7 Habits of Highly 7 Habits of Highly Effective IEP TeamsEffective IEP Teams
With special thanks to With special thanks to
Stephen CoveyStephen Covey
(author of (author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective 7 Habits of Highly Effective People)People)
Habit #1: Habit #1: Be Be proactiveproactive
““Taking initiative does not Taking initiative does not mean being pushy, mean being pushy,
obnoxious, or aggressive. It obnoxious, or aggressive. It does mean recognizing our does mean recognizing our
responsibility to make things responsibility to make things happen."happen."
What Can You Do to Be Proactive?
Keep Keep
information information organized organized
in a in a binder.binder.
What Can You Do to Be Proactive cont’d?
Start preparing weeks in advance.Start preparing weeks in advance.
Prior to the IEP
What Can You Do to Be Proactive cont’d?
Suggest the use of a common Suggest the use of a common
planning format.planning format.
What Can You Do to Be Proactive cont’d?
Determine who Determine who is to assist is to assist
your your child in child in preparing preparing for for and and participating in participating in the IEP.the IEP.
What Can You Do to Be Proactive cont’d?
Volunteer to distribute and collect Volunteer to distribute and collect
the preplanning forms.the preplanning forms.
Even better, suggest to your Even better, suggest to your child child
that he/she distribute and collect that he/she distribute and collect
the preplanning forms.the preplanning forms.
What Can You Do to Be Proactive cont’d?
Ask that copies Ask that copies of all of all
paperwork paperwork be be provided to provided to everyone in everyone in advance of the advance of the meeting.meeting.
What Can You Do to Be Proactive cont’d?
Share the recommendations that Share the recommendations that your are going to make with the your are going to make with the
IEP IEP team in advance. team in advance.
Ask what recommendations are likely
to be made at the meeting by school personnel
Habit #2: Habit #2: Begin with Begin with the end in mindthe end in mind
"(This habit)...is based on "(This habit)...is based on imagination - the ability to imagination - the ability to envision, to see the potential, to envision, to see the potential, to create with our minds what we create with our minds what we cannot at present see with our cannot at present see with our eyes..."eyes..."
Why do you begin with the end in mind?
“…you’ve got to have a dream. If you don’t have a dream, how you gonna talk
about dreams come true? If you don’t talk happy and you’ve got no dreams, then you never gonna have a dream
come true.”“Happy Talk”
South Pacific
Oscar Hammerstein II
How do you begin with the end in mind?
Write down your dreams, your vision for your child’s future, your goals . Frame it. Share it. Get others to invest in it with you.
As your child gets older change the dream/goals to reflect what he or she wants.
When you decide upon where it is you are trying to get to, the IEP becomes an
individualized roadmap.
Habit #3: Put first Habit #3: Put first things firstthings first
"Create a clear, mutual understanding of what needs to be accomplished, focusing on
what, not how; results not methods. Spend time. Be
patient. Visualize the desired result."
Decide what your priorities are
What is a priority?
A priority is something or someone that is rated uniquely important based on one's values and goals (dreams).
How do you prioritize?
1. Think about desired outcomes based on your goals or dreams for the future.
How do you prioritize cont’d?3. 3. Plot them on the chart below
Not
imp
ort
ant
Not
imp
ort
ant
Imp
ort
ant
Imp
ort
ant
UrgentUrgent Not urgentNot urgent
Traffic safety
Sorting shapesZippering jacket
Habit #4: Think win-winHabit #4: Think win-win
"Win-Win is a frame of mind that constantly seeks mutual
benefit in all human interactions. Win-Win means that agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and
satisfying."
How do you negotiate in a How do you negotiate in a win-win way?win-win way?
Paint a person-centered picture of your child.
Describe your child’s needs based on the years that you have known your child.
Don’t be afraid to share your dreams for your child’s future.
Know what you want and what you give on.
How do you negotiate in a How do you negotiate in a win-win waywin-win way cont’d cont’d ??
At the meeting begin by thanking people for their efforts on your child’s behalf.
How do you negotiate in a How do you negotiate in a win-win waywin-win way cont’d cont’d ??
Keep the focus on what is appropriate for your child.
I know we all want
what is best for
Joey!
How do you negotiate in a How do you negotiate in a win-win way win-win way cont’d cont’d ??
Bring a picture of Suzie if Suzie isn’t present herself.
Serve refreshments.
How do you negotiate in a How do you negotiate in a win-win way win-win way cont’dcont’d ? ?
How do you negotiate in a How do you negotiate in a win-win way win-win way cont’dcont’d ? ?
Work to develop a collaborative relationship even before the meeting.
Share with your child’s case manager the concerns you will be sharing at the meeting, and the requests you will be making
Complete preplanning forms and make sure they get to team members before the meeting
Activity: Characteristics of Activity: Characteristics of CollaborationCollaboration
Connected and successful?or
Isolated and removed?
Habit #5: Seek first to Habit #5: Seek first to understand, then to be understand, then to be
understoodunderstood
“We typically seek first to be understood. Most people do not
listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.
They're either speaking or pre-paring to speak. They're filtering
every-thing through their own [experience].”
1. Make eye contact2. Clear your mind of other things 3. Ask for further explanation if you
are unclear on what is being said4. Specifically ask that jargon and
acronyms not be used5. Bring a friend to take notes for you
so that you can be fully present in the discussion
How do you listen with the How do you listen with the goal of understanding?goal of understanding?
Activity: Active ListeningActivity: Active Listening
Choose a partnerShare informationReport back and check for accuracy
Habit #6: Habit #6: SynergizeSynergize
"Synergy works; it's a correct principle. It is the crowning
achievement of all the previous habits. It is effectiveness in an
interdependent reality-- it is team-work, team building, the develop-ment of unity and creativity with
other human beings."
Activity: Together We Are Activity: Together We Are BetterBetter
Individually count the number of squares in the following slide
When I tell you to get with a partner and compare your numbers
Adjust your answer if you want to as a team
Help your team “synergize”Help your team “synergize”
1. Encourage the input of all team members by suggesting that a preplanning process be used
2. Use a round robin approach to encourage participation by all team members
3. Unless there is a really great reason for excusing an IEP team member from the meeting, ask that everyone be present
4. Ask for written contributions in advance if a team member can’t attend
Habit #7: Habit #7: Sharpen the Sharpen the sawsaw "This is the habit of renewal...It "This is the habit of renewal...It
circles and embodies all the circles and embodies all the other habits. It is the habit of other habits. It is the habit of
continuous improvement... that continuous improvement... that lifts you to new levels of under-lifts you to new levels of under-standing and living each of the standing and living each of the
habits."habits."
Practical Tips for Habit #7Practical Tips for Habit #7
1.1. Take time to celebrate! Take time to celebrate!
2.2. Share stories -- funny and serious Share stories -- funny and serious
3.3. Offer words of appreciation Offer words of appreciation
4.4. Acknowledge gifts and talents of Acknowledge gifts and talents of all team members all team members
5.5. Renew commitment to the Renew commitment to the journeyjourney