IEP snapshots, also called IEPs at a Glance, are incredible tools for supporting your students and your colleagues. While they may feel like just one more thing added to our already long to do lists as special education teachers, IEP snapshots are a great way to proactively advocate for your students in a non threatening way. They help your general education teachers get to know your students, communicate student accommodations that legally must be followed, and send a signal to the teachers that you are available to support them and are a team player.
Here are my tips and tricks for making the most out of your IEP snapshots!
What information should an IEP Snapshot include?
Each child’s snapshot should include basic information, such as their name, grade, and a school picture, if possible.
Important IEP information should also be included, such as their accommodations and supplementary services, including social work or speech. I include that I am their case manager and my phone extension for easy access. I also include the most recent assessment scores for the students for our district reading and math tests so teachers know what to expect with their academic levels. This helps ensure students get the academic support they need, such as modified texts at their reading level.
The most powerful part of my IEP snapshots is the Student Strengths section, where I share about student strengths and interests. Other teachers can use this information to drive relationship building conversations with the student. For some students, this section will be so easy to write, especially if you have known the student for several years. For others, such as students who are new to you or those that have been difficult for you to build a relationship with, start with what you do know! Maybe they are a very loyal friend, or enjoy reading, recess, or art class. I promise, you can find something positive about every student you teach! If you don’t know the interests and strengths of your students, you can also find some basic strengths listed in the IEP section labeled “Student Strengths”. You can also reach out to the previous case manager, if possible, to ask about the student’s interests. As you learn more about the student over time, go back to add more information!
I promise, you can find something positive about every student you teach!
Another important section includes student needs, where I can share strategies that have worked for that student in the past. I write about things that are known to frustrate or cause a student to shut down, like when others earn a reward or if they have test anxiety. I like to include options, like if a student requires breaks, works better in a small group, or likes to do special jobs when they are upset. Be specific with what your student needs and provide details about the strategies that work, such as what their breaks include or steps the teacher can take. If a student has extensive needs, like a detailed behavior plan or instructions for hearing aid systems, for example, I will include a second slide with more detailed information. Again, if you don’t know detailed information on this, reading through their most recent IEP will help you find some things the student struggles with and strategies they may benefit from. You should also make sure to go back and add information as you learn it!
Sometimes, previous case managers will send a snapshot along, which is so helpful for new students, but I still recreate it in a digital format to allow for easy updates in the future. This also lets me make sure it includes all of the information needed and helps me get to know the student before they set foot in my classroom!
When should I share the IEP Snapshot with teachers?
I strongly believe that classroom teachers should have IEP snapshots prior to the first day of school. There are many benefits to this, but the most important one is that this lets teachers know about student accommodations that must be legally followed from day one! If a student has preferential seating, your teachers need to know this before they create their seating chart for the first day of school! If your student has a behavior plan, your teachers need to know that before they start the year off on the wrong foot! If teachers need to provide testing accommodations, they need to know that before they give any pretests or beginning of the year district assessments! Some proactive planning on your part will help your students and their teachers tremendously.
Some proactive planning on your part will help your students and their teachers tremendously!
In addition to sharing the snapshots prior to the first day of school, I also like to update and share them again before the start of our second semester. At the middle school level, students can have new teachers as their classes change, meaning the first day of second semester feels like the first day of school all over again! I also think it serves as a natural point in the year to remind teachers about accommodations and student needs. We all need reminders from time to time!
There are other times that you will need to send out a student snapshot as well. It can also be helpful to update the snapshots after a student’s IEP. Share them with teachers if anything big has changed, such as new accommodations or services are added. Once you have a digital snapshot, updating and sharing them is quick and easy. In addition, if I have a new student who starts mid-year, I create a snapshot right away and include information from the student’s most recent IEP, when I get it from our school’s registrar. I share it with teachers right away and add to it as I get to know the student. Lastly, pay attention to if your students require schedule changes throughout the semester, and be sure to share the snapshots with any new teachers they may have.
Should I print them or share them digitally?
I create my snapshots on google slides and share them digitally with teachers. This allows me to edit and update them throughout the year as needed without having to reprint and redistribute them. Some teachers opt to print them after they have been shared, but I have never received any complaints about the digital format.
Having digital snapshots also saves me time each year, since I only need to update my existing snapshots for my returning caseload students instead of recreating them. I can easily create them for new students by making a copy of my template and adding the information that I can find.
Who do you share the snapshots with?
Anyone who will work with the student! I share snapshots with classroom teachers, other special education providers, instructional assistants, and even student teachers. I think it’s important that all stakeholders have access to easy-to-navigate information on what my caseload students need to be successful! I do make sure to remind each recipient that the snapshots are confidential documents.
I do not leave my snapshots for substitute teachers. Instead, I type up the information I think they need to know as I plan for a guest teacher. If you think it would be helpful, you can leave snapshots for a substitute teacher, but be sure to indicate that they are confidential documents and that the information regarding students should not be shared.
What do I say?
Great question! My IEP snapshots are google slides presentations for each student. I share the viewable link with my teachers. Here is what I generally say to explain them. Feel free to use this as a template for your own emails!
Okay, you’ve convinced me! Now what?
I’m sure you have enough on your back-to-school to-do list! Using digital templates will make creating IEP snapshots a breeze! Here’s a link to my IEP Snapshot Template freebie to help make sure you don’t waste time recreating the wheel!
Do you use IEP Snapshots in your to communicate with general education teachers? Let me know in the comments!
