Are Your Child's IEP Goals Setting Them Up For Success

Take a look at your child's IEP goals.  Do they prepare your child for further education, employment and/or independent living?

Do you remember asking your teacher "when are we ever going to need this in real life"?  Learning how to use a graphing calculator helped complete my high school math requirements (ie further education).  Learning how to add and subtract help me figure out my finances and understand what I can afford at the store.  Cooperative learning helped me in my career.  There are some curriculum goals though that are not necessary for further education, employment and independent living.  

Counting coins.  Is this a good skill to learn in second grade...sure why not.  Is understanting the value of coins an appropriate IEP goal?  No.  Can you get through your education without knowing a dime is worth 10c?  Yes, you may miss a few questions on a test but in the long run it won't effect your education.  Can you get a job without being able to identify coins?  YES.  I know the ultimate "boomer dad" comment on kids these days is that they don't know how to make change...but there are plenty of jobs that don't require coin knowledge.  Do you need to understand coin values to live on your own?  NOPE.  Honestly you hardly even need to carry cash or a credit card these days.  

So what would be an appropriate money related IEP goal?  Adding and subtracting costs of items or Budgeting.  Coins don't make sense the nickel is bigger than the dime and worth less.  It's weird.  Numbers make more sense.  Not understanding the value of different coins doesn't mean you can't count money.  

How do you know if your child's IEP goals are prepare your child for further education, employment and independent living?  Just stop and think about if that skill is useful or necessary in your life.  Is is an out of date skill?  

What do you do if you don't think your child's IEP goals are relevant?  Discuss it with your child's teacher, raise your concerns (in wiring) and ask for an IEP meeting to update their goals.  I always like to have a respectful conversation with the teacher ahead of time, let them know that I am educating myself so that I can become a better advocate for my kid and share that although I don't think it's a bad skill for my child to learn, it doesn't seem like the most appropriate IEP goal to prepare them for the future.  

 

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