3.6 Sharing of Information

Sharing Information

The person who assessed or provides services in each area should address that area. If an assessment report has been developed, the report should be distributed and used as a point of reference. The facilitator generally introduces a topic and then tums it over to the appropriate specialist. Listed below are some suggestions for presenting material:

1. Approach the parents in a non-threatening manner, respect the parents' opinion and solicit their input;

2. Show interest in the student and describe the student's strengths;

3. Speak in a "lay person's" vocabulary and avoid using educational jargon;

4. Explain test acronyms (WISC, CELF), phrases (auditory discrimination, spatial organization), statistical terms (standard deviation, G.E., stanine, C.A.) and program or service types (LSH, RSP, SC);

5. Use test percentile scores, when possible, as they are often the least misinterpreted;

6. Each presenter should provide a graphic representation of his or her findings and/or provide a description of the test items and explanation of scores;

7. Be prepared to discuss expectations for the "average" or "typical" student in the various academic areas

8. Provide specific descriptions about progress such as, "At the beginning of the year, he could do such and such and now he can do ...", instead of non-descriptive generalizations such as, "He's made so much progress";

9. Do NOT blame the student if little or no progress has been made, instead explain that the program must be modified until the best method of teaching him or her is identified;

10. Be alert to non-verbal body language. Information to be Presented at the IEP To provide the parents with a clear understanding of their child's progress in acquiring a diploma the Case Manager is bring to the meeting and review: • student's transcript • current schedule • attendance and discipline reports • Yosemite Valley or Monarch Rivers Graduation Requirements (students on diploma track).