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?

Do your homework.Do your homework.

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.

Activity: Wide Awake DreamsSchool dreams Future dreams

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 ?

2. Write them down

Future Dreams Desired Outcomes this year

Imp

orta

nt

2/4

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