Seven Habits of Highly Effective IEP Teams*
by Eileen Hammar & Anne Malatchi
(*With acknowledgment and thanks to Stephen Covey)
1. Be Proactive
"Taking initiative does not mean being pushy, obnoxious, or aggressive.It
does meanrecognizing our responsibility to make things happen."
Fundamental in our efforts to become proactive members of IEP teams is
adopting anattitude that is collaborative, facilitative, and responsible. To be
proactive requires a shift
in our thinking from a deficit based model of education to a capacitymodel.
Often, goalsfor IEPs are developed as a result of a label, or something that
appears to be 'wrong'--i.e.
reacting to a behavior that others do not think is acceptable.Proactive
goals andobjectives are based on the premise that the entire team is responsible
for making things
happen. "John will use a transition object such as a computer disc whenit is
time to go tocomputer class." The team realizes if John knows in advance it will
soon be computer
time, and can carry something with him to remind him where he is going,he
will be lesslikely to exhibit challenging behaviors when asked to go to computer
class.
2. Begin With the End in Mind
"(This habit)...is based on imagination-- the ability to envision, tosee the
potential, to
create with our minds what we cannot at present see with our eyes..."
Before developing an IEP, learn about the student. Be able to envisionthe
future, thepossibilities. What are his or her dreams? Nightmares? What are the
learner's strengths
and needs? Where does he or she want to live after school? What kind ofjob
would befulfilling? It has been too easy in the past to look at the small
picture instead of
determining what the end of the journey will look like. Once thatpicture is
clear, itmakes sense to decide what must be taught in order to get there.
3. Put First Things 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
desiredresult."
Prioritize! It is impossible for anyone, in one year's time, to work on
everything they
would like to learn. Having nine, ten, or more goals and dozens ofobjectives
on an IEP is
akin to being set up for failure. What is urgent or most important inthe
coming year thatneeds to be addressed on the IEP?
4. Think Win-Win
"Win-Win is a frame of mind that constantly seeks mutual benefit in allhuman
interactions. Win-Win means that agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial
and satisfying."
Consensus building is a key element of effective, collaborative IEPmeetings.
Reachingconsensus indicates that power and control has been shared. Demanding
parents ordictating educators do not contribute to win-win solutions. IEP goals
and objectives
which are too general and not designed for progress lead to a lose-lose
situation. How
many times have you worked with a student who has the same goals and
objectives year
after year? Both the student and the teacher are frustrated. Somethingis
wrong with thegoal when there is no progress. Be specific in stating the desired
results of the objectives,
the guidelines for achievement, how accountability will be determined,and
when todecide if the goal and/or objective is not appropriate.
5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
"'Seek First to Understand' involves a very deep shift in paradigm. We typically
seek first to be understood. Most people do not listen with the intentto
understand;they listen with the intent to reply. They're either speaking or
preparing to speak.
They're filtering everything through their own paradigms, reading their
autobiography into other people's lives."
In a truly collaborative IEP process educators will listen to andunderstand
parents;parents will listen to and understand educators. All team members will
realize theimportance of listening to and understanding the student. The desired
outcome is not for
everyone to always agree but to understand each team members viewpoint. The
power ofthis type of listening is that it gives the team accurate data with
which to work. In order
for this to happen, language at meetings must be jargon free. The final
product (the IEP
document) must be written in language that everyone working with thestudent can
understand.
6. Synergize
"Synergy works; it's a correct principle. It is the crowningachievement of
all theprevious habits. It is effectiveness in an interdependent reality-- itis
teamwork, teambuilding, the development of unity and creativity with other human
beings."Effective IEPs are those that have been developed collaboratively by a
transdisciplinary
team. There is 'creative cooperation' occurring at each step of the
development process.
All participants strive to work together, realizing it takes bothparents and
educators to
educate students. It is unlikely that this will occur at one IEP event.The
quality of the
preplanning for an IEP is of equal value to the official meeting. Thetime
devoted to the
preplanning process will differ depending on each individual student.
7. Sharpening the Saw
"This is the habit of renewal...It circles and embodies all the otherhabits.
It is thehabit of continuous improvement...that lifts you to new levels of
understanding andliving each of the habits."
Celebrations of success are one of the keys to effective IEP teams.These
celebrations
recognize the achievements we have made. They also energize us to keepon this
collaborative journey with a student toward of life of his or her choosing.
· Take time to snack! · Share stories -- funny and serious
· Offer words of appreciation
· Acknowledge gifts and talents of all team members
· Renew commitment to the journey
Note: *Quotes in bold and seven basic concepts are directly from 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.