Miss A IEP Term 1, 2104

Well this year didn't start out too well for Miss A. Within a week we knew she wasn't coping with school and 5 full days. I asked for a meeting and we decided to write up a new IEP. An IEP has been talked about here before but it's called an Individual Education Plan. Some states may have different names for them but they are used for any student needing extra assistance or equipment to complete tasks.

The biggest changes I noticed were the classroom and the kids. The pre-primary which has 4 and 5 year olds have reached their maximum number of 27 per class. Having taught 27 in a pre-primary I know how full on that is and how we try and avoid it. The classroom layout is quite squished and closed off. No open plan layout there are tables and furniture everywhere. A few time when Miss A got upset I couldn't literally find a corner where the 2 of us could sit together. It also means a loud,busy,noisy space. 

So before the meeting I emailed her therapy team talking about our challenges:
loud, busy space
no quiet areas
lots of bumping and moving around
no safe spot for meltdowns
getting tired at the end of the week
focusing on work

At the meeting we had the class teacher, Deputy Principal and learning support coordinator. I talked about the issues we have had so far and what we needed to change. I was surprised how much support the teacher was giving us in particular as that is what we struggled with last year. We agreed on several changes including....

using her weighted vest when writing or needing to concentrate
an ipod with headphones when doing activities that are self directed or needing quiet
keeping up with 5 sensory breaks per day ideally with 1 to leave the room altogether (ie she gets the lunch orders or takes a note to the office)
she uses her own fatter pencil and spring loaded scissors to reduce stress
look into a SPIO suit or adapted chair

At the end of the meeting I was much more positive than some of our meetings last year. The teacher is more open to ideas and doing whatever it takes to make Miss A relaxed. No doubt seeing 2 in class meltdowns in the first week has helped. She got to see how bad things can be if the situation isn't managed.

After a week of changes things have settled down. The music in particular is a favourite and it stays at school so it is only seen as a "therapy" tool. Miss A is calmer at the end of the day and we have reduced meltdowns. She still doesn't look forward to school though and I hope as she relaxes and realizes it's not as stressful as before that too will change.