IEP

What is your most stressful part of the IEP for you to deal with or work on?

The most stressful part of writing an IEP for me is getting the necessary information from the student's gen ed teachers. There are times when I have to hunt teachers down to get their input.  I have begged and pleaded with usually the same one or two teachers and tried to make them understand that I cannot do my job without them doing theirs...our director has even had to send out emails regarding personal liability...to little avail :(

Do you have someone on your campus that you can go to for assistance and support in writing the IEP?

We have three sped teachers on campus; between the three of us we can usually come up with a correct answer without the need for someone at the district office.  However, at the DO, we have a specialist that is really good about answering phone calls and responding to emails...it's a pretty good support system :)

Classroom Management

What is something you want to change about your classroom management?

Be specific and use specific example(s) for this change.

There is nothing that I would like to change about my classroom management.  I was told from the very start of this program that rules, procedures and behavior consequences must be established and understood from the very first day of school.  Luckily, I listened to that advise and I have had no major behavior incidents.  I have established rules, but there are times that I bend them.  The kids know that I am tough, but flexible.  I am fortunate to be in a very low student/teacher ratio setting.  I am not sure that my techniques would work with a class size if 30+ students.  I would like to think they would but I don't know for sure. 

Students with ED

Did you receive training regarding children with emotional disturbance? How was it helpful or not? Does your school have an “Emergency Team” for a student with Emotional Disabilities?

I took a class through RIO as part of my TIR program,  I have not had any formal training.  Prior to last year we had a self contained ED classroom on our campus, it was moved to the other local middle school.  When we had the ED room here I'm certain that there was some protocol for an emergency situation, however, I was not involved with the plan and I'm not 100% certain that one existed.