IEP

Recently, I had a very depressing convo. with the director of my preschool. I greatly respect the woman who runs the preschool where I teach. She has decades of experience in the field. She has experience teaching in Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio, Public schools and more. For many years, she taught education classes at the undergraduate level. She knows education. I love her approach to working with young children. She is an amazing woman and I feel lucky to teach with her. The other day we were discussing our sons and their experiences having IEPs. Her son is about to graduate and she feels that the system really failed him. How could this happen to the son of an education expert? How can I prevent this from happening to my son?

Henry's problems are not astronomical, but I do worry about him getting lost and slipping through the cracks especially in middle school. And, while his problems seem on the small side now, as he is challenged more and more, his struggles might grow. I found a book today which will hopefully help me understand the system a bit more (until I get that degree in Special Ed.).

I have already learned a few things, for instance, "placement" on the IEP form, refers to the various classrooms or schools that your child is placed in. "Program", refers to the placement and the types of services, curricula, teaching methods, class makeup etc. For so long now, I feel like I have been treading water with Henry and his schooling. He is doing well? His reading is coming along. Vision therapy has helped him a lot, both in ways that are obvious to Matt and I, and as evidenced by the tests that have been administered. His anxiety has been less of a problem this year. I still worry about his ability to focus, his writing, his confidence. I worry that with the budget cuts our district is undergoing, classes will get bigger and thus more distracting for Henry.

I want him to continue to love school. And I know I need to stay on top of this whole I.E.P thing which seems difficult, because I don't understand it all and I have a zillion other things to do, hello: job, 3 yr. old son, husband working on doctorate...