These areas of strength are part of the students environment, and impact overall functional performance of the student. Examples of Student Weaknesses 1. Individualized education programs that focus on learnercompetencies enhance student growth and increase parental involvement. Once identified, educators can create learning experiences that promote and develop these strengths, while helping students to become well-rounded individuals. For example, some students may display a natural ability for competitive sports such as running, jumping, or throwing. Subjective language. His/her positive work habits show that he/she _______________, can _______________, and _______________. Creative strengths: Creative students have the ability to think outside the box and come up with innovative ideas, as well as their artistic and musical abilities. Some of the other online resources that youve found, similar to this list of child strength examples, may include Character Strengths in a child. Student Strengths and Weaknesses: List and 13 Examples for Students 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. Being organized is all about properly managing your resources including time, supplies, and even effort. Student strengths are the qualities, talents or capabilities that a student has. This kind of IEP gives much more weight to a students strengths, interests and preferences. Student strengths can be identified by observing the different types of activities they participate in and their level of interest. Kindness is about treating others with respect and recognizing their individuality and humanity and acting in line with this. Motivation/Work Ethic. 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. It also tells the kids about their own abilities. 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. Research on character strengths in both adults and youth tends to use the Values in Action (VIA) Classification, a framework that identifies 24 character strengths, which are often organized under six core virtues. Read on to see examples. For example, some students may become easily frustrated when they cannot master a certain activity or game. "YA$\)X$l3l`5`q` JDzH@Q9vIL^`Lf{ L`C!A = Additionally, if there are any special interests of the student that are community-based, this may be a great opportunity to highlight that. Additionally, some students may show leadership skills by helping others learn different activities or games. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Family participation is an essential part of a successful IEP process, but persistent barriers can often derail family involvement. Todays post highlights solutions to four of these common barriers. Sign in to save, rate, and comment on your favorite Greater Good in Education practices. This is the list of child strengths categories: creativity, literacy, study skills, communication, hygiene, cognition, language, self-confidence, and courage. Word choice. This is when the team discusses a students strengths, interests and preferences. For example, a student's academic excellence may make her a strong reader, but it might not be something that is of importance to her. Involving students in IEP meetings can help the team think about ways to develop strengths and work on weaknesses. Maybe you want to jot these down for the IEP meeting. Get the latest tools and resources Furthermore, you will find a step-by-step approach to help you -- from assessment to progress monitoring. Examples of good executive functioning skills would be the ability to stay focused/on tasks, organizational skills, time management, locker and backpack organization, and planning. To do so is infringement of copyright law. Disruptive 8. How useful was this post? This form includes a checklist (teachers love this option because we are SO busy), and also areas for teachers to note student strengths/weaknesses, current grades, observed skill deficits, and much more. But if you look for student strengths, you get these options. This is the time to gloat about your student. Both of these areas should always be shared with the student as well. 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. Teachers will foster students moral identity through selective use of language in the classroom. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Joint attention is the ability to attend to what youre told, with another person. This can be an issue because it can take away from learning opportunities for others. When a skill is not acquired, the implication is not that the student is deficient, but rather that the student lacks the opportunity, experience, and instruction needed to master the skill at this time. Admittedly, we all look for people of strong characterin our spouses, friends, employers, and so on. ), 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? This student's schedule is being modified to add in additional tutoring sessions. Take an inventory of the students strengths, interests, and preferences. Student strength lists can help! Theres a lot you can do right now. All information on The OT Toolbox Website, its content of all types, including newsletter and social media is presented as informational only and is not a replacement for therapy assessment, diagnosis, intervention, or medical advice. The areas of need that the student should be working on should be listed in the IEP present levels. Cognitive Skills or Strengths: In this area, I would include skills such as processing, communication, reasoning and attention. I prettied it up a little if you want to share it:). DOC PRESENT LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE - Anoka-Hennepin School District 11 Many teachers, especially new ones, find it challenging to, IEP writing strengths and weaknesses examples. Abilities Coding Collaboration Consensus Building Education IT Skills Language Leadership Learning Listening Prioritization Public Speaking Research Self-Discipline Strengths Study Skills Talents Time Management Visual Communication Student Strengths And Weakness Iep Teaching Resources | TPT All Rights Reserved. (Gratitude for Tweens and Teens Lesson 1), Students reach out to trusted adults to ask what they think are students strengths and talents. Many students also have difficulty staying organized, studying efficiently or managing their emotions effectively. Excerpted, How does your IEP team ensure that culturally and linguistically diverse families are welcomed, involved, and able to make the most informed decisions? But here are some common elements and approaches. With that in mind, why not check out our guide to the most common strengths and weaknesses of students below to see if any resonate with you. This guide walks teachers through the process of writing clear and positive student strengths narratives. I listed examples below. Includes strengths, weaknesses, interests & preferences. The use of strengths-based approaches is not necessarily new, however supporting individuals' needs in a strength-based model has been largely overlooked in special education. In order for student strengths to be effective in developing an iep, they must relate specifically and uniquely to each student. Does she prefer to work in groups? Strengths vary widely from student to student. Disorganized 7. From student work habits (work independently) to academics (reading comprehension), every area of a child's development can be highlighted using this easy to use, step-by-step guide. Its the ability to recall knowledge and use it appropriately. My favorite part of the strengths section of an IEP is when I get to write a current strength of a student, that used to be a weakness. Being cooperative means working well with others, both your peers and your superiors. He likes to read and he also enjoys science activities. Child Strengths Checklist | Understood There will be an overlap here with social skills and social-emotional. Paraeducators Involved in the IEP Process, 5 Essential Math Word Problems IEP Goals | TeachTastic. IEP goals are built around what the student can do and how the team can use those abilities. Have them fill out what their best answer is and then compare to find commonalities. Do you know your strengths and weaknesses? Older students are more likely to participate in or lead more parts of the IEP meeting. Sydney is alsoa childrens author and illustrator and is always working on new and exciting projects. Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Ethical Decision-Making & Social Responsibility, Topic 1 Caring for Ourselves: The Science of Emotional Resilience, Topic 2 Safety & Belonging in Classrooms and Schools, Topic 3 Addressing Trauma and Adversity: Supporting Student Mental Health, Topic 4 Committing to Racial Equity and Cultural Responsiveness, Topic 5 Teaching for Social, Emotional, and Academic Development, Topic 6 Supporting SEL through Family and Community Engagement, Wisdom (creativity; curiosity; judgment; love of learning; perspective), Courage (bravery; perseverance; honesty; zest), Humanity (love; kindness; social-emotional intelligence), Temperance (forgiveness; humility; prudence; self-regulation), Transcendence (appreciation of beauty and excellence; gratitude; hope; humor; spirituality), Many character strengths are associated with higher satisfaction with life. Use this inventory to create a personal connection to learning and to create choice for students. 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. Use this framework to help guide the writing process: __________ has a strong character, is _______________, and is _______________. The virtues are broader characteristics that have been valued in philosophical and spiritual traditions across time and place, while the character strengths function as components of or pathways to the virtues. This adapted example from Frontline Education illustrates how a shift from subjective to objective language gives more specific and useful information: Andi frequently misbehaves is better written as When frustrated, Andi may leave their seat and pace at the back of the classroom.. Its truegetting stuck on a students challenges can make it tough to move forward with an effective IEP that meets his or her needs. It can support carryover of goal areas, as well as encourage meaningful participation. An IEP team can use student strengths to develop student success goals within the student's iep. Sam has a strong character, is eager to learn, and is curious about a new subject. This essay is designed to give you, the professional, a rationale for teaching to the strengths and interests of your students with dyslexia. It often refers to visuals creatively, but can also include being able to think in a novel and unexpected way. Learners' strengths can be very diverse based on the specific situation. The idea of desirable character traits has existed since ancient times, but research on them is more recent, spurred by the rise of positive psychologya movement that endeavors to use the tools of psychology not only to identify and fix problems, but also to recognize and foster positive qualities and flourishing. Student strengths such as "helps partner with school work," "remembers to raise hand in class," and "tries to stay on task" are student strengths that can be observed and measured. 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. When student strengths are utilized, students will become more active and enthusiastic participants in their educations. She/He enjoys __________ and __________ . When teachers can differentiate content (the delivery method or access to what is learned), process (the activities used to learn it), and product (how learning is shown or how it is assessed), students can generalize and transfer learning more effectively. Some common types of student strengths include: In this area, I would include skills such as processing, communication, reasoning, and attention. Student involvement in IEP meetings can deepen the discussion about strengths. Maybe youre getting ready for an IEP meeting, and thinking, What are my childs strengths? or How do I know my childs strengths? Parents, you know your kids best! The student's team might include student weaknesses as a part of the student's iep, but they should not be included in the student strength list. Self Criticism 3. Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. Both of these questions lead to academic and behavioral success in the classroom. Even if the student strengths seem silly or out of place, they may be meaningful for some students. Taking a look at specific student strengths in the classroom is a great place to start. And you can advocate for more teacher training in strengths-based IEPs at your childs school or in your local district. Copyright 2014-2023 Understood For All Inc. hands-on activity to help identify your childs strengths, questions about having your child attend IEP meetings, Working With Schools online community group. (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. If not, you and your childs case manager can look for a free strengths assessment online. Create Strengths-based IEPs Special Ed | Frontline Education 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 paragraphs in the IEPs present level of performance are likely to be the first things new teachers read about your child. __ Deals with anger, insults, and disagreements peacefully. Some of the most common student weaknesses include: Being impatient means you find it hard to wait your turn or let others have their say. Each student has a unique profile of strengths, with some strengths being more developed and others less so, regardless of how they compare to other students. 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? Procrastination To Sum Up 32 Examples of Academic Weaknesses - Simplicable List of Student Strengths and Weaknesses for IEP Writing Your child's IEP should have goals for each area of weakness in reading skills. Reading and writing Tell us what interests you See your recommendations IEP goals are built around what the student can do and how the team can use those abilities. In this section, when writing the list of student strengths for IEP, we want to be sure to write newly achieved skills, other pertinent skills, personal qualities, family, and community strengths as well. Being disorganized is a weakness that means you are easily overwhelmed and dont have a good system for managing your school work. A: Students may be able to identify their strengths and weaknesses through self-reflection, feedback from classmates or teachers, or by engaging in activities that allow them to assess their abilities. Ability to interpret and analyze data and information.