your child's skills . It is also common to pick a weakness that is minor or that signals a strength. Individual Education Plans (IEPs) are a critical tool in driving achievement and well-being for students with special education needs. Goals should also be SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, results-oriented, and time-bound). 4. Wanting to control too many aspects of a situation. Read grade-level prose and poetry orally with accuracy, appropriate rate, and expression on successive readings. She has not had goals in this area during the past year. Keep it short. Be thorough. He matches shapes from a field of six. 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! A child's strengths, interests and talents can build the foundation for a productive and joyful life. Being detail oriented. In his/her classroom behavior, he/she demonstrates responsibility by _______________. Planning skills. But what does a typical IEP goal for reading look like? 6 Tips for Teachers to Avoid Burnout and Promote a Sustainable Work Life Balance, 5 Game Changing Ways Teachers Can Incorporate Daily Reflective Practices. 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. Strengths-based IEPs are Essential Everyone knows the IEP meeting is taking place because the student has a disability that adversely affects their education. (There is much more- but this is good sampling of information..) Billys classroom performance has improved since he began preschool. Give students a leadership role in IEP meetings. For example, the results of career exploration activities and formal and informal assessments can assist students and parents in identifying the young adult's strengths, weakness, preferences, and interests related to their post-secondary goals. Logical reasoning. Part of the concern of needing reminders could be addressed by encouraging Linda to use a planner to keep track of dates and times she works. As always, if you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to reach out. If you own a seasonal business: For example, if you own a fruit stand, you might benefit from employing a student or two. Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) Statements. She is very polite and overall has a very positive attitude when it comes to school. The following are examples of strengths at work: Hard skills. He participates in small and large groups, with occasional reinforcer/motivators such as M&Ms, Skittles, affection, tickles, and praise. The team not only identifies strengths, but leverages them to help address weaknesses. Incorporating your childs strengths into SMART goals can make the goals even stronger. Different kids can struggle with different skills related to reading like decoding, comprehension,orfluency. But as more schools make strides in student-led IEPs and other areas, they may inspire more districts to rewrite their IEP templates. Here are 10 examples of the best weaknesses to mention in a job interview: 1. Earlier in my career, this led to burnout and negative self-talk. Use this framework to help guide the writing process: __________ has a strong character, is _______________, and is _______________. A well-rounded statement includes several areas of strength with up to three options from each. Sample IEP Goal:By the end of the third quarter, given a grade-level text, the student will support inferences with at least three pieces of text-based evidence with 80% accuracy on two out of three assignments or assessments. 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. However, in a recent writing sample he had difficulty writing complete sentences and was unable to spell a number of sight words. Another strategy for admissions is to pick a weakness that many students struggle with and explain that you are working on it. Check out this guide to see the top 13 student strengths and student weaknesses contributing to academic success! As a result, he actively engages in class discussions and performs well on tasks that require auditory comprehension (e.g., following multi-step directions, answering comprehension questions about class discussions or about passages that are read to him).