Foster care

>>I was called today because I was on the list of people who have taken my student Jaime out while he's at the children's shelter. They asked me, since I am on the list if I would be interested in taking him in as a foster child. They explained how it is hopefully a short term situation, but there is a good chance it could be a long term situation.

>>Jaime is an amazing kid. He's funny. polite, he works hard, and he has expressed many times that he does want to live at my house. I know this is not appropriate. I explained to the social worker, that I am his teacher and I feel like it would be a conflict of interest to have him living with me. She said that they have had it happen before, and if I think I would be a good home for him I should think about it.

>>Although it was very hard I had to tell them no. I want him to be in a safe place. I want to know he is well taken care of, but I know that place is not with me. I know that he deserves to be placed in an amazing foster care sitation, and to be very well taken care of. I do not have the life style for a kid. Let alone a 12 year old kid that I have to teach everyday. I can do just as much good by being there for him. By being a stable figure in his life for the next 2 1/2 years. By teaching him to read, and to make good choices, and to always be there when he needs support.

>>This is a hard situation. I know I will go through it again, and I know I will learn more and more each time. JM has been lucky that he is my first student that I have to help through this, because I am able to give him lots of support. I've been allowed to go to court with him, and take him out around 4 times this break. This will not always be the case. I feel lucky to go through this experience though because I am learning. And, it is something that I will have to go through again, and it will always be hard. It will always be difficult to see a student taken away from his parents. It will always be hard to not be able to take that kid and love them like they deserve. But, it's a learning experience and I am doing the best I can.

Christmas Break

>>Who would have thought I would be writing about teaching during winter break. My student that is still at the children's shelter has been a lucky boy this christmas. Last week, I took him out and we saw Tron in 3D. Then, he came to my house and played Wii, and finally we went to Chuck-E-Cheese. It was an overall good day, but its proceeded to him calling me just about everyday to see if I could pick him up and take him somewhere. It's hard for me because I want to. I want to be a stable figure in his life, because he doesnt have that. I wish I could take him everyday. Considering he's asked numerous times if he can come stay with me. I know this is not possible, so I had to set limits. Although he called christmas eve, I took him out yesterday and we just went on a short outing, Just bowling for an hour. He did want to stay out longer, but I am still his teacher. I am not his mom, his relative, his friend. I still have to teach him for another 2 1/2 years. Its been hard to find that balance. I think I am finding it slowly.

>>Progress Reports are due in the middle of Jan., which is always difficult. My students all do such a variety of work. It's hard to put them into a "grade book" because each student does something different. I have found a small balance, but it still takes me hours upon hours to do grades. This is also probably because I put it off, and don't keep up on them. Which is totally my fault. Oh well.

Resilient

>> Kids are resilient. I cannot express this enough. It amazes me everyday the issues my students deal with, and yet they make me laugh everyday. I have a student who was taken from his mother on Monday. He has been at a shelter since then, and today was his court hearing to decide what will happen with him for the time being. He will not be going home. I went with him to court. Luckily my VP is so supportive that she covered my class while I spent from 815-1115 in the court house with my student. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever done. I feel emotionally exhausted. Not only watching my student go back and forth between being with me, and trying to comfort his mother, but also watching all the other families deal with the most emotional thing in their lives. I do not know every situation. I do not know ever detail, but I can only imagine how hard it would be to be learning that you are losing your child.

My student told his social worker, "I am sorry for wasting your time" what kid says that! let alone a special education student. He came back to class and was concerned for me. He worked hard, he laughed with other students. That is amazing. That is strength. I wish I could take this student home. It is not possible, but still.

Beginning

>>This blog is primarily about my life as a teacher. I started my first year of teaching in August. I am a middle school special education teacher. I have 16 students on my case load, many with intellectual disabilities, and many with emotional disturbance. I have 3 aides in my classroom. I have 14 boys, and 2 girls. Everyday in my class is a learning experience, and everyday my students say the most amazing, hilarious things. This blog is mostly for myself, for my own sanity to be able to rant, and bitch and complain about day to day things. But, it's also going to be a chance for me to share wonderful funny things my students say.