IPPs
In class today we discussed the process of creating an effective individualized program plan. The process is long but when looking at the elements it is clear to see that they all play a role in ensuring that the student experiences a high degree of success through out the school year. As a means to help me to better understand the elements and the process of creating the IPP I will use this blog to briefly list and describe the components.



1. Specialized assessment data: This information is usually collected by a trained psychologist and relates to diagnoses and identification. It helps to determine if the child meets the criteria to be coded.


2. Current level of performance and achievement: gives a general sense of where the child is at. The information source is the assessment that we as teachers give using standardized tests.


3. Identification of strengths and areas of need: The strengths that are identified can be used to help the student reach the goals that are set. There are three kinds of strengths and needs, cognitive, social, physical. These strengths and weaknesses can be found out from the parents because they know their child best.


4. Measurable goals and objectives: The central component of the IPP. Goals are year long and objectives breack down the goal into smaller pieces. It is important to ensure that the goals are SMART and to use ACT How objectives.


5. Procedures for evaluating progress related to goals: The methods that assess whether or not the goals and objectives are being met.



6. Identification of coordinated support services: This section identifies the people involved with the IPP team. These people could include the classroom teacher, the parents, teacher's assistant, psychologist, nurse or anyone else involved in creating and carrying out the goals in the IPP process.



7. Medical Information: It is important to remember that medical information should only be included if it is pertinent to the child's learning needs.



8. Classroom Accomodations: This section discusses how we as teachers will alter the activities that we do in the classroom to make them better fit the needs of the student. There are two types of accomodations and they are environmental and instructional. Environmental accomodations are related to physical things in the classroom, whereas instructional accomodations are related to the way that we teach and present the material in the classroom.



9. Planning for Transition: This section includes information regarding the child's move from one grade to another, or from middle school into high school. In this section a plan is created for helping the student to meet the new teachers and find important places such as lockers, washrooms and classrooms in the new school environment. This process will help to ease the child's anxiety over the change.



10. Review of Progress of IPP Goals: It is important to have regular reporting periods in which the progress that the student is making is recorded. These should occur about three to four times throughout the year.



11. Year end Summary: This is filled out at the end of the year by the IPP team and discusses the progress that the student made in all areas of the IPP goals and objectives. In this space recomendations for the following year are also made.



12. Informed Parental Consent: It is important to have an active relationship with the parents, and it is mandated by the school that parents must know all relevant info that is discussed in the IPP. Parents must grant consent for the IPP.