Mock IEP

This week in class we held mock IEP meetings. An IEP is an individualized education plan to help with children that have any special needs. A team meets together to discuss needs and concerns dealing with a particular child. A team consists of the general education teacher, special education teacher, parent(s), school psychologist, local educational administrator, social worker, and any others that might be needed such as a speech and language pathologist. This team collaborates together to figure out the best plan to ensure a proper and appropriate education for the child. In my class team, we each took on a role to act out during our mock IEP meeting. It was a perfect way to help us better understand what should take place during those meetings. We learned a lot of how imperative it is to work together as a group to decided placement, goals, and plans for the child’s education. We learned how vital it is that a parent is present to help those in the team to better understand their child and hear their concerns and requests. This assignment really helped me to realize the importance of having an entire team to be advocates for one child. I believe this helps to ensure that the best approach is being implemented instead of a hasty life altering decision made by a single individual. While I do not believe the teams are perfect, I do believe they have the best interest of the child in mind. I am grateful for this experience and believe it helped me to understand how important it is to always place a child's needs first.