Does anyone get really nervous during ARDS? What exactly do I need to talk about? Maybe that might make me more relaxed.
Thanks

What are ARDS?

[jjj]

Are you in Texas?

I have an agenda that I use so I don't forget anything important.

I'm assuming you're a special education teacher, not the meeting chairperson. Your chairperson should have a procedure for the meeting and ask all team members to speak whenappropriate. That said, I, a special educator, hav run MANY meetings with my chair sitting at the end of the table. So... for a typicla, Annual review or IEP review meeting:

I always try to speak first, starting by explainig to the team when the child is with me, for how long, and what I teach when he/she is with me. I talk about successes and difficulties we've had in all areas that I directly teach - reading, writing, math - as well as behavior, attention, etc. that I directly observe. I always bring work samples that show progress and difficulties with curriculum and IEP goals, which I share with the team. I also verbally update IEP progress on individual objectives.
From here, I segue to the regular educator, asking for their observations, whether they've seen the any of the same I have, carryover, etc.
Each specialist (SLT, PT, OT, etc.) speak in turn.
We all discuss behavior and any other issue for the child - recess, specials, etc...
If we're approving a new IEP, I'll always have contacted the parent prior to the meeting with proposed objectives, etc., so I quickly review these at the meeting and ask for questions, suggetsion, approval.

I love IEP meetings - although hey take too much time away from teaching! But I remember being VERY nervous at the beginning, too. Now I have a new struggle --- trying to type up the minutes during the meeting, as my new IEP chair doesn't type well and asks us to do it. You might want to make yourself a little outline that you can write on to prepare for each meeting - thi swill help you remember what you want to say and keep you feeling relaxed and prepared!

Best of luck!

I went to a seminar we had at our early release last year. It was called something like "How to talk to parents of special ed students" or something like that. I found it very helpful. It was aimed specifically at what we do every time we have a meeting. It was very practical and not something that the administration thought we would need. I think our SLP scheduled it. If you like, I will get the website and post it here. Maybe your school would like to schedule this company for an early release. If you would, let me know.