Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP)

Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP)

[Studentś Name]

[Instructorś Name]

[Course]

[Date]

Introduction

Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) is key to every child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). PLAAFP points out the type of special education a child may need while growing up. PLAAFP statement describes how the disability may affect the child’s general education. At the very beginning, the child is evaluated for their skills and activities in special education. This can cover the following areas such as academic skills (counting, pre-reading, pre-writing), social skills (playing with friends), behavior, daily living or self-help skills (dressing, eating, using the bathroom), communication skills (talking, listening), sensory skill (hearing, seeing) and mobility (getting around in school and the community)

As the child continues to grow, more information is collected based on the tests and observations done on the child. Those who work or stay closely to the child, such as teachers and parents will be able to give information they have learned through observing the child. A well-described PLAAFP should contain the child’s strengths and weaknesses, what helps the child learn, what limits the child from learning, objective data from current evaluations of the child, how the child’s disability affects his or her ability to be involved and progress in the general education curriculum.

Ana’s Case

Background

Ana is born of a single mother who left her under the care of her grandmother to enable her complete her GED. Ana did not get to grow up with her father and has no other siblings. She, however, has two male cousins of the same age. It is the desire of Ana’s mother that Ana studies to finish school and becomes different from the rest of the family. Unfortunately, it is later noted that Ana had a disability when her physical growth delayed between her second grade and eight grade, with no medical problems recorded despite being taken to a physician.

Ana’s Strengths

Ana has been tested and placed in average intelligence range with an IQ of 105. She also has a good vocabulary and speaks fluently. Ana loves sports though she cannot participate due to her small size. On top of this, she likes her teaches and converses confidently with them. She has not been reported for behavioral problems.

Evaluations

Ana has continuously registered poor grades in her academics and has many days of absenteeism. According to her class-teacher, Ana has problems completing her homework and keeping up with the rest of the class work. She can write complete sentences but fails to finish the paragraph following the main topic. She has difficulty in sounding words, which affects her reading fluency and her reading comprehension. On average, Ana reads 40WPM correctly at her seventh grade. She also spells words incorrectly on her final draft.

Ana would have loved to go to school and make her mother happy but she sees herself as being unable to do it. Her self-esteem has gone down. She thinks of herself as a freak (tears up as she talk about herself) and other kids make fun of her as well. According to Ana’s mother, Ana absenteeism in school is due her refusing to get up in the morning, complaints of tiredness and lethargy and lagging in getting dressed. She, however, has interest in sports but she cannot participate due to her small size.

Ana is good in addressing adults. As a matter of fact, she likes the company of adults and knows how to address them. She would rather spend time with them than her fellow peers. This is the reason why she likes her teaches and converses easily with them. She is also close to her mother and grandmother.

Goals Based on PLAAFP

As stated earlier, PLAAFP points out the kind and the amount of special education that a child may require while growing up. Most children with disabilities do not learn with the same pace with the able children. Most of such children also have low self-esteem and especially when other able children make fun of them. Many times, they need special care and treatment to be able to tackle their cores. Therefore, keen observations and tests are done to such children to be able to rule out the things they find difficult to perform and those they can perform well. Based on the findings, goals are set to enable the children perform better.

Ana is seen to have poor physical growth. However, she can walk well, talk well, eat well and play like any other kids. She can also hear and see. Her disability still allows her to do what most kids do. She can go to school and study. Her IQ is on average, meaning that she should think and act like most normal kids. As such, the behavioral and academic goals stated below are measurable enough. The goals should not put pressure on the Ana’s daily living but should come out from the positive perspective as opposed to reprimanding her on what she cannot do.

Anna’s Measurable Behavioral Goals

Getting up early

One of the reasons why Ana is mostly absent is school is that she refuses to get up early. Ana can be introduced to waking up at certain times and be encouraged to do so. This can start with a late time and goes improving until she is able to get up much earlier. This should not come with pressure but with a lot of encouragements and love from her mother. She will eventually get used to getting up early to go to school and reduces her rates of being absent. Once she goes to school early enough like other children, she will be able to catch up with most class work and assignments.

Taking on Chores

Ana complains of tiredness and lethargy and she is therefore unable to finish her homework. She needs a lot of encouragement and frequent practice to enable her get used to doing the work. She should also be taught the importance of having a well-done job. She is willing to study to make her mum proud and she likes her teachers. She should be encouraged that apart from making her mum happy, education is also important for her own future living and therefore she should work hard.

Measurable Academic Goals

Improving Grades

Ana has continuously registered poor grades in her academics. This can be attributed to her absenteeism, her self-esteem as well as her inability to complete homework. Since she loves her teachers, this is a good indication that she will most likely like what they tell her. The teachers should take advantage of this to encourage her, teach her to love and accept herself, and to be told that she can do well academically despite her disability. Her waking up early and taking up her work will be taken care of through behavioral goals.

Spelling correctly

It will be the duty of her class-teacher and her mother to spend extra time with her to learn spelling and pronunciation. Since the kid is slow and tires easily, a nice pattern should be drawn that will enable her learn comfortably and she enjoys without getting irritable. The sessions should be made enjoyable enough to encourage her learn without pressure. With time, she will love the sessions and she will be able to learn a lot.