Parent Meetings

[stillteaching]

Have any of you been in IEP meetings to inform parents of their child's disability? I have and they have gone so badly at times. I think all the teachers I know are caring and concerned. But, when I have been in these meetings, parents have cried, threatened lawsuits, and seemed to be devestated.

I attended a workshop that was called, "How to Talk to Parents of Special Needs Students". It was TERRIFIC. I can not wait to try out the things I learned there. We discussed the parent's view. We discussed how we thought in contrast to it. It was really hands on and practical. I have had to sit through a lot of those seminars that were so boring and a waste of my time. But, this one was two hours and could easily fit into an early release or an inservice.

The company donated 10 percent of the fees back to my school. In fact to the special ed department. How nice is that?

Has anyone else ever felt that these meetings went badly? Or am I the only one? Let me know, please, what you do to make it less confrontational and to get the parent to not be so overwhelmed and defeated. I would appreciate feedback.

[teachergal]

I sure have been in some tough meetings. I have taught an inclusion classroom for many years so I am well acquainted with the IEP meetings and the responses often displayed. The training you attended with hands-on practical strategies sounds really wonderful. Can you give me some more information? Thanks!

[Unregistered]

As a parent of a child with LD and ADD as well as another child with ADHD, I have been to IEP meetings. Because of my experience as a mother and a teacher I have the unique experience of seeing both sides of the coin. As a parent, the one thing that helped me more than anything was reading "Welcome to Holland". I have used it with other parents because it removes a lot of the frustration and fear that somehow my children are not perfect, but so what - I get to know them for the wonderful people they are and I get to meet a whole new group of people I never would have met if my children had been "normal" (whatever that is).

[Unregistered]

Hello!
I have held many IEP meetings and they have all been positive. I attribute it to the communication that I establish with the parents from the beginning and the professional caring attitude I show concerning their child's education. It helps them to open up and share their concerns and goals for thir children. From there we work as a team. I then communicate via email and or phone as needs arise. I also develop a rapport with the child at school letting them know that I am their advocate and discuss all the ways I can help with tutoring etc. in order for them to be successful. I also have to remember that they are upset when they contact me, not at me but with all the things they have to deal with. If I keep that in mind and keep a concerned voice, and listen to them. They calm down and we can get to work! I hope this helps it has really made a difference for me. It is better to make the connection with the home before things start to go wrong.
I would also like to have the information you learned at your seminar. It sounds like you learned some neat things. The more informed we are the better! My email address is mcclainkl@svsd.net
Teachingly yours






Have any of you been in IEP meetings to inform parents of their child's disability? I have and they have gone so badly at times. I think all the teachers I know are caring and concerned. But, when I have been in these meetings, parents have cried, threatened lawsuits, and seemed to be devestated.

I attended a workshop that was called, "How to Talk to Parents of Special Needs Students". It was TERRIFIC. I can not wait to try out the things I learned there. We discussed the parent's view. We discussed how we thought in contrast to it. It was really hands on and practical. I have had to sit through a lot of those seminars that were so boring and a waste of my time. But, this one was two hours and could easily fit into an early release or an inservice.

The company donated 10 percent of the fees back to my school. In fact to the special ed department. How nice is that?

Has anyone else ever felt that these meetings went badly? Or am I the only one? Let me know, please, what you do to make it less confrontational and to get the parent to not be so overwhelmed and defeated. I would appreciate feedback.

[Unregistered]

Has anyone else ever felt that these meetings went badly? Or am I the only one? Let me know, please, what you do to make it less confrontational and to get the parent to not be so overwhelmed and defeated. I would appreciate feedback.
_________________________________________
If parents cry or feel devasted, it is usually a temporary reaction. Sometimes the parents have struggled with the same concerns as students, but no one validated them. Now that their child is recognized as having strengths and can get help for weaker areas....many parents feel relieved. Often parents feel as if they failed their child. We can bridge that easily by listening and affirming them in what they are doing well.

I focus on using learning differnces rather than disabilities. I explain that due to NJ Law certain services are only available to classified children. If they did not need the services they would be succeeding. our goal is to help the child siucceed.

A critical point is TUNE into their feelings and ASK questions. Can you tell me why this is so upsetting to you? What are your concerns? Often this opens the door to the underlying issue, and the mood shifts.

Why would they threaten a lawsuit if you are trying to help their child?
There seems to be a disconnect. If the evaluation was done to help how
did the confernce go wrong? Perhaps you are talking about Annual Meetings where less services or a different placement is warranted/presented. Sometimes we have to proceed more slowly...also always focus on the strengths or relative strengths.

[Unregistered]

Last night we had an ESL IST meeting for the parents to prepare for further testing. We had established a relationship with the parents before so this meeting after a thirty-day intervention went well. However, many of the documents and explanations were too difficult to communicate in English so prior to the meeting we had the documents translated into their native language. This made the parents more than comfortable and with this established ease, the conference went well and was over in record time!