7 Habits of Highly Effective IEP Teams With special thanks to Stephen Covey (author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People)

Habit #1: Be proactive “Taking initiative does not mean being pushy, obnoxious, or aggressive. It does mean recognizing our responsibility to make things happen." Fundamental in our efforts to become proactive members of IEP teams is adopting an attitude that is collaborative, facilitative, and responsible. To be proactive requires a shift in our thinking from a deficit based model of education to a capacity model. Often, goals for IEPs are developed as a result of a label, or something that appears to be 'wrong'--i.e. reacting to a behavior that others do not think is acceptable. Proactive goals and objectives are based on the premise that the entire team is responsible for making things happen. "John will use a transition object such as a computer disc when it is time to go to computer class." The team realizes if John knows in advance it will soon be computer time, and can carry something with him to remind him where he is going, he will be less likely to exhibit challenging behaviors when asked to go to computer class.

What Can You Do to Be Proactive?  Keep information organized in a binder.

What Can You Do to Be Proactive cont’d?  Start preparing weeks in advance. Prior to the IEP

What Can You Do to Be Proactive cont’d?  Do your homework.

What Can You Do to Be Proactive cont’d?  Suggest the use of a common planning format.

What Can You Do to Be Proactive cont’d?  Determine who is to assist your child in preparing for and participating in the IEP.

What Can You Do to Be Proactive cont’d?  Volunteer to distribute and collect the preplanning forms. Even better, suggest to your child that he/she distribute and collect

What Can You Do to Be Proactive cont’d?  Ask that copies of all paperwork be provided to everyone in advance of the meeting.

What Can You Do to Be Proactive cont’d?  Share the recommendations that your are going to make with the IEP team in advance.  Ask what recommendations are likely to be made at the meeting by school personnel

Habit #2: Begin with the end in mind "(This habit)...is based on imagination - the ability to envision, to see the potential, to create with our minds what we cannot at present see with our eyes..." Before developing an IEP, share your dreams for your child. To do this you need to be able to envision a positive future; all the wonderful possibilities we hope for for our children. What are his or her dreams, what are your dreams? Do you have nightmares? Can you talk about them? If you can share them. What are your child’s strengths and needs? Look at the big picture. Do you have hopes for what your child will do after school? Where he or she might live? What kind of job would be fulfilling? It is a mistake to look just at the small picture instead of determining what the end of the journey will look like. Once that picture is clear, it makes it makes sense to decide what must be taught in order to get there.

Why do you begin with the end in mind? “…you’ve got to have a dream. If you don’t have a dream, how you gonna talk about dreams come true? If you don’t talk happy and you’ve got no dreams, then you never gonna have a dream come true.” “Happy Talk” South Pacific Oscar Hammerstein II

How do you begin with the end in mind? Write down your dreams, your vision for your child’s future, your goals . Frame it. Share it. Get others to invest in it with you. As your child gets older change the dream/goals to reflect what he or she wants. When you decide upon where it is you are trying to get to, the IEP becomes an individualized roadmap.

Activity: Wide Awake Dreams School dreams Future dreams

Habit #3: Put first things first "Create a clear, mutual understanding of what needs to be accomplished, focusing on what, not how; results not methods. Spend time. Be patient. Visualize the desired result." Prioritize! It is impossible for anyone, in one year's time, to work on everything they would like to learn. Having nine, ten, or more goals and dozens of objectives on an IEP is akin to being set up for failure. What is urgent or most important in the coming year that needs to be addressed on the IEP?

Decide what your priorities are What is a priority? A priority is something or someone that is rated uniquely important based on one's values and goals (dreams).

How do you prioritize? Think about desired outcomes based on your goals or dreams for the future.

How do you prioritize ? 2. Write them down Future Dreams Desired Outcomes this year Important 2/4

How do you prioritize cont’d? 3. Plot them on the chart below Traffic safety Important   Zippering jacket Sorting shapes Not important  Urgent Not urgent

Habit #4: Think win-win "Win-Win is a frame of mind that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions. Win-Win means that agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and satisfying." Consensus building is a key element of effective, collaborative IEP meetings. Reaching consensus indicates that power and control has been shared. Demanding parents or dictating educators do not contribute to win-win solutions. IEP goals and objectives which are too general and not designed for progress lead to a lose-lose situation. How many times have you worked with a student who has the same goals and objectives year after year? Both the student and the teacher are frustrated. Something is wrong with the goal when there is no progress. Be specific in stating the desired results of the objectives, the guidelines for achievement, how accountability will be determined, and when to decide if the goal and/or objective is not appropriate.

How do you negotiate in a win-win way? Paint a person-centered picture of your child. Describe your child’s needs based on the years that you have known your child. Don’t be afraid to share your dreams for your child’s future. Know what you want and what you give on.

How do you negotiate in a win-win way cont’d ? At the meeting begin by thanking people for their efforts on your child’s behalf.

How do you negotiate in a win-win way cont’d ? Keep the focus on what is appropriate for your child. I know we all want what is best for Joey!

How do you negotiate in a win-win way cont’d ? Bring a picture of Suzie if Suzie isn’t present herself.

How do you negotiate in a win-win way cont’d ? Serve refreshments.

How do you negotiate in a win-win way cont’d ? Work to develop a collaborative relationship even before the meeting. Share with your child’s case manager the concerns you will be sharing at the meeting, and the requests you will be making Complete preplanning forms and make sure they get to team members before the meeting

Activity: Characteristics of Collaboration Connected and successful? or Isolated and removed?

Habit #5: Seek first to understand, then to be understood “We typically seek first to be understood. Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. They're either speaking or pre-paring to speak. They're filtering every-thing through their own [experience].” In a truly collaborative IEP process educators will listen to and understand parents; parents will listen to and understand educators. All team members will realize the importance of listening to and understanding the student. The desired outcome is not for everyone to always agree but to understand each team members view point. The power of this type of listening is that it gives the team accurate data with which to work. In order for this to happen, language at meetings must be jargon free. The final product (the IEP document) must be written in language that everyone working with the student can understand.

How do you listen with the goal of understanding? Make eye contact Clear your mind of other things Ask for further explanation if you are unclear on what is being said Specifically ask that jargon and acronyms not be used Bring a friend to take notes for you so that you can be fully present in the discussion

Activity: Active Listening Choose a partner Share information Report back and check for accuracy

Habit #6: Synergize "Synergy works; it's a correct principle. It is the crowning achievement of all the previous habits. It is effectiveness in an interdependent reality-- it is team-work, team building, the develop-ment of unity and creativity with other human beings." Effective IEPs are those that have been developed collaboratively by a transdisciplinary team. There is 'creative cooperation' occurring at each step of the development process. All participants strive to work together, realizing it takes both parents and educators to educate students. It is unlikely that this will occur at one IEP event. The quality of the preplanning for an IEP is of equal value to the official meeting. The time devoted to the preplanning process will differ depending on each individual student.

Activity: Together We Are Better Individually count the number of squares in the following slide When I tell you to get with a partner and compare your numbers Adjust your answer if you want to as a team

Help your team “synergize” Encourage the input of all team members by suggesting that a preplanning process be used Use a round robin approach to encourage participation by all team members Unless there is a really great reason for excusing an IEP team member from the meeting, ask that everyone be present Ask for written contributions in advance if a team member can’t attend

Habit #7: Sharpen the saw "This is the habit of renewal...It circles and embodies all the other habits. It is the habit of continuous improvement... that lifts you to new levels of under-standing and living each of the habits." Celebrations of success are one of the keys to effective IEP teams. These celebrations recognize the achievements we have made. They also energize us to keep on this collaborative journey with a student toward of life of his or her choosing. Take time to snack! Share stories -- funny and serious Offer words of appreciation Acknowledge gifts and talents of all team members Renew commitment to the journey

Practical Tips for Habit #7 Take time to celebrate! Share stories -- funny and serious Offer words of appreciation Acknowledge gifts and talents of all team members Renew commitment to the journey