IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meetings are always an interesting and challenging time for me. Generally, I’m prepared but honestly every year I pray for the end of having them. When I had my first meeting, (in Special-Ed Pre-K) I thought I’d only have to do it one or two times. When the meeting occurred last year in first grade, I nearly cried because I was tired of attending them.

For those of you who haven’t experienced one, it’s basically a time when the parent (s), the teacher, any therapists and a General Ed teacher come together to discuss your child on paper. Okay, there is a little more to the meeting but that’s the gist of it.

The hard part is hearing that your child isn’t on level with the “typically developed kids.”  I always remind myself that it’s about my son’s development and no one else’s.

This year’s meeting (second grade) was fun because I had to hear about all the testing my son will have to go through in third grade. Will it be traditional or modified testing? The answer is we’re not sure yet. This year he has to have assessments from the school psychologist, his teacher and therapists to find out.

I just knew by second grade I wouldn’t have to go through this ordeal. Well, the moment has arrived to buckle up for the assessments.  I’m trying not to think about it too much since this is a year long process. There are so many other things we need to focus on right now until actual testing begins.