The Intentional IEP: A Team Approach to Better Outcomes for Students and Their Families

Learn how to put together IEPs with the power to make a real difference for students

The Intentional IEP shows special education teachers how to successfully collaborate with all stakeholders--parents or guardians, general ed teachers, therapists, and beyond--to work toward students' success. Too many of us aren't trained to write the Individualized Education Programs that help millions of students with thrive in school. This book fills that training gap, explaining the importance of assembling an IEP team and inviting this team to confront and improve its current processes and habits to make IEP writing simpler and more effective.

With all the pressures that educators are under, it's easy to cut corners when it comes time towrite IEPs. Writing them in isolation, leaving them to the night before, making decisions without consulting data and research, letting family collaboration fall to the wayside--most special educators have made these mistakes at some point. The Intentional IEP equips you with the resources you need to feel confident in approaching IEPs the right way, including prioritizing the many competing demands you face so you can find the capacity to show up for your students. This book offers:

• Clear, step-by-step solutions for all IEP members that can easily be implemented at any time during the school year
• Collaboration strategies for IEP teammates to rely on one another for expert and professional knowledge
• Tools and reproducibles to strengthen practices and overcome common hurdles
• Direct advice from a veteran special education teacher who has seen what a difference collaboration in the IEP can make for students

The Intentional IEP is a timely resource for special education teachers, general education teachers, and support staff, as well as teachertraining programs. Parents and guardians with students will also benefit from this clearly written guide to the IEP.