IEP: What are Modifications?
A few days ago I wrote about accommodations to the IEP, stating that accommodations refer to the actual teaching supports a student receives in order to get an equal education. But, what about modifications?
Well, modifications are the actual modifications that are to be made the the curriculum base in order to meet the needs of the student. Wherein accommodations provide tools for the student, modifications will minimize expectations depending upon skill level and performance.
For example:
1. students may be included in the same spelling test but only have to do the first five words because they are at a lower academic level than the later five
2. different tasks in the same unit: your child builds castle blocks while the other children examine the geometric shapes
3. evaluate specific portions of the assignment
4. withdrawal from specific skills to avoid frustration level ie: difficult fine motor tasks that would take a long time can be amended or excused.
5. sensory integration techniques need to also be modified within the curriculum. If there is a gym class activity that includes swinging or sliding that the child has a fear of the child NEEDS to be excused.
Most important in creating modifications is taking advantage of your child’s strengths and ensuring that the IEP team is not “dumbing” down the curriculum. To make sure, look at what the IEP team has written and find out if it is the same curriculum the rest of the class is being taught (if inclusive) and have the IEP team help you to determine if the content is simply watered down or in a different format. Many times (I have found) IEP teams have taken alternative material because it is easier to find.
Here is an excellent list of Accommodations and Modifications.
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