Hey Parents! I'm glad you're here! I was thinking about what topic I wanted to start my blog series with, and it came to mind: those little things that we see our kids doing, but they just seem so natural, or small, that we kinda overlook them... but really, these are the things we want to take note of to bring up at the meeting. If you’re like me, you want to see your child’s struggles in a positive light. Looking back, I wish I’d paid more attention to the little things my son got stuck on and what helped him get going again. Those are the kinds of details I’d bring to an IEP meeting. They give the team something specific to talk through with you.

Okay, so... your next IEP meeting is on your calendar. You’ve got an email you want to reread, a folder of papers you’ve been meaning to sort, and a question that keeps coming back to you while you’re doing the dishes. Then you finally sit down to prepare and wonder where to begin. This is where it's easy to feel stuck!

But...

Here’s where I’d start. Think of one recent moment that tells you something about how your child learns or what helps them get through a hard part of the day. Write it down somewhere you can find it again, like in a notebook. That one note can give you something specific to talk about when you sit down with the IEP team.

Start with what you’ve noticed

Think about the things you see at home that the IEP team might never get to see. Maybe your child can explain exactly how to build something with LEGO but goes quiet and gets stuck when asked to write down the steps. Maybe they tell you all about science on the ride home, when they have time to talk it through. Those everyday moments can help you describe your child’s strengths and ask about parts of the school day you’re curious about.

Pick one moment you remember clearly. A few sentences are plenty. If you remember when it happened, add the date. Think like a reporter. Write down what your child did, what seemed to help, and what you’d like to learn about how that same task goes at school.

What one note might look like...

Imagine that on Tuesday your child came home excited to tell you about the seeds their class planted. They explained which cup got sunlight and which one stayed in a cupboard. Later, when it was time to write about the experiment, they stared at the blank page. You asked them to tell you their first sentence out loud. Once they said it, they picked up their pencil and started writing.

Your note might read like this...

Tuesday after school. My child explained the seed experiment out loud and remembered which cup got sunlight. When it was time to write about it, they got stuck... blank page.. but then they got started after saying their first sentence to me.

At the meeting, you could share that example and ask this question.

I’ve noticed that saying the first sentence out loud helped my child get started at home. What do you see when they’re asked to start writing in class?

The teacher might describe something similar or tell you that getting started looks different at school. Either answer gives you something concrete to talk through together. You might come away knowing more about which assignments your child starts comfortably and which ones take more effort.

Give your meeting notes one home

Use a place you already reach for. That could be a notebook, a folder, or a pinned note on your phone or computer; Microsoft OneNote, Notion, or Trello can work well too. Call it “IEP Meeting Prep” and put your first observation there. If a teacher email or a schoolwork sample helps explain that same moment, you can add it when you have time. Start with what’s happening now and pull in older records as they become relevant to the conversation.

If your meeting is tomorrow, this still works. Take five minutes tonight to write the one example you most want the team to hear and the one question you want to ask. Keep those two things together so you can find them when it’s your turn to speak. If you think of a few more, great... keep that list growing!

Your first note can be a little messy, especially if you’re typing it on your phone between dinner and cleanup. What matters is that it captures something you know about your child while it's fresh in your mind and gives you a place to start. If you’d like me to walk you through the rest of your IEP meeting prep, I created The IEP Advantage Course for parents like you. It's so good and thorough... and what I like best about it... You can work through it from the comfort of your home, at your own pace. I’ll show you how to organize your child’s records, what to track, how to decide what you want to bring up, what you should actually bring with you, and, of course, how to prepare questions like these for the IEP team.

IEP meeting prep can be a lot if you're lost and confused, like I once was. But it is something you can learn and become amazing at, right here with me, one step at a time. When you get the IEP Advantage course, I give you (parents) the IEP Advantage going into the meeting... which, in turn, gives your child the IEP Advantage. Because when you walk in confident, prepared, and knowledgeable... you're empowered to advocate for your child in a completely different way. For sure, the IEP Advantage course is an example of "who you know"... because now you know me, and I'm here for you, parents. And one piece of advice I can give you (in hindsight) is that you literally only have these formative years to give your child your best and your all. Because this game changes when they turn 18... and it's a huge loss of your ability to influence and advocate for your child. So, I'm here for you. You don't have to look any further. I have everything you need for success. Let's get started!

Oh, and I wanted to share a few more helpful things that you can get started with right away... cuz they're FREE!  [1] Get on my daily coaching FREE email!  Seriously, don't sleep on this!  Everyone loves these quick daily reads that are helpful and encouraging! 

Then [2] use the Learning Lab because all the tools in there are amazing and will be super helpful for you!  You don't even need to know where to begin; just create your account and dive into the tool that interests you, because that's where you need to be! 

Next [3], check out my IEP Advantage Newsletter- that's general information and current events in the USA regarding special education!  This is a great place to keep your finger on the pulse, so to speak! 

Then [4] use my IEP Professional Directory if you're looking to connect with professionals. 

[5] If you have questions you need answered right away, join The IEP Support Group for Parents Facebook Group; it's a very active, robust group where you can get immediate support! 

[6] And last but not least, spend some time looking around this website; it's constantly changing.  And don't miss my shopping store, where you can easily find items parents find helpful for raising their kids! 

And [7] did you happen to see the ad at the top of this page... and everywhere else? That's my son Spencer's business, The Expedition Soap Company! He has the perfect holiday gifts.. so check that out and find the page where he speaks and advocates, if you'd love some inspiration! Thanks for stopping by, and I'll be back real soon with another blog episode! 


xo, ​