IEP amendments are one of the most effective ways to make timely changes to a student’s plan without waiting for the annual meeting. In this episode, Stephanie breaks down how to use amendments to keep IEPs accurate, responsive, and aligned with what students actually need.

In this episode, Stephanie covers:

• what an IEP amendment is and how it works
• when an amendment should be used instead of waiting for a full meeting
• six common scenarios where amendments are appropriate
• what can and cannot be amended
• best practices for documentation, communication, and compliance

If you’ve ever questioned whether to wait or make a change now, this episode will give you the clarity to move forward. Save it for your next IEP review or share it with your team, and explore The Intentional IEP Membership for more support and resources.

Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/

For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources:

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/

https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep

https://www.instagram.com/theintentionaliep

If your IEPs feel rushed, inconsistent, or harder than they should be to write, you’re not the only one. A lot of what shows up in IEPs comes down to habits that were never clearly taught. In this episode, Stephanie breaks down the patterns she sees most often and shows you how to clean them up so your IEPs are clearer, stronger, and easier to implement.

In this episode, Stephanie covers:

• 11 common IEP writing mistakes that show up across teams and caseloads
• Why these mistakes happen in the first place
• Simple shifts you can make to start writing clearer, more effective IEPs

You don’t have to fix everything at once. Start with one shift and build from there. Strong IEPs come from being intentional, not perfect. If this episode resonated, share it with your team or save it for your next writing day.

And if you want more support, explore The Intentional IEP Membership, including tools like the Goal Bank, Data Screeners, and Training Vault to make IEP writing simpler and more effective.

Watch the Free 80% Accuracy Video here

Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/

For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources:

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/

https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep

https://www.instagram.com/theintentionaliep

Test taking accommodations can feel confusing for many special education teachers, especially during testing season. Questions often come up about what is allowed, what is not, and how to make sure students are properly supported during assessments.

In this episode, Stephanie breaks down what test taking accommodations actually are and how they should be used to support students with disabilities. She also explains the important difference between accommodations and modifications, and why that distinction matters during benchmark and state testing.

Stephanie covers

• What test taking accommodations are and how they help remove barriers without lowering expectations

• The difference between accommodations and modifications and why modifications are not allowed on benchmark or state assessments

• The benefits of accommodations for access, equity, and more accurate student data

• Five commonly permitted accommodations teachers should understand and begin teaching students to use

• Why accommodations should be practiced throughout the year, not introduced only during testing

This episode helps special education teachers better understand how accommodations support students in demonstrating what they know while still maintaining grade level expectations.

Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/

For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources:

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/

https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep

https://www.instagram.com/theintentionaliep

Disagreements in IEP meetings can feel uncomfortable, especially when emotions are high and everyone in the room is trying to advocate for what they believe is best for the student. But these moments are not unusual. In fact, they are a natural part of the collaborative process.

In this episode, Stephanie walks through how special education teachers can navigate parent disagreements with clarity, professionalism, and confidence. She also explains why having strong systems in place throughout the year can make these conversations much easier when they do arise.

Stephanie covers

• The most common areas where parents and IEP teams tend to disagree

• Why emotions often run high during IEP meetings

• How data can help guide conversations back to student need

• Strategies for building strong relationships with families before disagreements happen

• Ways to help parents understand and advocate within the IEP process

This episode offers practical insight to help teachers approach difficult conversations with empathy, preparation, and a focus on collaboration.

Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/

For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources:

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/

https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep

https://www.instagram.com/theintentionaliep

Paperwork is one of the biggest sources of stress for special education teachers. It’s not just writing IEPs. It’s data logs, service minutes, progress reports, behavior documentation, meeting notes, emails, and reevaluation timelines. Without a clear system, it can quickly start to feel like you’re always behind.

In this episode, Stephanie shares a training pulled directly from The Intentional IEP Membership video vault. Instead of constantly reacting to deadlines and documentation demands, this training focuses on building systems that make paperwork more manageable and predictable.

Stephanie covers

• Why paperwork starts to feel overwhelming when there is no system supporting it

• Anchoring your timelines so important deadlines and reevaluations do not catch you off guard

• Identifying your true priorities instead of constantly reacting to incoming tasks

• Creating connected systems so paperwork moves forward instead of piling up

When paperwork is organized, everything changes. You spend less time scrambling to catch up and more time focusing on your students.

Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/

For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources:

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/

https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep

https://www.instagram.com/theintentionaliep

Lesson adaptations are one of the most practical tools teachers can use, yet they are often confused with accommodations and modifications. In this episode of The Intentional IEP Podcast, we talk about how small, intentional adjustments can help students access the same content as their peers.

Instead of relying on the same few strategies, expanding your toolbox gives you more ways to support students when they are struggling or feeling overwhelmed. The goal is not to change the learning, but to remove barriers so students can stay engaged and participate in meaningful instruction.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why lesson adaptations matter in everyday instruction

• How small changes can improve access to grade level content

• Simple ways to adjust lessons when students are struggling

• Ideas for supporting participation without lowering expectations

• How to experiment with different strategies until you find what works for your students

Sometimes the smallest shift in how a lesson is delivered can make a big difference in how a student experiences learning.

Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/

For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources:

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/

https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep

https://www.instagram.com/theintentionaliep

In this episode, we’re talking about a topic that can bring up a lot of mixed feelings in the special education world: test taking.

Benchmark assessments, state testing, and standardized exams can feel overwhelming and sometimes disconnected from what matters most in SPED. But here’s the shift we’re making today. We are not teaching to the test. We are teaching students how to show what they know. That is a life skill.

In this episode, Stephanie covers:

• How to explicitly teach three core test taking strategies

• Simple scaffolds and accommodations that support diverse learners

• Practical, no prep ways to embed these skills into your daily routine starting this week

We are not teaching to the test. We are teaching students how to show what they know. That is self advocacy. That is independence. That is real world skill building.

Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/

For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources:

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/

https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep

https://www.instagram.com/theintentionaliep

You sit down to plan your week, look at your caseload, and immediately feel the pressure. Communication goals. Reading fluency. Fine motor. Math facts. Social skills. Behavior. All of it matters. But how are you supposed to work on everything without burning out?

In this episode Stephanie tackles the question every special educator asks at some point: How do we actually prioritize IEP goals when time, staffing, and student needs are pulling us in ten different directions?

The truth is you cannot target every goal at once. And that is not failure. It is strategy. Prioritizing the right goals at the right time is what moves you from survival mode to impact mode.

In this episode Stephanie covers:

• How to identify and sequence foundational skills that unlock other IEP goals

• Simple systems like task boxes, team communication, and shared goal awareness to create consistency

• A practical classroom rotation model to maximize limited time and focus on high impact priorities

Prioritizing IEP goals is not about doing less. It is about doing what matters most first. You are not failing your students because you cannot hit every goal every day.

Check out the IEP Matrix: https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-iep-matrix/

Learn how to use IEP Work Bins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um2CoF6KaQw

Not a member? Join Today — you can get 50% off your first month of membership https://products.theintentionaliep.com/tii-membership-50off1stmonth-podcast/

For more information, check out more of Stephanie's resources:

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/the-intentional-iep-book/

https://www.theintentionaliep.com/

https://www.facebook.com/theintentionaliep

https://www.instagram.com/theintentionaliep