The Development of an IEP

For cluster 4 one of the active learning connections at the end of the cluster asked me to do a web search on IEP's and a particular area of study. I chose to focus on IEP development in NY state, since I will hopefully be a future teacher in New York.

As you all are probably aware this is what the Individualized Education Plan for NY looks like. During my time at the Mount I have only completed an IEP once during my behavior management class. It was an interesting experience to say the least. Since I had no prior knowledge of filling out an IEP I made sure to pay special attention during the class instruction. "The IEP is an agreement between the parents and the school about the services that will be provided to the student" (Woolfolk, 2014, p. 148). It was an interesting webquest on the topic. Most of the websites I cam across were from a education department but also IEP Direct which uses software so teachers can input the IEP electronically with more ease. IEP Direct has a library of accommodations and goals  already in the system so teachers and teams just need to go to a pull-down tab. While this seems like a great idea, I feel it can take the importance out of writing this document. An IEP is meant to accommodate a students needs in the classroom so it should be completed with the same amount of car as teacher puts into their lesson plans. As long as the professionals completing the IEP have the students best interest at heart then the development will go smoothly.

I know a teachers day is already short in regards to free time. There is a lot of expectations put on teachers and most teachers take their work home with them. The work week does not end when that bell rings on Friday at 3:30 pm. Here is an article I found on Facebook about a teachers summer time off. It has nothing to do with this blog but I felt it was an interesting read.

References 

Goodman, L. (2015, January 19). Why Teachers Deserve the Summers Off. Retrieved from

        http://boilsdown.com/2015/01/19/why-teachers-deserve-their-summers-off/

Woolfolk, A. (12th Ed). Educational Psychology: Active Learning Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson               Learning Inc.