As parents, we often walk into IEP and 504 meetings hoping the school has gathered enough information to truly understand our child. But here’s something many families don’t realize:
You don’t have to rely solely on school data.
In fact, some of the most meaningful information about your child may come from the adults who spend time with them outside of the classroom.
Your Child Doesn’t Stop Learning at 3:00 PM
Think about everything your child has done this summer.
Maybe they attended camp, worked with a tutor, participated in dance, martial arts, sports, Scouts, youth group, or preschool. These experiences offer something schools often don’t get to see.
How does your child interact with peers when they’re relaxed?
Can they follow multi-step directions during a game?
Do movement breaks help them stay focused?
What accommodations naturally help them succeed?
How do they handle frustration when learning something new?
These observations provide a much more complete picture of who your child is.
Different Environments Reveal Different Strengths
Children don’t behave exactly the same in every setting.
A child who struggles to participate in the classroom may become a confident leader at camp.
A child who appears distracted at school may stay engaged for an hour during tutoring because instruction is individualized.
A student who shuts down during writing assignments may eagerly communicate through hands-on projects or games.
None of these observations are “right” or “wrong.” Together, they help us understand what conditions allow a child to thrive.
That is incredibly valuable information.
Parent-Collected Data Is Real Data
Many parents worry that only formal assessments or school observations matter.
That’s simply not true.
Professionals—including teachers, school psychologists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, counselors, psychiatrists, pediatricians, behavior specialists, and developmental specialists—often benefit from understanding how a child functions across multiple environments.
The more complete the picture, the better decisions everyone can make.
Patterns Tell the Story
One observation may not mean much.
Five observations from different adults often reveal a pattern.
Maybe every adult notices your child succeeds when directions are broken into smaller steps.
Maybe multiple people report that movement helps improve attention.
Maybe everyone notices that your child becomes overwhelmed by loud environments but thrives in smaller groups.
When several trusted adults observe the same strengths or challenges, those patterns become powerful conversation starters during meetings.
Accommodations Should Be Built Around Success
Too often, meetings focus on what children can’t do.
I believe we should also ask:
- What helps this child succeed?
- When do they feel confident?
- Which supports actually work?
- What environments bring out their best?
- What strengths can we build upon?
When we understand these answers, accommodations become more meaningful, individualized, and effective.
That’s Why I Created the Alexis Adapts Observation Forms
I wanted parents to have an easy way to collect meaningful observations before school begins.
The forms are designed for adults who know your child in different settings, including:
- Camp counselors
- Tutors
- Sports coaches
- Dance instructors
- Martial arts instructors
- Preschool teachers
- After-school staff
- Scout leaders
- Youth group leaders
Each form focuses on strengths, learning, communication, executive functioning, emotional regulation, and the supports that helped your child be successful.
Instead of trying to remember everything months later, you’ll have written observations that can support conversations during:
- IEP meetings
- 504 meetings
- School evaluations
- Therapy appointments
- Behavior consultations
- Medical appointments
- Progress monitoring
You Are an Important Member of the Team
As a parent, you know your child better than anyone else.
Your voice matters.
Your observations matter.
And the information you collect from the people who know and care about your child matters too.
When families bring thoughtful, organized data to the table, meetings become more collaborative and decisions become better informed.
That’s exactly the goal.
If you’d like a copy of my FREE Alexis Adapts Observation Forms look below. If you don’t see what you are looking for, please let me know.
Here’s to starting the school year prepared, informed, and ready to advocate with confidence.
Alexis Jandreau
Alexis Adapts
IEP Advocate | Parent Coach | Teacher
OBSERVATION FORMS
Alexis_Adapts_Tutor_Observation_Form
Alexis_Adapts_Camp_to_Classroom_Observation_Tool
Alexis_Adapts_After_School_Care_Observation_Form
Alexis_Adapts_Dance_Instructor_Observation_Form
Alexis_Adapts_Martial_Arts_Instructor_Observation_Form
Alexis_Adapts_Preschool_Observation_Form
Alexis_Adapts_Scout_Observation_Form