PDF. Its time for the language used in PLAAFPs and IEPs/ISPs to reflect this understanding. Students bring with them different backgrounds, which express themselves as skills, abilities, knowledge, family and community characteristics, and experiences. Subjective language. In this post I will provide a few examples of items to add to your list of student strengths for IEP writing, to help you get the ball rolling. He likes to read and he also enjoys science activities. Its the ability to connect the dots, as they say. 2010-2023 The OT Toolbox | Privacy Policy, Pumpkin Deep Breathing Exercise for Halloween Mindfulness, When Executive Function Skills Impair Handwriting, Executive Functioning Skills- Teach Planning and Prioritization, Fine Motor Activities to Improve Open Thumb Web Space, Activities to improve smooth visual pursuits, Classroom Accommodations for Visual Impairments, Typing Activities for Occupational therapy, Maintains seated position on the carpet with peers, Teaches peers to play Spiderman at recess time, Cared for primarily by paternal grandmother whom he talks about often, Lives with foster family who act as great advocates, Attends weekend camp at the YMCA where he builds community skills, Meets community members while he works part-time as a grocery store clerk, Plants a garden at the senior center every spring, Is a member of the local special Olympics team. Reasoning: A child who is good at reasoning is often able to understand and think through complex problems. Julie Rawe is the special projects editor at Understood. Students should also reach out to mentors or tutors for guidance and advice when needed. What are the strengths that make the student academically successful? Make your narratives shine with a student strength lists guide! Looking to help your students shine through strengths-based ieps? The OT Toolbox assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions that may appear in the Website. Although that student strength might not directly relate to academic success, it may contribute to the student's participation in class. It adds to their workload and causes them to get stressed when they can't complete their tasks correctly. List the conditions in which the student may excel (e.g., time of day, content area, seating placement), and build upon these conditions throughout the school day to provide scaffolding for areas of weakness. Sustained attention: A child who can sustain their attention is able to focus on a task for a long period of time. What a powerful way to support a childs progression than to shout their achievements out for the whole educational team to hear! document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Copyright 2023 My Strengths and Weaknesses | All Rights Reserved | |, What Are Your Weaknesses? Additionally, some students may show leadership skills by helping others learn different activities or games. (You can also try a fun hands-on activity to help identify your childs strengths.). We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. 5 Examples of Academic Weaknesses 1. One student may be particularly strong in curiosity, love of learning, and perseverance, while another may be strongest in kindness, humility, and fairness; yet another could have zest, social-emotional intelligence, and teamwork as top strengths. Student weaknesses can vary considerably from person to person, but some common examples include difficulty concentrating, procrastination, poor time management skills and a lack of motivation. For example, a student who struggles with procrastination can try setting small goals that are achievable in a short amount of time or breaking their studies up into manageable chunks. For starters, you can get answers to common questions about having your child attend IEP meetings. I listed examples below. Many teachers, especially new ones, find it challenging to, IEP writing strengths and weaknesses examples. Some examples of social-emotional skills include resilience, problem solver, positivity, optimism, pleasant and easygoing, adapting easily to unexpected changes, flexible thinking, and creativity. Critical thinking strengths: These include a students ability to analyze information, evaluate arguments, and solve complex problems. I prettied it up a little if you want to share it:) Students identify their strengths to increase self-understanding. Here are a few examples of how a strengths-based IEP goal could differ from a SMART goal that isnt strengths-based: By May 15, Elana will know from memory all products of two one-digit numbers with 90% accuracy in four out of five tries. Name the goals and strategies you will use to improve the person's communication. 2. Jos follows classroom rules and expectations and actively participates in table groups. And sometimes, during a meeting, were put on the spot. You may want to know the answer to the question right away without going through the correct process of solving it. Elana will use her skills with a times table to help transition by May 15 to knowing from memory all products of two one-digit numbers with 90% accuracy in four out of five tries. I love hearing from my readers and am always happy to help in whatever way I can. Helping students identify and leverage their strengths, interests and preferences can lead to more self-awareness and self-advocacy. You can also learn more about how to develop SMART IEP goals, and then help steer the IEP team to include strengths in at least a few of your childs goals. An IEP team can use student strengths to develop student success goals within the students iep. Start a conversation about strengths-based IEPs in our Working With Schools online community group. Examine each statement for subjective language, and aim to shift to more objective language. __________ is best at __________ has an amazing ability to, __________ always takes pride in his/her work when __________ is frequently recognized for __________ participates the most when __________ does this better than any other student, __________ is highly motivated by __________ is highly interested in. Thank you for reading! Finally, students may find that understanding and leveraging their strengths and weaknesses can help them to develop better study habits, manage time more efficiently and become more successful in their academic pursuits. In some sections, IDEA lists the strengths of the child as the first item. Remember so these are just examples, and your child's strong and weaknesses may be distinct. . Lack of Focus 6. 481 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<67C5935B9099344ABEDAEEEBF4E20F8C>]/Index[447 65]/Info 446 0 R/Length 154/Prev 193707/Root 448 0 R/Size 512/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream A student strength list is a tool to be used by an IEP team during the development of student success goals for an iep. Research with young people has found that character strengths relate to multiple aspects of well-being, including happiness, mental/emotional health, social relationships, and academic achievement. Make sure you focus on the w hole child and not just academics. The team not only identifies strengths, but leverages them to help address weaknesses. Thanks, Alexa! It involves setting goals, developing a plan for achieving them, and striving for excellence. Basics of Strength-Based IEPs An approach & mindset that uses a students abilities to help work on weaknesses as well as utilizing a students strengths. A teacher once remarked, It is clearly beyond time for us to value the unique qualities of every individual in our classroom.. Some of the most common and most valuable student strengths include: Being focused means that you can stay on task without additional prompting from teachers. Given fourth-grade level (4.0) reading material on nonfiction topics, Nura will deploy her love of learning and her interest in science and history to write three details from the passage in her own words with 85% accuracy on three out of four consecutive assignments. Tell us in the comments! Teachers will foster students moral identity through selective use of language in the classroom. Student strengths are the qualities, talents or capabilities that a student has. Indiscipline 15. Students brainstorm ideas for coping with anger as a first step to forgiveness. And, we dont typically look for lists of weaknesses to put on an IEP. "YA$\)X$l3l`5`q` JDzH@Q9vIL^`Lf{ L`C!A = How useful was this post? There is also a space to list the students strengths and weaknesses and related services as well Subjects: Special Education Grades: Not Grade Specific Types: Classroom Forms $1.25 4.9 (3) Word Document File Add to cart Wish List Student Led IEP: Parent Participation Created by Principal's Decree And so, in the spirit of that, you will not find a list of child strengths and weaknesses examples here in this article. Accessibility | Nondiscrimination | Privacy | Terms & Conditions | Credits, Develop students intellectual humility through concept mapping, PreK/Lower Elementary, Upper Elementary, Middle School, High School, College. endstream endobj 448 0 obj <. Students learn to manage their emotions in a healthy way by identifying the people and places that influence changes in their emotions. (Gratitude for Tweens and Teens Lesson 3), A values-informed process to help students make the best possible ethical choices, Strategies for parents and caregivers to help teens understand and practice being humble. Teachers can use a variety of strategies to identify and develop student strengths, such as observation, testing, interviews or surveys. Im not comfortable using it with IEP students, and heres why. Academic Skills or Strengths: reading skills, writing skills, math or science skills, preferred subject area excellence, or study habits. IEP goals are built around what the student can do and how the team can use that ability to work on an area of weakness. Taking that question into consideration can help a student make goals or develop skills based on personal strengths and achievements. But as Mary Falvey points out in her book Believe in My Child with Special Needs!,taking a problem-focused approach defeats your goal of high expectations and creative problem-solving. Student-led IEPs also underscore the importance of self-awareness. Falvey notes, Statements that focus on the students weakness often result in IEPs of low or no expectations. Students learn about forgiveness from book characters. Maybe they are as sweet as can be? A: Common student strengths examples include strong analytical and problem-solving skills, creativity, strong communication skills, good time management, self-motivation and discipline. This is when the team discusses a students strengths, interests and preferences. Reading and writing Tell us what interests you See your recommendations For example, some students may become easily frustrated when they cannot master a certain activity or game. Being creative means being able to come at a problem from different and unusual perspectives. He cant follow the teachers directions. His/her positive work habits show that he/she _______________, can _______________, and _______________. These list items are grouped into six different categories: Attitude, Academic Skills, Executive Function Skills, Social Skills, Motor Skills, and Sensory Processing Skills. Traditional IEP goal: Mike will complete his history chapter notes on time and with 85 percent accuracy in three out of four consecutive assignments. Do you want to dive deeper into the science behind our GGIE practices? Do they always make you laugh? Another way to think about it is, what outside help does this student have to help them achieve their goals? However, some of the general strengths for learners include being knowledgeable about different topics and facts, understanding different subjects such as math or biology easily, having a great visual memory, and learning new materials quickly. In one study, for young children (ages 3-9), the strengths of love, hope, and zest were particularly, Adolescents who participated in character strength-based, Studies have shown that certain character strengths are associated with, Other-directed strengths such as kindness and teamwork predict, Other-directed strengths such as kindness, teamwork, and social-emotional intelligence are associated with better, Character strengths seem to help students adjust to school, from the beginning of, Various strengths relate to academic achievement across ages, from. The areas of need that the student should be working on should be listed in the IEP present levels. Heres how I like to think of it: the strengths of the student are the building blocks that new skills will be added to or in other words, how can the student use their current strengths to help them make more gains in the future? Maybe you want to jot these down for the IEP meeting. A child with strong short-term memory skills is often able to remember things for a short period of time, such as a list of items or a set of instructions. Character strengths are the positive qualities individuals haveas reflected in their thoughts, feelings, and actionsthat promote the well-being of themselves and others. (Purpose Challenge Practice #1). Recognizing these strengths in students is key to helping them reach their full potential. Something that in turn can limit your enjoyment of school and your opportunities in later life. An IEP team can use student strengths to develop student success goals within the student's iep. Instead, you may spend your time daydreaming or talking to others, which means you get behind on your work or miss valuable pieces of information. Is honest and trustworthy (already addressed this above), Is caring, kind, and empathetic (its very rare to find a child who truly does not care or empathize with others; they often lack the traditional ways to show it), Helps others (do they have the skill sets to help others, to explain things, and be of assistance? Strengths-based IEP goals use a students abilities, interests and preferences to help chart a path to progress. A students strengths can fit into different categories or domains. Easily Distracted 14. A disability is never ones fault; its how they were born. Check out Mary Falveys book,a great resource to share with parents, especially. Students can also help the team think about how to use these strengths to develop strategies for success. Do you know your strengths and weaknesses? I think that because so many IEP teams are worried about and focused on meeting the childs needs, they forget to focus on the strengths portion of an IEP. A strengths-based approach is a pathway to increasing parent-school partnerships because it shows parents that their childs teachers believe in their childs potential, and students begin to understand that they are capable and valuable contributors at school and in life. I like to look at their special interests and include a few; if they share their love of Spiderman or Minecraft, and integrate it into their school day appropriately, that may be worth noting. All works published on this website do so with the consent of the author and establish The OT Toolbox as the copyright holder. In order to provide a wide range of options, some general strengths and along with some that are more specific to occupational therapy will be highlighted. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 1. These register items are grouped into six different categories: Attitude, Academic Skills, Executive Operate Skills, Social Key, Car Skills, press Sensory Data Special. Learners' strengths can be very diverse based on the specific situation. 2. Kindness is about treating others with respect and recognizing their individuality and humanity and acting in line with this. To be successful in academics, it is important to develop good study habits such as keeping up with classes, reading textbooks, taking notes during lectures, organizing material for review purposes, and working on our weaknesses as a student. Each goal should be tied to a specific state academic standard for reading. This is the time to gloat about your student. This is especially true to students who will be graduating soon, and will be integrating into the community. Individualized education programs that focus on learnercompetencies enhance student growth and increase parental involvement. If there are student strengths examples that you would like to include for your student, make sure you add them on your own. IEP goals are built around what the student can do and how the team can use those abilities. Is she able to use a calculator? We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. This can help kids think about new ways to develop their strengths and work on their weaknesses. Megan is a hard worker in the classroom. ), Works hard (IEP/504 students are some of the most hardworking students ever; they have to work twice as hard to get half as far; are you judging them based on the progress theyve made, and is that really fair? Its important for IEP goals to be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Results-oriented and Time-bound). Media inquiries:[emailprotected](preferred) or646-757-3100. Inside: Learn how to use Student Strengths or Child Strengths on an IEP, and the importance of doing so. When working in the classroom, he will accept help when offered if it is done quietly. Click on a star to rate it! It is our duty as special education instructors to discover and publicize those assets in order to develop them further. Social strengths: These include a students ability to communicate effectively (even if the communication is not verbal), work well in groups, and build positive relationships with peers and teachers. Procrastination is the deliberate postponing of one's assignments until the last possible moment. It helps kids see how to make progress by leveraging what theyre good at. It requires hard work, dedication, and a willingness to set goals, make plans, and stick to them. Collaborative [IEP] teams must make a commitment to solve problems rather than admire them, reinvent them, or conclude that there are no solutions." (Like that quote? Strategies to encourage and help students practice honesty. But if you look for student strengths, you get these options. Brian Stack, MEd is the principal of Sanborn Regional High School in Kingston, New Hampshire. Continue with Recommended Cookies, Get to know yourself better with our list of Students Strengths and Weaknesses for Students. What makes this student unique? Taking a look at specific student strengths in the classroom is a great place to start. Its truegetting stuck on a students challenges can make it tough to move forward with an effective IEP that meets his or her needs. Aidan will use his preference for hands-on learning and his skills with technology to dictate his notes during science lab and complete his science lab reports on time and with 85% accuracy in three out of four consecutive assignments. This kind of IEP gives much more weight to a students strengths, interests and preferences. Being cooperative is a vital aspect of any successful educational experience because it allows you to work in pairs and groups, as well as do what you are asked by the person that is leading the activity. Such as, if you are reading a book to your child, are they looking and reading along with you? Strengths vary widely from student to student. When choosing student strengths, pick student strengths that are easily observable and measurable. This essay is designed to give you, the professional, a rationale for teaching to the strengths and interests of your students with dyslexia. Understood is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization (tax identification number 83-2365235). The six virtues and their corresponding character strengths of the VIA are: In this view, good character is not a single attribute, but is multidimensional, a family of positive traits that may each be evident to different extents in different people. During an IEP meeting, focus on the strengths during the profile portion. Good academic performance is the result of consistent hard work and dedication to ones studies. Sam will use his creativity and interpersonal skills to develop and lead his peers in a class vocabulary game with 90% accuracy in three out of four weekly opportunities. Emphasizing strengths throughout this section as well as weaknesses not only sets a positive tone. Strengths-based IEPs are rooted in the belief that all students have strengths and that students motivation increases when the adults around them point out those strengths. In a typical IEP meeting, not much time is given to looking at a childs strengths. Being disruptive is a weakness that can affect both your progress and the advancement of others. Jos is caring and kind and demonstrates loyalty in friendship. This is the heart of a strengths-based IEP. Jonah is a 9-year old fourth grade student with average ability, whose achievement testing shows relative strength in reading and weakness in math. Logic skills: A child with strong logic skills is often able to see the connections between things. Some common types of student strengths include: In this area, I would include skills such as processing, communication, reasoning, and attention. Instructional strategies. Disruptive students are more interested in following their agenda in class such as talking or making others laugh than completing the work assigned to them by their teacher. Write it down! Organized students bring the right equipment to class, know where their classes are, and get there on time, and schedule homework and deadlines to avoid a last-minute dash before they are due. Stubborn 10. 3 Step How-To Answer Guide, What Are Your Strengths? ), Shows loyalty (I dont even know what this means, for students, loyal? I just needed better coping mechanisms, which no one taught me. I will be using these infographics in my IEP meetings/disability disclosure lessons! For example, if Elana struggles in math, what does she do well in that subject? Student Strengths and Weaknesses: List and 13 Examples for Students | My Strengths and Weaknesses Do you know your strengths and weaknesses? Strengths-based IEP goal: Mike will use his skills with technology to dictate and complete his history chapter notes on time with 85 percent accuracy in three out of four consecutive assignments. !3 K>q@Uu 2} 3 Steps to Impress, Strengths Based Interview Questions: Top Example Questions, ESFP Strengths and Weaknesses: Top 5 List of ESFP Strengths, 16 Strengths and Weaknesses Examples Job Interview List, Accounting Strengths and Weaknesses: Top 5 Poll Results 2023. When student strengths are utilized, students will become more active and enthusiastic participants in their educations. Aidan will complete his science lab reports on time and with 85% accuracy in three out of four consecutive assignments. Involving students in IEP meetings can help the team think about ways to develop strengths and work on weaknesses. I have another article about children who chronically lie or are liars. As I state in that article, I was a liar as a child. Its even first on the list! Todays tips are for: All members of IEP teams for students in grades K-12, The challenge: Starting the process of figuring out how to support a students learning. Creating a positive environment and developing good habits can also help students overcome their weaknesses and achieve success. There are many different types of student strengths, and each student may have their own unique combination of strengths. Understood does not provide medical or other professional advice. Visual processing: A child with strong visual processing skills is often able to easily understand and remember information that is presented visually. Manage Settings Task Avoidance IEP Goals: Special Education Strategies for Success, I Have Who Has: The Classroom Game for All Ages to Boost Learning and Engagement, Unlocking Potential: The Power of a Strength-Based Approach for Students with Disabilities, Chooses 3-4 student strengths from the student strength list, Writes a narrative about each student strength picked, Includes behavior(s) that student demonstrates when using student strength, Student's family member(s) or an other person involved in student's life can endorse student strengths to strengthen them, Student identifies his own student strengths, if appropriate to student's abilities, Shares student empowerment strategies with other professionals who work with the student, Student's team members choose student strengths to use in student success goals, If student is working on student transition goals, student's team may want to include student strengths with industry or university partnerships. Individualist 13. Strengths are covered at the beginning of the meeting, and the rest of the time is focused on deficits. It looks at what students can do, what the team wants them to do next, and how strengths might be used to set goals to help address a particular need. Examples include being well-liked, cooperative, a problem solver, making friends easily, socializing at appropriate times during the day, having a friend pool to draw from for support, and communicating with others well. Character strengths Is honest and trustworthy Is caring, kind, and empathetic Helps others Shows loyalty Works hard Is resilient Shows independence Cooperates Social strengths Shares, takes turns, and can compromise Puts effort into making friends and keeping them Is a good listener Accepts differences in others Asks for help when needed This list of student strengths and weaknesses for IEP contains a wide variety of examples. (131) $3.50. Approaching IEPs from a strengths-based perspective does not sugarcoat the struggles that students with exceptionalities may face. Being cooperative means working well with others, both your peers and your superiors. A strengths-based IEP uses student abilities to help work on weaknesses. In order to overcome these weaknesses, it is important for students to identify them and create strategies for overcoming them. A strengths-based approach is a pathway to increasing parent-school partnerships because it shows parents that their child's teachers believe in their child's potential, and students begin to understand that they are capable and valuable contributors at school and in life. But again, we often go into IEP meetings with the mindset that the school is going to tell us no and we forget to address strengths or assets. Focusing is an important strength because it means you can work independently and dont need constant supervision to get a task done whether it be school work, writing skills or social skills. Enroll in one of our online courses for educators! Her/His __________ skills are a strength, as are her/his __________ skills. For example, one of my students was originally receiving occupational therapy to address fine motor skills and visual motor skills. If not, you and your childs case manager can look for a free strengths assessment online. In an era when more and more is packed into a school day, cultivating a student's strengths may . really? These can include academic abilities, such as writing and mathematics; interpersonal skills like collaboration and communication; problem solving skills; creativity; resilience or persistence in difficult situations; and physical abilities. Copyright 2023 Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc. pursue an inclusive education for their child, from preschool to high school and beyond, collaborate with educators on their childs IEP, promote their childs access to the general curriculum, support their child as he or she develops friendships. Being disorganized is a weakness that means you are easily overwhelmed and dont have a good system for managing your school work. A strengths-based IEP looks at abilities as well as weaknesses. This graphic gives you 5 great examples of what that sounds like (just give it a click to see it full size): What do you think? My lying was treated as a character flaw, and it took me many years to realize that I am a good person. And, its the concept of honesty. Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. And this process promotes self-awareness and self-advocacy that can help kids in school and beyond. To do this, IEP teams often need to gather more information. A strengths-based IEP uses student abilities to help work on weaknesses. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Disorganized 7. This student strength list is a tool for you to use when creating student success goals that the student can accomplish. Strengths-based IEPs arent widely used yet. Because differences are our greatest strength. Additionally, if there are any special interests of the student that are community-based, this may be a great opportunity to highlight that.