Wrightslaw - The Special Ed Advocate Newsletter, December 13, 1999

1. New Tactics& Strategy Manual: Free Sample

Would you like to sample the NEW WRIGHTSLAW TACTICS & STRATEGY MANUAL to see if it will meet your needs? Read Chapter One in pdf

Check out the Table of Contents in pdf

Check out DISCOUNTS on Combo Paks

For more information about the new TACTICS AND STRATEGY MANUAL

2. Mary Writes, "A Successful IEP At Last - Your System Works!!"

"Thanks to your articles, "YOUR CHILD'S IEP" and "UNDERSTANDING TESTS AND MEASUREMENTS," we were finally able to negotiate a good IEP for our son. But it wasn't easy . . . "

"My husband and I asked that our son's progress on IEP goals be measured with standardized tests instead of teacher observations. The IEP team would not agree. We went to 8 IEP MEETINGS with different school officials. The school officials would not change our son's IEP so that his progress could be measured objectively."

"The reason they gave us for refusing? Our son is "trainable mentally handicapped."

"Finally, the Director of Special Education agreed to mediation. During mediation, we presented standardized scores from tests that were done on three previous occasions. As you suggest, we used PowerPoint to graph our son's scores in reading, math and language. "

"When I think about those IEP meetings, it seems that we had to fight awfully hard for what seems like a small concession. "

"We wanted to let you know about our success. Thank you for making these articles available to parents."

FROM WRIGHTSLAW:

Thanks for your letter. We just updated YOUR CHILD'S IEP to reflect changes in the statute and regulations. This article now includes information from the new Appendix A, and links to other articles and cases.

Here are updated links:

YOUR CHILD'S IEP

UNDERSTANDING TESTS AND MEASUREMENTS

POWER POINT SLIDE SHOW (how to convert test scores to graphs):

3. More Books and Resources About IEPS

* * BETTER IEPS by Barbara Bateman * *

This is an excellent guide to understanding and writing IEPs. This book presents a three-step process that focuses on the individual student and avoids the common "fill in the blank" approach to developing IEPs.

The third edition has been updated and revised, and includes the IDEA Amendments of 1997, examples of IEPs, and guidelines about how to and how NOT to develop IEPs that are educationally useful.

For more information, go to the Legal Section of our Bookstore

Or, go directly to Amazon.com

* * MEASURING INSTRUCTIONAL RESULTS by Robert Mager * *

How can you know if your child has learned what you set out to teach them? You need to know how to measure the results of instruction and determine if the objectives have been achieved.

In clear, jargon-free language, Robert Mager's popular and easy-to-read book shows parents and teachers how to develop the tools to measure instructional results.

Measuring Instructional Results helps you determine when instructional results have been achieved, demonstrate that instructional results match your intended outcomes, improve instruction, and increase the value of the instruction you create. The book shows how to prepare or select test items and how to match teaching objectives and measurement tools.

For more information about "Measuring Educational Results," go to the Effective Practices section of our bookstore.

Or, go directly to Amazon.com

* * PREPARING INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES by Robert Mager * *

In this best selling book, Robert Mager teaches you how to write clear measurable IEP goals and objectives.

"Preparing Instructional Objectives" is a guide to identifying, selecting, and writing educational objectives. This book will help you master the essential elements of writing a well-stated objective, including how to describe the performances you expect to achieve, identify the conditions under which you expect the performance to occur, and set criteria for acceptable performance.

"The new third edition of "Preparing Instructional Objectives" includes practice exercises to sharpen your skills, an Objectives Checklist to help you distinguish good objectives from bad ones, a new chapter on where objectives come from, and a new index.

This book is also in our Effective Practices section.

To order

4. Let Mavis Beacon Teach Your Child to Touch-Type

We live in the information age. Children must learn to touch-type, NOT hunt and peck!

If you have a middle school child who hasn't learned to touch-type, your child needs to spend 30 minutes a day with Mavis Beacon.

Mavis Beacon is a gem - she is effective, organized, and keeps her students on task. She measures progress objectively and provides graphs of progress. Mavis is kind and patient. She never loses her cool - even with teenagers.

Get Mavis Beacon to teach your child to touch-type. While you're at it, get Mavis to help you improve your own touch-typing skills! For more information about Mavis Beacon.

Or, order direct from Amazon

5. Sitemap!

Navigating web sites can be frustrating, even when you finally find what you're looking for.

If you use our new sitemap, it should be easier to find what you're looking for at Wrightslaw. Add this sitemap to your Bookmarks!