Our Blog
The Smarter Steps® IEP Blog allows parents and professionals the opportunity to review topics related to children with special needs. Check out the categories on the right side to search the Smarter Steps® IEP Blog topics or enter key words in the search bar. We welcome your blog comments and questions for discussion.
May 17, 2023
No Exhaustion Needed for IEP Students Seeking Compensatory Damages under the ADA law: Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools
What if your child attended school for several years with an IEP and you later discovered that one of the accommodations was provided in a fraudulent way all that time? For example, let's say your child was blind and was supposed to be taught Braille, but the school never provided a certified Braille teacher. Or, […]
June 23, 2022
How To Address Missed IEP Services
Originally published on August 17, 2021 to address lost IEP services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The concepts addressed in this blog, however, can be applied to any situation in which a student loses or misses services due to various circumstances that could occur. As we move forward as IEP teams to address lost and […]
March 27, 2020
S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Steps®: Using Magic Recipes in On-line Therapy for IEP Goals
S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Steps® presents a video tutorial on how to use magic recipes during on-line therapy for IEP Goals. These recipes use "pretend cooking" tasks on-line to create an imaginary item that actually appears in their home. This task has the hidden motivator at the end of the session in order to keep the children engaged. […]
March 27, 2020
Smarter Steps®: Using Sorting Tasks for Executive Functioning IEP Goals
Smarter Steps presents a video tutorial about using sorting tasks for executive functioning skills for IEP Goals. Parents can learn about the importance of a foundation executive functioning skill called "sorting" that is a major component of developing higher level organization frameworks. Children need lots of practice with sorting in order to build a framework […]
March 27, 2020
Smarter Steps®: Using Jenga® for IEP Goals
Smarter Steps has created a video tutorial on how to use Jenga® for IEP Goals. Parents who are working with their children at home due to the corona virus can use this task for making therapy at home fun. Learn how to take this game and to infuse practice for speech, language, sight words, vocabulary, […]
March 25, 2020
Smarter Steps: Using Mad Libs® for IEP Goals for Language Skills
Need a fun idea to work on language IEP goals? At Smarter Steps, we provide a tutorial video on how to use the tried and true activity of Mad Libs®. Children can learn about different parts of language in a humorous way. This activity can be done virtually with friends during the time of social […]
March 23, 2020
Using a Twister® Game for IEP Goal Activities
A tutorial video from SMARTER Steps for how to use the game of Twister® to address IEP Goals during home activities. This is a great idea for addressing sight words, math facts, vocabulary, and personal information. Game can be adapted to be played virtually during social distancing during COVID-19. Parents and siblings can play along. […]
May 7, 2019
Dynamic Duo behind SMARTER Steps to IEP Goals: Xceptional Leaders Podcast
Kelly Ott and Lara Wakefield, the Dynamic Duo Behind SMARTER Steps®, a Simple Acronym That Makes IEP Goal Setting Actionable and Attainable Listen Now! Coming together with a wealth of individual expertise and professional experiences, Kelly Ott and Lara Wakefield share their journey of their successful partnership as business partners, and … friends. Although they […]
February 27, 2019
Is Your Team Addressing These Measurable IEP Goal Pain Points?
Annual IEP goals determine which services will be implemented to support the student’s progress during the school year. If those goals can’t be easily measured, how will the team know if the student met them?
January 15, 2019
LRE vs. Inclusion of Special Needs Students in Regular Classrooms: The 6th Circuit Hyde Decision
A Tennessee school district has been ordered to pay $103,274 to reimburse the family of a student with Down Syndrome for the cost of private school tuition and tutoring. The District Court ruling follows a decision by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals that the Hamilton County Department of Education violated now-15-year-old Luka Hyde’s rights […]
November 28, 2018
Endrew Decision: How Do You Write ‘Ambitious’ IEP Goals?
If you’re an IEP team member, you already know that IEP goals drive everything to help students with disabilities. The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Endrew vs. Douglas County School District (2017) stated that IEP goals must be “appropriately ambitious.” Now, IEP teams may be wondering how to ensure compliant goals in light of this […]
November 20, 2018
Dyslexia and Specific Learning Disability in Reading: School Assessment Versus Medical Diagnosis
The parent who tries to start a dialogue about their child’s reading challenges often finds that legal and medical jargon get in the way. Parents who are accustomed to using the word “dyslexia” to describe their child’s learning disability may become confused when they hear clinicians and school officials calling it a “specific learning disability” […]
August 22, 2018
Creating SMARTER IEP Goals
Creating IEP Goals: 3 Tips to Get Started We want your school year to begin on the right foot! As each IEP is annually reviewed, begin to develop S.M.A.R.T.E.R goals for your students. Tips on updating specific features are available throughout the webinar series in your membership portal. Tip 1: Start by examining student strengths. […]
August 22, 2018
Focus Point: Parent to Teacher Communication
Tune in as Kelly and Lara discuss how difficult it can be for parents to share pertinent information with teachers. Learn ways to help them communicate the positive strengths and abilities of their child. SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW OUR FREE WEBINAR "HOW TO SAVE TIME AND DEVELOP LEGALLY COMPLIANT IEP GOALS" “How to Save Time and Develop […]
April 18, 2018
Focus Point 24: Graduate Training on Goal Writing
Listen as Kelly and Lara reminisce on their graduate training related to writing goals. Laugh with them as they share their experiences and reflect on best practices. SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW OUR FREE WEBINAR "HOW TO SAVE TIME AND DEVELOP LEGALLY COMPLIANT IEP GOALS" “How to Save Time and Develop Legally Compliant IEP Goals” is the […]
April 4, 2018
Focus Point 23: Goals Drive the Services
Kelly & Lara discuss goal writing across therapeutic and academic settings. While the mandates are different in various work environments, it is always the goals that should drive the services we provide. SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW OUR FREE WEBINAR "HOW TO SAVE TIME AND DEVELOP LEGALLY COMPLIANT IEP GOALS" “How to Save Time and Develop Legally […]
April 1, 2018
Focus Point 22: Professionalism & Emails
Kelly and Lara share their experiences about sending work emails. They highlight the pitfalls associated with formal written communication. They laugh at the dreaded "reply to all" mishaps that have occurred. SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW OUR FREE WEBINAR "HOW TO SAVE TIME AND DEVELOP LEGALLY COMPLIANT IEP GOALS" “How to Save Time and Develop Legally Compliant […]
March 25, 2018
Focus Point 21: Interviewing Students with Disabilities
Join Lara and Kelly as they discuss the challenges that educators, administrators and law enforcement face when interviewing individuals with disabilities. SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW OUR FREE WEBINAR "HOW TO SAVE TIME AND DEVELOP LEGALLY COMPLIANT IEP GOALS" “How to Save Time and Develop Legally Compliant IEP Goals” is the overview webinar of the SMARTER Steps […]
March 16, 2018
Focus Point 20: Preparing for an IEP Meeting
Join Kelly & Lara as they discuss best practices when preparing for an IEP meeting. SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW OUR FREE WEBINAR "HOW TO SAVE TIME AND DEVELOP LEGALLY COMPLIANT IEP GOALS" “How to Save Time and Develop Legally Compliant IEP Goals” is the overview webinar of the SMARTER Steps system. Learn this easy 7-step prompting […]
March 16, 2018
Focus Point 19: Having Fun in IEP Meetings
Join Lara and Kelly for a St. Patrick Day episode of Focus Point while they discuss some of the fun IEP meetings they have attended. What ways does your team find to lighten the mood and set a positive tone for meetings? SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW OUR FREE WEBINAR "HOW TO SAVE TIME AND DEVELOP LEGALLY […]
March 5, 2018
Focus Point 18: Teacher Participation in the IEP
Today, Lara and Kelly discuss relevant teacher input during the IEP. What are the challenges and what are the benefits? SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW OUR FREE WEBINAR "HOW TO SAVE TIME AND DEVELOP LEGALLY COMPLIANT IEP GOALS" “How to Save Time and Develop Legally Compliant IEP Goals” is the overview webinar of the SMARTER Steps system. […]
February 28, 2018
Focus Point 17: Students Keeping Data
Tune into focus point 17 while Lara and Kelly discuss the pros and cons of students keeping their own data. SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW OUR FREE WEBINAR "HOW TO SAVE TIME AND DEVELOP LEGALLY COMPLIANT IEP GOALS" “How to Save Time and Develop Legally Compliant IEP Goals” is the overview webinar of the SMARTER Steps system. […]
February 27, 2018
Focus Point 16: Addressing Specific Skills in IEP Goals
Kelly and Lara discuss the process in addressing specific skills in IEP Goals. They explain the difference between areas of concern and specific skills and how to prioritize based on three essential components. SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW OUR FREE WEBINAR "HOW TO SAVE TIME AND DEVELOP LEGALLY COMPLIANT IEP GOALS" “How to Save Time and Develop […]
February 8, 2018
IEP Goals Beyond the 3 R's
IEP Goals Beyond the 3 R's Today we received this question from a subscriber: All the IEP goals I see are linked to the 3 R's and I teach Science. How do you suggest getting science and other subjects considered when admins are pushing for better 3R test scores in IEP meetings? This is something […]
January 31, 2018
Focus Point 15: IEP Impact Statement
Join Kelly and Lara while they discuss the importance of the student's impact statement in the IEP. Find out how to include specific details that can drive your IEP goals and services. SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW OUR FREE WEBINAR "HOW TO SAVE TIME AND DEVELOP LEGALLY COMPLIANT IEP GOALS" “How to Save Time and Develop Legally […]
January 31, 2018
Focus Point 14: IEP Present Level Pet Peeves
Tune in to Focus Point Episode 14 while Kelly and Lara discuss some of the do's and don'ts related to developing a child's present level of academic and functional performance for their IEP. SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW OUR FREE WEBINAR "HOW TO SAVE TIME AND DEVELOP LEGALLY COMPLIANT IEP GOALS" “How to Save Time and Develop Legally […]
January 23, 2018
Focus Point 13: IEP Meeting Pet Peeves
Tune in to Focus Point Episode 13 while Kelly and Lara discuss a few pet peeves they have with issues that come up in IEP meetings. What are some of your pet peeves? SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW OUR FREE WEBINAR "HOW TO SAVE TIME AND DEVELOP LEGALLY COMPLIANT IEP GOALS" “How to Save Time and Develop […]
January 13, 2018
Focus Point 12: Defining Professionalism
Tune in to Focus Point Episode 12 while Kelly & Lara discuss the characteristics and qualities that define professionalism. What other characteristics would you add to this definition? SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW OUR FREE WEBINAR "HOW TO SAVE TIME AND DEVELOP LEGALLY COMPLIANT IEP GOALS" “How to Save Time and Develop Legally Compliant IEP Goals” is […]
January 10, 2018
Focus Point 11: Venting on Social Media
Tune in to Focus Point Episode 11 while Kelly and Lara discuss the negative professional consequences to venting on social media. SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW OUR FREE WEBINAR "HOW TO SAVE TIME AND DEVELOP LEGALLY COMPLIANT IEP GOALS" “How to Save Time and Develop Legally Compliant IEP Goals” is the overview webinar of the SMARTER Steps system. […]
December 12, 2017
Focus Point 10: Asking for Scores on Social Media Forums
Tune in to Focus Point Episode 10 while Kelly and Lara discuss the risks of asking for standardized scores from colleagues on social media. They highlight how knowing the risks can prevent ethical violations. SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW OUR FREE WEBINAR "HOW TO SAVE TIME AND DEVELOP LEGALLY COMPLIANT IEP GOALS" “How to Save Time and Develop […]
December 6, 2017
Focus Point 9: Professional Lynching
Tune in to Focus Point Episode 9 while Kelly and Lara discuss how social media discussions can erroneously promote the erosion of colleague reputation and integrity. SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW OUR FREE WEBINAR "HOW TO SAVE TIME AND DEVELOP LEGALLY COMPLIANT IEP GOALS" “How to Save Time and Develop Legally Compliant IEP Goals” is the overview […]
November 29, 2017
Focus Point 8: Social Media & Confidentialityyy
Tune in to Focus Point Episode 8 while Kelly and Lara discuss the complexity of social media and confidentiality issues. What concerns do you have with confidentiality while using online forums? SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW OUR FREE WEBINAR "HOW TO SAVE TIME AND DEVELOP LEGALLY COMPLIANT IEP GOALS" “How to Save Time and Develop Legally Compliant […]
October 30, 2017
Focus Point 7: The Benefits of Social Media on Professional Development
Tune in to Focus Point Episode 7 while Kelly and Lara discuss the benefits that social media for professional growth. What benefits have you experienced using online forums? SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW OUR FREE WEBINAR "HOW TO SAVE TIME AND DEVELOP LEGALLY COMPLIANT IEP GOALS" “How to Save Time and Develop Legally Compliant IEP Goals” is […]
October 27, 2017
Focus Point 6: Professional Development through CEUs
Kelly Ott and Lara Wakefield, from SMARTER Steps discuss the types of CEU opportunities, the pros and cons and traditional versus trending ways to receive continuing education units for professional development. What experiences have you had with CEU opportunities in your career? What are your preferred methods of receiving continuing education units? SUBSCRIBE TO VIEW […]
October 25, 2017
Focus Point 5: Collegiate Relationships
Kelly Ott and Lara Wakefield, from SMARTER Steps discuss the pros and cons of peer pal versus mentor relationships and how they assist professional growth. What experiences have you had with peer support and/or mentors in your career? Learn more about the pros and cons of both types of relationships as they relate to professional […]
October 4, 2017
Focus Point 4: What Happened to Mentoring?
Kelly Ott and Lara Wakefield, from SMARTER Steps discuss a growing concern they have in the field of special education and related services: the lack of quality mentoring available to new practitioners. Kelly and Lara have noticed a trend with new special educators and related services providers. These new practitioners are expressing concern that they […]
September 30, 2017
Focus Point 3: Neuroplasticity
Is neuroplasticity of the brain a pseudo-science? If you look at the facts alone, neuroplasticity is well-documented in neuroscience research. In the past, people thought the brain was in a form of stasis, not changing and rooted in its connections. When neuroplasticity was first proposed, it was not widely accepted. Neuroplasticity means the brain […]
September 20, 2017
Focus Point 2: The Evidence Binary
The Council for Exceptional Children has recommended that professionals in education discuss evidence-based practices according to 5 descriptors starting in 2014 with updated criteria in 2017. Instead of classifying practices simply in a binary way: "evidence-based" or "not evidence-based", the new standards provide more detailed classifications. Specifically, the new standards result in instructional approaches being […]
August 31, 2017
Focus Point: Meet Kelly Ott and Lara Wakefield
Meet Kelly Ott and Lara Wakefield, Co-owners of SMARTER Steps. We welcome you to Episode 1 of Focus Point. What's Focus Point? It's a place where 2 professionals from very different backgrounds and philosophies come together for a "Meeting of the Minds." We invite you to join in the discussion! Click on the link above […]
August 25, 2017
S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Steps® IEP Goal Development
SMARTER Steps IEP Goal Development: The SMARTER method for IEP goal development was developed by Kelly Ott and Lara Wakefield and published in 2016. The SMART acronym was first coined by George Doran, Arthur Miller, and James Cunningham in 1981. The November 1981 issue of Management Review included an article titled, "There's a S.M.A.R.T. way […]
August 22, 2017
Building A S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Future for Students with Disabilities
Building A S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Future for Students with Disabilities. Building a name and reputation as a caring and compassionate educator occurs spontaneously when you are truly client centered. This involves so much more than developing IEP goals or providing therapy services to students. It means, providing the therapy or instruction, ongoing analysis of student’s needs, counseling […]
July 23, 2017
Momentum for the Back-to-School Challenge
Momentum: READY... SET... GO! Momentum for a continuously positive school year! Even if you did not have access to a calendar, you can tell that the school year is fast approaching by watching social media discussions. The topics have a hint of excitement and show eagerness to get rooms, lesson plans, and theme ideas underway! […]
July 18, 2017
Amazing Surprises on the CEU Cruise to Alaska
Amazing Surprises on the CEU Cruise to Alaska I remember listening to instructors complain about attending our state and national conventions. Their complaints included the lack of intermediate and advanced trainings as well as the impeding cost of the conference. I remember thinking that I hope I never get so old and set in my […]
November 7, 2016
"More Therapy" versus "Relationship of Delivery to Outcome"
More Therapy versus Relationship of Delivery to Outcome The outcome of therapy relies on more than the amount of therapy minutes provided. “More therapy” versus “relationship of delivery to outcome” has been a popular topic on social media professional discussion groups. Regrettably, this is a dilemma that comes up often in school based practices. During IEP […]
May 23, 2016
Student Led IEPs: Putting Proposals into Practice
Student Led IEPs: Putting Proposals Into Practice Have you ever encountered a really great idea, program, or activity but are not sure how to get started? Even though student led IEPS are best practices, how do we implement them? Where do we begin and how are educators effectively putting these proposals into practice? Student led […]
May 10, 2016
Breaking Down 5 Barriers to Student Led IEPs
Breaking Down 5 Barriers to Student Led IEPs Schools often have difficulty breaking down 5 barriers to student led IEPs. While evidence suggests that conducting student led IEPs can be beneficial, it has not become a mainstream practice across the nation. In fact, many schools do not routinely involve […]
May 9, 2016
Student Led IEP Meetings
Student Led IEP Meetings 2 Essential Benefits of Student Led IEP Meetings The concept of student led IEP meetings is growing momentum. There has been a growing discussion about including students and allowing them to lead the development of their Individualized Education Plan (IEP). While it seems sensible enough to include the student in his […]
May 1, 2016
4 Ways Educators Can Keep the Pace Through May
Four Ways that Educators Can Keep the Pace Through May Educators know how hard it can be to keep up the momentum and remain focused throughout the school year. So many barriers distract educators into a negative downward spiral during the last quarter of the school year. Last minute referrals, endless meetings, paperwork, depleted funds […]
March 29, 2016
SMARTER Steps®: Sculpting Special Needs Students Through The IEP
Sculpting Special Needs Students When Designing the IEP We can sculpt our students by designing an IEP with the end result as our vision. How does an artist develop a sculpture? The three dimensional figures can be constructed by adding material (modelling), removing material (carving) or intermediate techniques such as molding, casting or stamping. While […]
March 24, 2016
SMARTER Steps in the Spirit of Giving
SMARTER Steps in the Spirit of Giving Charitable Contributions from SMARTER Steps At SMARTER Steps we have found tremendous benefits to making charitable donations. Does your company make contributions within your community? If not, here are 3 top reasons you should consider donating to local charities. While charitable acts are done without expectations of gain, […]
March 6, 2016
How to Write Specific IEP Goals: Part 1 from S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Steps®
How To Write Specific IEP Goals: Part 1 by Kelly Ott, MHS, MEd, and Lara Wakefield, PhD from S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Steps®, LLC (The following is an excerpt from the SMARTER Steps to IEP Goals webinars from the SMARTER Steps membership site): When thinking about the Specific part of the S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Steps IEP Goal acronym, we need […]
November 30, 2015
13 Federal Mandates for IEP Goal Development
13 Federal Mandates for IEP Goal Development Can you specifically name each federal mandate related to creating IEP goals? Did you receive specific training to learn these mandates during graduate school or during practicums? Do you remember all the regulations and the history of their development? If not, here is a free resource to help […]
July 22, 2015
SMARTER Steps™ Perspective 2015: 40 Years of The Least Restrictive Environment
40 Years of The Least Restrictive Environment: Where Are We Now? The 2015-2016 school year will mark the 40th anniversary of the "Least Restrictive Environment" (LRE). One of the original guiding principles in the education of students with disabilities was Wolfensberger’s (1972) concept of normalization (Fisher, Frey, & Thousand, 2003). The normalization movement was sparked […]
