Student-Made IEP Book

I try to get my students as involved as possible in the IEP process as early as I can. One of my students, who is in the 3rd grade, created a book about the IEP process. She became extremely well-informed and has already begun to develop strong advocacy and self-determination skills.

Materials

paper
pencil
crayons and/or colored pencils
binding for book

Procedure

Discuss with the student what an IEP is and what happens at the meeting. Talk to them about what they think they should be working on and what is important to learn. Discuss who works with them and what their different roles are.
Create a page for each step of the process. Have the student do as much of the writing as possible and illustrate each page.
Assemble the pages of the book in a loose-leaf notebook, with spiral binding, or just stapled.
Share the book with classmates, other teachers, and family.
Invite the student to participate in the IEP meeting.

Student Information (con’t.): Language, School, English, Green Gables

*Student Strengths: Music, PE, Writing, Math*; *PE is darkened as she can participate better when it’s not so bright, as she has albinism*

Student strengths — *Student Strengths (con’t.): Reading, Recess, Smart Time, Lunch*

*Curricular adaptations*: *Bar magnifier*, *weekly consultations with teacher, preferential seating, lower blinds on windows*

*Present level of performance: According to the student: subtraction with regrouping, reading big words, writing biographies, building houses in social studies*

*Services*: *General Ed and Vision Services*

Special factors — *Special Factors: Magnifier with glasses and 20/150 is visual acuity*

*Special education information*: *Angel, Meeting Date; Eligibility; Case Manager*

*IEP Team Members*: *VI Teacher, Classroom Teacher, Mom, Principal, Student*

Variations

This can be changed according to the student’s age and abilities. It can be written in braille, audio recorded, done just with drawings or other illustrations, etc.