Episode 29: Your Pre-IEP Pep Talk
Right now, we are all wanting more connection with those that matter. In today's episode, we discuss the state of the schools and how this is creating opportunity for parent advocates! Reminder that The Parent IEP Academy founding member pricing is expiring on March 1st!
Related Episodes:
Episode #40: [Parent Spotlight] Emotions and IEP Prep with Victoria Coure
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I’m really just excited to talk with you today.
I’m sitting in my husband’s office (because it has light!) and it’s just snowed here in Northern Colorado. I just feel a pull to talk with you and give you a little pep talk as there is a lot going on right now, but in change there is so much amazing opportunity to advocate, be heard, and learn.
As I shared before, I’ve gone through a transition recently. The beginning of the 2021-2022 school year was incredibly stressful for us, as my year-old son lost a day per week of daycare due to staffing shortages (from a very large center) and got quarantined 5 times. I quickly ran out of PTO as we don’t have family nearby and asking anyone outside your family to watch a quarantined child is not exactly kosure.
Every single family that I know of has had major challenges around the COVID years. And just when we think we are getting through it…it’s still affecting us. Although there are numerous drawbacks to COVID and the cascade of delayed impacts, I do want to say that there is this space of opportunity that has come in for parents to step into.
The space, my friends, is connection.
You know it’s a cornerstone of what I talk about all the time. But right now, I think the whole country is more in tune with listening to other people and their stories. For seeking first to understand. And to keep those connections that serve us.
This is where the opportunity comes in. Let’s slow down for a second, and talk about three things to build connection in your IEP meeting.
- My favorite way expert parent advocates make connection is through story telling. I LOVE when parents share a story about their child. Funny stories, endearing, or just sharing what you love about them. That builds connection instantly and has everyone on the same page with supporting your child. It’s also perfect to do at the start of the meeting.
- Come in appreciative and acknowledging the environmental impact on the school team. Do an emotional check-in.
- Right now, support staff is hard to find. Teachers are being stretched thin, and everyone is realizing that school staff is stretched thin. By coming in and doing an emotional check-in, as simple as “how are you guys doing with the staffing shortages” you will
- Get a good idea of how everyone is doing or the tone
- Get insight into any stress your child is picking up on in the school.
- Set the tone for people hearing you, because you are offering to hear them.
- Right now, support staff is hard to find. Teachers are being stretched thin, and everyone is realizing that school staff is stretched thin. By coming in and doing an emotional check-in, as simple as “how are you guys doing with the staffing shortages” you will
- Follow up after the meeting with a thank you, and also summarizing thanking them to listening to your concerns of (insert your priorities).
- With them being so short staffed and thin, they are going to remember what your priorities were by continuing that connection with them after the meeting.
Remember. You are the expert in your child. If you feel like your child has been jipped during the COVID years, then say that. Say you are asking for these priorities because you are anxious/scared/concerned about your child. You alone can voice what your child needs to feel supported and connected while in school.
Don’t feel like you owe the team anything. Don’t feel like you need to fix their problems, and absolutely don’t feel guilty for asking for more from the team to support your child if that’s what they need.
Just remember that those people around the table (or the screen with you) are going to be instrumental in supporting your child. Connect with them first, then ask for their support. You will remind them of why they wanted to take their position in the first place!
Now go out, attend that meeting with a quiet and calm mind. Get ready to connect with your team, and listen to them so they will listen to you. Your child deserves to feel supported and connected in their learning environment, just like everyone else!
If you are looking for more support with your IEPs, just remember that the founding member pricing for The Parent IEP Academy ends tonight, March 1st 2022! It’s a very special offer of lifetime access to the 6-module course to build your informed Parent Input Plan for your next meeting with private Facebook support and weekly live Q&A’s to answer any questions you have along the way. I can’t wait to see you transform into a confident, tactful parent advocate. You can find out more information at www.parentfriendlyot.com/course .
I’ll see you inside the course and private facebook group, and of course I’ll have another episode of the podcast up next week!
As always, thank you so much and go rock your next IEP! Let’s do this! Bye!
Beth