Katie Harris

Hi there! My name is Katie and I am a teacher in Southern California. I currently teach young adult students with moderate to severe disabilities in a community-based transition program. I have a Master's degree in Education with an emphasis in teaching from University of California, Santa Barbara, in addition to an education specialist instruction credential. I created this site to contribute to the growing knowledge base on teaching best practices, both in special education and in general education. Additionally, I hope to improve parent-teacher relationships and give parents the tools they need to ensure that their students are receiving a meaningful education. Outside of work, I love to do hot yoga, watch reality tv, and eat pasta!

IEP Meaning – What is an Individualized Education Program?

IEP Meaning IEP stands for Individualized Education Program. The IEP is a document that contains many sections of information related to the student, their abilities, and their needs, which you can find outlined in this article Writing an IEP. The central parts of the IEP are the annual, measurable goals (which you can read more …

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Positive Reinforcement in Education and at Home

Positive reinforcement is a strategy for increasing good behavior in students that can be used in the classroom, at home, and across many different environments. It involves the use of providing students with a preferred item or activity when they engage in good behavior. The useful thing about positive reinforcement is that it’s a simple …

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accommodations vs modifications. braille as an accommodation

Accommodations vs Modifications in Education

What is the Purpose of Accommodations and Modifications? A common topic in education is accommodations vs modifications: What’s the difference? Accommodations and modifications are both different types of support in education designed to help students be successful. Many teachers use the terms interchangeably since they are both intended to support students, however this is incorrect. …

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IEP Meeting

What Rights do Parents Have in IEP Meetings?

As a parent, the world of special education can be complicated, confusing, and even intimidating. It’s important to trust your child’s teacher and IEP team, however it’s probably even more important to know your rights as parents. Knowing your parental rights will help ensure that your child receives the most appropriate and meaningful education. Parents …

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What is an IEP Meeting? All Questions Answered!

A lot of parents, or even school staff, might be wondering: “What is an IEP meeting?” An IEP meeting is an annual meeting for a student who qualifies for special education services. Typically, the parents/guardians, special education teacher, general education teacher, school administrator, and any other stakeholders in the student’s education are participants in the …

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IEP Disability Categories | Defining Eligibility for Special Education

What is an IEP? An IEP is an Individualized Education Program for students who qualify for special education services under at least one of IDEA’s disability categories. To learn more about the meaning of an IEP and the initial IEP process once a student is identified for special education services, click here. Special Education Eligibility …

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Writing an IEP – A Complete Guide for Teachers

Writing an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) can be intimidating. After all, it’s a legally-binding contract that affects the wellbeing of someone else’s child! However, if you have an understanding of each of the elements of the IEP, how they’re all connected, and you follow the tips below, you will be able to write an impressive …

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