Running head: JOURNAL ARTICLE REVIEW 1
Journal Article Review #1
Katrina Shumpert
Liberty University
September 4, 2016
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Summary
Back to the Basics: Practical Tips for IEP Writing by Angela Patti gives thorough yet
simple advice for those that work with writing individual education programs (IEP). Throughout
the article Ms. Garcia is used as an example of a teacher that is writing an IEP for the first time.
The author gives readers five tips for writing an IEP: gather input, tell the child’s story,
incorporate data, make it flow, and utilize resources. Special education teachers are the ones in
charge of writing students’ IEPs and these five tips allow for ease and success while doing so.
Analysis of Author’s Key Points
The five tips made by the author allow for ease in writing an IEP. The first tip is to gather
input; rom individuals that work closely with the student, parents, and even the child themselves.
One idea listed by the author is to make a questionnaire for these individuals for an easier way to
gather input. This is a practical idea for those in special education; it is a much easier method of
communication and does not require meeting continuously with individuals. The second tip is to
tell the child’s story when writing the student’s present levels on the IEP; this is so “individuals
reading the IEP can get a clear picture of who the child is and be able to distinguish the given
child from other children described in other IEPs (Patti, 2016, p. 154). Tip three is to incorporate
the data into the now written story of the child. The fourth tip is to make sure that the story and
data collected on the child flow. The information included in the IEP should match. Starting with
the story of the child and then adding in data seems like it would make it easier and not
overwhelming for the person writing the IEP. The fifth tip presented by Patti is to use resources.
Using resources and researching information on IEPs is probably the most important tip given in
this article; there is no need to start from scratch and feel overwhelmed when someone else has
already done this. The audience of this article can clearly gain insight into writing an IEP.
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Personal Response
The practical tips provided throughout the article give a generalized guide to those who
have to write IEPs. When reading the article there were a couple things that stuck out. The idea
of creating a questionnaire to send to those who work with the student is a wonderful concept.
This allows for teachers to fill it out on their own time; often it is difficult for teachers to have
meeting after meeting. This is also a good concept for general education teachers that need to
communicate about certain students. The other point that really stood out is letting the child have
input in the IEP process. This is important for those that are high-functioning and can
acknowledge their strengths and set personal goals. Writing an IEP is time consuming and
overwhelming, at least the first time it is written. This article provides reasonable guidance in
writing an IEP.
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References
Patti, A. (2016). Back to the Basics: Practical Tips for IEP Writing. Intervention in School and
Clinic, 51(3), 151-156. Retrieved from
http://isc.sagepub.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/content/51/3/151.full.pdf+html
