Teacher Reflection on Student Lead IEPs
As a teacher I am always looking for ways to better meet the needs of my students. I have found that the best way to meet my student’s needs is to ask and then listen. I know this seems like a simple solution, but sometimes in a teacher’s busy work life IEP meetings can become rushed and we have a hard time stopping and listening. Over the past couple years the program in which I work has moved towards student directed IEPs and its impact is hard to put into words. We have had varying levels of success and at times it has seemed simpler to go back to adults leading the IEPs. However, since we implemented student directed IEPs our meetings have become much more student-centric. A simple change in who is running has changed the programs we are developing and students are having better outcomes and educational experiences.