PreK/Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School. The list of student strengths for IEP writing can be endless! This student's schedule is being modified to add in additional tutoring sessions. Julie Rawe is the special projects editor at Understood. These areas of strength are part of the students environment, and impact overall functional performance of the student. Bringing in the family or community broadens the lens to what outside supports the student has. Abilities Coding Collaboration Consensus Building Education IT Skills Language Leadership Learning Listening Prioritization Public Speaking Research Self-Discipline Strengths Study Skills Talents Time Management Visual Communication Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Check out this guide to see the top 13 student strengths and student weaknesses contributing to academic success! And, in color! Get the latest tools and resources Thanks, Alexa! A strengths-based IEP uses student abilities to help work on weaknesses. Jenny actively participates in class discussions and engages well in peer-to-peer workgroups. This blueprint, however, tends to fall short in considering a students strengths and competencies, and more often than not focuses on what a student cannot do. The stigma often felt by students with exceptionalities, along with the inference that these students are less-than, is further exacerbated through a traditional IEP, which is rooted in a deficit-based framework. Student strengths can be identified by observing the different types of activities they participate in and their level of interest. This kind of IEP gives much more weight to a students strengths, interests and preferences. Strengths-based IEPs aim to start with a strength for each of the skill sets discussed in this section. Given fourth-grade level (4.0) reading material, Nura will write three details from the passage in her own words with 85% accuracy on three out of four consecutive assignments. All Rights Reserved. The teacher can use this form to assess what the child's strengths and deficits are during social behaviors during the school day. Student success is paramount in todays competitive academic landscape. Being easily distracted means that you can find it hard to focus on the task at hand. What are the strengths that make the student academically successful? Finally, students may find that understanding and leveraging their strengths and weaknesses can help them to develop better study habits, manage time more efficiently and become more successful in their academic pursuits. Elana will use her skills with a times table to help transition by May 15 to knowing from memory all products of two one-digit numbers with 90% accuracy in four out of five tries. This student will receive 60 minute tutoring sessions three days a week before school. Is not a superficial look at strengths.Strengths & abilities are thoughtfully integrated into IEP goals & objectives. Manage Settings "Statements that focus on the student's weakness often result in IEPs of low or no expectations. Lying is what I did to survive. Copyright 2023 Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc. pursue an inclusive education for their child, from preschool to high school and beyond, collaborate with educators on their childs IEP, promote their childs access to the general curriculum, support their child as he or she develops friendships. Its the ability to recall knowledge and use it appropriately. Tip - The list below is by no means all-inclusive. Given fourth-grade level (4.0) reading material on nonfiction topics, Nura will deploy her love of learning and her interest in science and history to write three details from the passage in her own words with 85% accuracy on three out of four consecutive assignments. Though people may value different strengths to different extents, in general, parents and educators across cultures value these qualities and try to cultivate them in children and youth. But again, we often go into IEP meetings with the mindset that the school is going to tell us no and we forget to address strengths or assets. Participates in discussions at home, at school, and with friends; non-speakers can follow along with discussions, Tells stories that have a clear beginning, middle, and end, Uses lots of words and likes learning new words, Can answer who, what, when, where, why, and how questions in conversation (or about a story), Understands the structure of sounds; can do tasks like rhyme, Can remember details and retell stories after reading them, Can make predictions based on whats happened so far in a story, Reads with expression, like the way an actor talks on TV shows, Makes connections between reading material and personal experiences, Ability to focus and concentrate for extended periods, Good listening skills and processing skills. endstream endobj startxref In his classroom behavior, he demonstrates responsibility by coming prepared to class with materials ready to learn. Taking a look at specific student strengths in the classroom is a great place to start. Recognizing these strengths in students is key to helping them reach their full potential. Always seek parental and general education teacher input before choosing which strengths to highlight the student. __________ is a hard worker in class. Both of these areas should always be shared with the student as well. (Gratitude for Tweens and Teens Lesson 1), Students reach out to trusted adults to ask what they think are students strengths and talents. Traditional IEP goal: Mike will complete his history chapter notes on time and with 85 percent accuracy in three out of four consecutive assignments. There are many different types of student strengths, and each student may have their own unique combination of strengths. Examine each statement for subjective language, and aim to shift to more objective language. Student strengths such as "helps partner with school work," "remembers to raise hand in class," and "tries to stay on task" are student strengths that can be observed and measured. Kidding aside, any recent gains should be included in the strengths section of the IEP, in addition to the positive qualities they have always possessed. Its important for IEP goals to be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results-oriented and Time-bound). __ Deals with anger, insults, and disagreements peacefully. It also tells the kids about their own abilities. All information on The OT Toolbox Website, its content of all types, including newsletter and social media is presented as informational only and is not a replacement for therapy assessment, diagnosis, intervention, or medical advice. List the conditions in which the student may excel (e.g., time of day, content area, seating placement), and build upon these conditions throughout the school day to provide scaffolding for areas of weakness. Student strength lists can help! It is important to identify these weaknesses and work with the student to develop strategies to address them. 511 0 obj <>stream Emotional strengths: These include a students. 481 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<67C5935B9099344ABEDAEEEBF4E20F8C>]/Index[447 65]/Info 446 0 R/Length 154/Prev 193707/Root 448 0 R/Size 512/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream There will be an overlap here with social skills and social-emotional. In a typical IEP meeting, not much time is given to looking at a childs strengths. But if you look for student strengths, you get these options. Here we are covering more on student strengths for IEP writing, which is an area of the students Individualized Education Plan that should never be overlooked. Write it down! Helping students identify and leverage their strengths, interests and preferences can lead to more self-awareness and self-advocacy. Student strengths in the classroom are important to understanding the student as a whole! These helpful sentence starters can be best used with the assistance of the student and parents. !3 K>q@Uu 2} 0 And sometimes, during a meeting, were put on the spot. From student work habits (work independently) to academics (reading comprehension), every area of a child's development can be highlighted using this easy to use, step-by-step guide. Admittedly, we all look for people of strong characterin our spouses, friends, employers, and so on. Im not comfortable using it with IEP students, and heres why. Do you want to dive deeper into the science behind our GGIE practices? When writing a profile of the student's strengths, think about the child as a whole. But more and more schools are shifting the focus from deficits to a strengths-based approach. Many teachers, especially new ones, find it challenging to, IEP writing strengths and weaknesses examples. Older students are more likely to participate in or lead more parts of the IEP meeting. However, by being determined to succeed you can stop small setbacks from impacting your ability to achieve over the long term. Adjusting these templates can help ensure that strengths are discussed throughout the IEP meeting, not just in the first section. THANK YOU for focusing the conversation on strengths and needs vs. weaknesses and deficits!!!! Processing speed: A child with fast processing speed is often able to quickly understand, complete tasks, and remember new information. This can be an issue because it can take away from learning opportunities for others. During an IEP meeting, focus on the strengths during the profile portion. Greater Good in Education. Name the goals and strategies you will use to improve the person's communication. It can support carryover of goal areas, as well as encourage meaningful participation. Its truegetting stuck on a students challenges can make it tough to move forward with an effective IEP that meets his or her needs. Examples include being well-liked, cooperative, a problem solver, making friends easily, socializing at appropriate times during the day, having a friend pool to draw from for support, and communicating with others well. endstream endobj 448 0 obj <. Sam has a strong character, is eager to learn, and is curious about a new subject. One of the things that I've /really/ tried to emphasize as a Special Ed teacher is that we're trying to capitalize on a student's strengths to address their needs/areas for growth. 2. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Copyright 2023 My Strengths and Weaknesses | All Rights Reserved | |, What Are Your Weaknesses? Highlight strengths for : Social skills. Students can also help the team think about how to use these strengths to develop strategies for success. Though people may value different strengths to different extents, in general, parents and educators across cultures value these qualities and try to cultivate them in children and youth. Strengths are covered at the beginning of the meeting, and the rest of the time is focused on deficits. Todays post highlights solutions to four of these common barriers. You can also learn more about how to develop SMART IEP goals, and then help steer the IEP team to include strengths in at least a few of your childs goals. Social strengths: These include a students ability to communicate effectively (even if the communication is not verbal), work well in groups, and build positive relationships with peers and teachers. To create a caring learning community where teachers and parents are partners and the strengths and competencies of students are celebrated, a strengths-based framework for curriculum, instruction, assessment, and evaluation is key. ), creativity, writing, critical thinking, study skills, problem-solving, and reading. IEP goals are built around what the student can do and how the team can use those abilities. For example, a student's academic excellence may make her a strong reader, but it might not be something that is of importance to her. It looks at what students can do, what the team wants them to do next, and how strengths might be used to set goals to help address a particular need. Student-led IEPs also underscore the importance of self-awareness. A teacher once remarked, It is clearly beyond time for us to value the unique qualities of every individual in our classroom.. Teachers should also seek out feedback from parents and other stakeholders to gain insight into the strengths of each student. Everyone also knows a student's strengths can be leveraged to support self-esteem and growth. When working in the classroom, he will accept help when offered if it is done quietly. Think of their goals and their history. Being disruptive is a weakness that can affect both your progress and the advancement of others. Lean on strategies that are proven to work with the individual student so that specific and contextualized information is included. Is she able to use a calculator? These register items are grouped into six different categories: Attitude, Academic Skills, Executive Operate Skills, Social Key, Car Skills, press Sensory Data Special. Joint and Divided attention: A child who is able to divide their attention is able to focus on two tasks at the same time. By focusing on what the student can do, and then using those strengths to set goals to help address a particular need, teachers provide students with greater opportunities for academic success; they build resilience and a growth mindset; and finally, self-esteem, self-determination, and self-efficacy are fostered. Each goal should be tied to a specific state academic standard for reading. The dictionary definition of weakness is: a quality or feature regarded as adisadvantageor fault; plural noun:weaknesses. Strengths-based ieps allow teachers and parents to identify student strengths and use them as a tool for success. Working Memory Skills: Working memory is for both long-term and short-term memory. Positive examples. Understood is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization (tax identification number 83-2365235). Strategies to encourage and help students practice honesty. You know that your child has strengths, or your student has strengths. (Though literal shouting in an IEP meeting may be frowned upon.). Well, no more! Creating a positive environment and developing good habits can also help students overcome their weaknesses and achieve success. Maybe they are a great helper in the classroom, a friend to all, or have a stand-out-talent in music class. Learners' strengths can be very diverse based on the specific situation. A team can also add strengths to an IEP by area or discipline. Student struggles are not ignoredrather, they are reframed with a strengths-based lens for actionable IEP goals addressing specific student performance expectations. This is when the team discusses a students strengths, interests and preferences. Reading and writing Tell us what interests you See your recommendations Student strengths and needs, including linguistic, content, educational, and cultural, have their roots in these backgrounds. Research with young people has found that character strengths relate to multiple aspects of well-being, including happiness, mental/emotional health, social relationships, and academic achievement. A strengths-based approach is a pathway to increasing parent-school partnerships because it shows parents that their child's teachers believe in their child's potential, and students begin to understand that they are capable and valuable contributors at school and in life. Students brainstorm ideas for coping with anger as a first step to forgiveness. Inspire students to practice intellectual humility by introducing them to what intellectual humility is, what it looks like, and why it is valuable. Her/His __________ skills are a strength, as are her/his __________ skills. It's easy to let the IEP process become a deficit-driven conversation. When working towards an IEP goal, she has a growth mindset and perceivers through challenges. 4. Give students a leadership role in IEP meetings. A strengths-based approach is a pathway to increasing parent-school partnerships because it shows parents that their childs teachers believe in their childs potential, and students begin to understand that they are capable and valuable contributors at school and in life. __________ is best at __________ has an amazing ability to, __________ always takes pride in his/her work when __________ is frequently recognized for __________ participates the most when __________ does this better than any other student, __________ is highly motivated by __________ is highly interested in. This list of student strengths and weaknesses for IEP contains a wide variety of examples. We believe that adopting strength-based IEP writing practices is vital to reconstructing students with disabilities as capable contributors to their inclusive classrooms. willingness to forgive and give people second chances, Persistent in reaching his desired outcome, He has an excellent memory and excels in completing tasks when given clear lists or flowcharts, Is curious about the world around him/her, Fun fashion sense as a means of expression, Sensory/tactile learner, multi-sensory learner, Eager to learn when refocused consistently, When regulated M is a sweet considerate child, Thinks out-of-the-box to find unconventional and creative solutions, exercises great emotional restraint when pushed to his limits, Is empathetic toward the needs of others even if he cannot express, Consistently processes information and responds, even though it is a delayed response, ability to verbalize when he is upset or dysregulated, may appear disinterested in class or not paying attention, but when questioned can regurgitate back the information that was just presented, May be impulsive, but once regulated can usually identify the situation and trigger with great accuracy, Can solve equations in his head, but may show frustration at having to show work, Can adapt to changes in daily schedule with proper warning and notification and explanation, strong desire to do well and please others, is able to set realistic, achievable goals for herself, Is able to and will ask for help when needed, will raise a hand and wait patiently to be called on, recognizes and respects the personal space of others, can do 4/5/6 volleys in a 2-way conversation, can verbalize when being teased/bullied and respond appropriately, will accept unsolicited adult assistance/help without resistance, Learns material best when moving around, gross motor movement, Likes to ride his/her bike, skateboard, and/or other self-powered personal vehicles, Likes to exercise and will initiate independently, Can follow instructions/rules for games such as (give examples), participates in (community activity/sports) and elaborate, Is aware and will be safe in the following setting (elaborate) and will respond appropriately, Can act appropriately around a baby or younger child, Enjoys working independently or in groups, is persistent in carrying out assignments or activities, Understands sarcasm, enjoys telling jokes, Possesses a sense of personal responsibility, Has strong opinions about controversial topics and is able to verbalize them, Marches to the beat of a different drummer, Handles stressful events well (e.g. Whos at the IEP Table? I prettied it up a little if you want to share it:). A student strength list is a tool to be used by an IEP team during the development of student success goals for an iep. Jonah is a 9-year old fourth grade student with average ability, whose achievement testing shows relative strength in reading and weakness in math. Is honest and trustworthy (already addressed this above), Is caring, kind, and empathetic (its very rare to find a child who truly does not care or empathize with others; they often lack the traditional ways to show it), Helps others (do they have the skill sets to help others, to explain things, and be of assistance? This adapted example from Frontline Education illustrates how a shift from subjective to objective language gives more specific and useful information: Andi frequently misbehaves is better written as When frustrated, Andi may leave their seat and pace at the back of the classroom.. Being determined is a valuable strength for students because School can often be challenging both socially and academically., especially in classes that are not our favorite. Use this framework to help guide the writing process: __________ has a strong character, is _______________, and is _______________. In one study, for young children (ages 3-9), the strengths of love, hope, and zest were particularly, Adolescents who participated in character strength-based, Studies have shown that certain character strengths are associated with, Other-directed strengths such as kindness and teamwork predict, Other-directed strengths such as kindness, teamwork, and social-emotional intelligence are associated with better, Character strengths seem to help students adjust to school, from the beginning of, Various strengths relate to academic achievement across ages, from. I just needed better coping mechanisms, which no one taught me. (Purpose Challenge Practice #1). Helping students identify and leverage their strengths, interests and preferences can lead to more self-awareness and self-advocacy. The idea of desirable character traits has existed since ancient times, but research on them is more recent, spurred by the rise of positive psychologya movement that endeavors to use the tools of psychology not only to identify and fix problems, but also to recognize and foster positive qualities and flourishing. Student IEPs. To be successful in academics, it is important to develop good study habits such as keeping up with classes, reading textbooks, taking notes during lectures, organizing material for review purposes, and working on our weaknesses as a student. I hope that this student strengths for iep examples guide has been helpful. Moreover, shifting to a more balanced, holistic perspective that leans on a students strengths to improve areas of weakness provides an authentic opportunity for students to develop their self-advocacy skills, self-confidence, and independence as learners. Hopefully, I have covered all of these areas and categories. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. There is also a space to list the students strengths and weaknesses and related services as well Subjects: Special Education Grades: Not Grade Specific Types: Classroom Forms $1.25 4.9 (3) Word Document File Add to cart Wish List Student Led IEP: Parent Participation Created by Principal's Decree Research on character strengths in both adults and youth tends to use the Values in Action (VIA) Classification, a framework that identifies 24 character strengths, which are often organized under six core virtues. Some of the other online resources that youve found, similar to this list of child strength examples, may include Character Strengths in a child. Make your narratives shine with a student strength lists guide! . Being cooperative means working well with others, both your peers and your superiors. Falvey notes, Statements that focus on the students weakness often result in IEPs of low or no expectations. ), Shows loyalty (I dont even know what this means, for students, loyal? Both of these questions lead to academic and behavioral success in the classroom. Does she prefer to work in groups? It can also give kids a sense of ownership when they get to help make decisions about their IEP. When adding your student strengths in an IEP, a team should approach this much like any other section of the IEP. An outside hobby, sport or group can be integral to the students school success. Copyright 2014-2023 Understood For All Inc. hands-on activity to help identify your childs strengths, questions about having your child attend IEP meetings, Working With Schools online community group. Thanks again for your support! Others may prefer quieter activities such as reading or playing board games with friends. Here are some other character strengths that I found on another site, and my commentary behind them. This is an area of the IEP that needs more focus and attention. Strengths-based ieps allow teachers and parents to identify student strengths and use them as a tool for success. Having a supportive family and community will absolutely affect student growth. Additionally, some students may have difficulty following instructions or staying focused during group activities. In some sections, IDEA lists the strengths of the child as the first item. Additionally, developing a good support system of friends, family or mentors can be helpful in helping students identify areas of improvement and commit to working on them. %PDF-1.6 % Weave strengths into IEP goals. Remember so these are just examples, and your child's strong and weaknesses may be distinct. As I state in that article, I was a liar as a child. Starting with character strengths begins to paint a picture of how the student positively impacts the learning environment. Schools have been focused for many years on areas of need because thats what qualifies kids for IEPs. Can she work independently? But, it was not because I am of low moral character. Sam will learn the class vocabulary words with 90% accuracy in three out of four weekly opportunities. Maybe they are as sweet as can be? We're so glad this post was helpful and resonated with you. Teachers can use a variety of strategies to identify and develop student strengths, such as observation, testing, interviews or surveys. really? Yes, looking at the schedule modification section of the IEP, it states that the student requires a longer day and a longer year. Teachers will foster students moral identity through selective use of language in the classroom. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. It also gives any new coming team members some ideas of what motivates the student. Basics of Strength-Based IEPs An approach & mindset that uses a students abilities to help work on weaknesses as well as utilizing a students strengths. The teacher can use this form to assess what the child's strengths and deficits are during social behaviors during the school day. But IEP teams can reframe the strengths discussion so it focuses on abilities: What does Elana do well?. Develop students intellectual humility by helping them to ask questions while thoughtfully evaluating evidence. The paragraphs in the IEPs present level of performance are likely to be the first things new teachers read about your child. This is the complete list of articles we have written about academic weaknesses. (You can also try a fun hands-on activity to help identify your childs strengths.). Child Strengths and Weaknesses Examples, Social Skills and Social-Emotional Strengths, Executive Functioning and Processing Strengths, children who chronically lie or are liars, Advertise with Us | Newsletter Sponsorships, Understanding IDEA and Your Parental Rights, Disability Acceptance, Advocacy and Activism, Section 504 Plans and 504 Plan Accommodations. His positive work habits show that he follows rules and routines, can ignore distractions, and is a self starter in classroom activities. Student strengths are the qualities, talents or capabilities that a student has. ), Works hard (IEP/504 students are some of the most hardworking students ever; they have to work twice as hard to get half as far; are you judging them based on the progress theyve made, and is that really fair? Joint attention is the ability to attend to what youre told, with another person. It helps kids see how to make progress by leveraging what theyre good at. Its time for the language used in PLAAFPs and IEPs/ISPs to reflect this understanding. Use this inventory to create a personal connection to learning and to create choice for students. Plus the snippet from IDEA about a child's strengths. Accessibility | Nondiscrimination | Privacy | Terms & Conditions | Credits, Develop students intellectual humility through concept mapping, PreK/Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, College.
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