Can I Get Your Signature to Say That You Understand that Your Child Does Have a Disability?
What kind of question is that??
...one that is actually legally required and a signature that is very important.
Last week, I led my first IEP meeting. Not just a re-eval, an initial placement IEP meeting with a parent who hated his resource experience and the other parent at a loss of what to do with her child. My mentor teacher and I decided together that I will see the who process through with this one child, not knowing that the meeting would be more high risk than anticipated. I brought the child in for testing, administered the test, graded it, wrote presents levels and goals, created a color coded bell curve chart, and conducted the whole meeting.
WOW that was exhausting to even type out!
I wore a blazer specifically that day to look professional and to hide my huge pit stains that I was bound to have during the meeting! I knew the meeting was going to be stressful but I did not know that I would feel so awkward telling a parent that their child has a disability and you need to sign here to show that you're okay with that. I found that one sentence to be super intimidating and uncomfortable. Remembering a parent's rights was difficult to remember. I thought I had them memorized but I forgot to some a couple of them at the meeting. The parents asked me really tough questions too, like "So are you saying my child needs to get medication? She needs help with behavior but it isn't bad enough to see the school psychologist every week?"
AHH! Shh, don't ask me questions! I was only prepared for my script and I did not prepare for those types of questions!
I knew that I could NOT say, yes your child needs medication and we need more of your support from home to see if that helps first for behavior. You canNOT say that to a parent. no no no. They district has to pay and/or get sued. Not fun.
I am blown away that we have to be very trick with our wording for medication. It's a tricky and sneaky game that I don't like but rules are rules. I don't like to beat around the bush; I like to be direct when giving and receiving information. I need to work on my indirection communication skills when it comes to parents.
I only fumbled a couple times during the meeting but my mentor was right there and stepped right in when she needed to. She said that I did a really good job and that no one could tell that it was my first time conducting and IEP meeting. Which made me feel really good about myself. I was so nervous but I didn't want the parents to know that. I also wanted to make sure that I didn't stumble through the testing scores and the IEP goals. If I can sound professional and educated during those two parts, I would feel like I led a successful meeting.
My mentor teacher wants me to lead a couple more meetings before I go on to my next placement, but the next two are high-risk parents and she doesn't want me walking into a very tough situation just yet. Bless her heart!
I was so excited that I called my mom on my drive home. Super girly, I know!
P.S. I only have two weeks left. CRAZY!
