Partners for Special Needs: How Teachers Can Effectively Collaborate with Parents and Other Advocates

by Douglas J. Fiore, Julie Anne Fiore

Overview

Learn how to collaborate with parents and special education advocates to ensure student success. This practical book shows you how to navigate the tricky path to meeting special education goals and outcomes. It also provides strategies to help you communicate and partner more effectively with families and specialists.

Part I of the book offers key information on how special education has evolved over recent decades and what the Individualized Education Plan process entails. Part II features techniques for strengthening communication so you can avoid conflict and create as strong a partnership as possible. You’ll learn the specific roles of advocates and parents, and you’ll gain practical strategies for communicating proactively and managing communication breakdowns. You’ll also uncover how to overcome the challenges of working with people during difficult times.

The book is filled with tips, examples, and reflection questions to help you implement the ideas immediately. With the essential strategies in this book, you can become the best support system for the child or children you serve!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781351858236
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	11/28/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	108
File size:	706 KB

About the Author

Douglas J. Fiore is the author of eight books for educators, including School-Community Relations and Dealing with Difficult Parents, written with Todd Whitaker. Doug has served as a teacher, a principal, a professor, and a consultant, and he most recently served as a provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Julie Anne Fiore has been an educator for thirteen years, spending her most recent year as an Inclusion Intervention Specialist for middle school students. A proponent of partnerships, she insists that teachers engage students, parents, guardians, and those they hire in ensuring student success.

Table of Contents

About the Authors

Preface

PART I THE PRACTICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

Chapter 1 The Development of Special Education Practices

The Legal Environment

Considerations to Ponder

If It’s Not Legal, Consider It Illegal

Conclusion

Chapter 2 The Evolution of Instruction

Foundational Perspective of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)

Conclusion

Considerations to Ponder

Reflection Activity Worksheet

Chapter 3 The Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Process

The Exceptional Learner

The Instructional Team: Changing "Me" to "We"

Gathering Evidence: Who, What, When, and Where

Discussing the Data: Who and What

Reviewing the Environment: Where and When

Analyzing the Problem: Why and How

The Eight Components of an IEP

Considerations to Ponder

Conclusion

PART II COLLABORATING AND COMMUNICATING

Chapter 4 Effective Communication and Meeting Strategies

The Communication Process

Nonverbal Communication

Language Barriers

Culture Barriers

Physical Barriers

Perception Checking

Communication Strategies for Meetings

Considerations to Ponder

Conclusion

Chapter 5 "Rule of Three": Working with Professional Advocates

Envisioning the 21st-Century Classroom

Instructional Implications

Considerations to Ponder

"Rule of Three"

Parents: Partners in Language, Communication, and Data Collection

Advocate: Mediator, Negotiator, and Objective Third Party

"Rule of Three": Teacher, Parent, and Advocate

Conclusion

Chapter 6 Advocating as a Parent

Considerations to Ponder

Parent–Teacher Partnering Tips

Advocacy Support

Know the Lingo

Conclusion

Chapter 7 How to Keep Parent Relationships Positive

Rule #1

Pay Attention to the F Word

The Importance of Being Proactive

Parent Involvement at School and at Home

Considerations to Ponder

Conclusion

Afterword

References

Appendix