CIEC 2025

In this presentation, we will explore our transition from Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs) to Student Success Plans (SSPs) by starting to actively involve students in their goal-setting processes. Inspired by Shelley Moore’s concept of learning plans as seed packets, we aim to help both children—and flowers—bloom. We are moving away from deficit models to empower students in shaping their educational journeys.

Engagement is a fundamental component of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and fostering expert learners is essential to this approach. I will share actionable strategies that schools can implement to develop and enhance strength-based success plans. By emphasizing individual strengths rather than deficits, we can create personalized pathways toward goals, promoting a more inclusive educational system that fosters a genuine sense of belonging for all students. Ultimately, we aim to cultivate expert learners who can guide and drive their own learning journeys.

The workshop will be informative and interactive, looking at various ways educators can plan goals and incorporate student voice in these success plans. "

Learning outcomes
1. Shift in perspective: Participants will understand how to transition from a deficit mindset—focusing on ""fixing"" students to meet ""grade level expectations""—to a growth-oriented approach that emphasizes nurturing individual strengths and potential, fostering an environment where every student can thrive.

2. Creating expert learners: Attendees will understand the importance of cultivating expert learners who take ownership of their learning journeys, encouraging self-directed goal setting and personal accountability.

3. Individualized Support: Participants will develop a commitment to meeting students where they are, recognizing unique starting points and crafting personalized pathways that nudge them 1% closer to their goals each day.
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