STRENGTHS
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The IEP meeting should always
start on a positive note - discussing your child's
strengths. Staffing teams sometimes refer to this as
"Current Level of Functioning" or "Current Level of
Achievement." In any case, your opinions of your child's
strengths are important.
In order for a child to be
appropriately served by Special Education Services, each
child must be viewed as a "whole child," with gifts,
talents, and abilities. Focus on the positive, not simply
the negative (deficits). A child's strengths should be a
part of any IEP and these strengths should be drawn upon
when developing goals and objectives.
Strengths should be
identified in all five areas described an page 1. In
addition, strengths should not be limited to only academics
and/or physical abilities. They can, and should, include
interests, skills, hobbies, personal traits, etc.
Examples:
-
Matt is great at
basketball.
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Dylan is trying
really hard to talk.
-
Benjamin knows how
to use the computer.
-
Emily likes to
play board games with other girls.
-
Nicole can read
4th grade textbooks.
List strengths for (child's
name). Always start each strength with the child's name!
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(Add additional pages, as necessary.)
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