Ack

>>A few weeks ago I went to check my work email because well.. I have issues and obsessions and I CANT not check it for more than a few days (even though I'm sure people will say I am crazy) I received an email from our director special education stating that some how a 5th grade Resource teacher, put 9 new incoming 6th graders into SDC (my class).
Before I go into the scariness of this, I will put some background into the continuum of special education.
>>So, in terms of placement for students and children the least restrictive environment is general education. This means having all the students classes with the general education students and classes.
Then, comes resource or RSP - This is for students that usually have specific learning disabilities. Students that are capable of attending regular education classes without aide support, but their reading and math skills are below grade level. They usually just attend special education for 1-2 periods a day (Language Arts and Math)
Then comes my class - SDC (special day class)  My students have a greater need of support. Have lower reading skills. Need support in all general education classes (but are capable of being in there). Usually have more than 2 periods a day in special education.
Then another type of SDC is functional skills. These students learn skills to function in the world. Laundry. Shopping. managing money. making lists. using public transportation. etc.

>>many of my students could possibly handle a bit of resource classes and a bit of functional skills. We are the middle jumble.
Anywho, after reading this email I proceeded to freak out. Starting next year with 20 students? With 11 6th graders is almost impossible. It is mostly impossible because my 6th graders attend general education PE, electives, and science. 11 SDC student cannot attend the same periods of general education classes. Usually 2-3 SDC students in one period is enough. It is overwhelming for the aide in there AND very overwhelming for the general education teacher who has to modify curriculum for them. So, what do I do? I will have to split them into groups of 4 and put them ALL in different classes. THEN, this means I have 20 students in my class during 7th period when I have all my students in my class. I am beyond upset at the 5th grade RSP teacher that did this without contacting me. Another 5th grade RSP teacher emailed me during the last month of school and I attended her students IEPs. I put in my insight as to their classes next year, and i was even able to say "no, this student should be with resource". Why wouldn't t his teacher do this as well? 

>>My director of spec ed. is upset because this should not have happened under her nose. But, who knows what will happen. We are going to meet and discuss the students next week (yes during summer) to see what we are going to do. I am trying my darnestt not to flip out but I do not know if I can handle 3+ aides again and 20 students. Ack! Keep calm and carry on.. isn't that what they say? 

summer

>>It is summer. It has only taken me 2 almost full days to decompress and relax. It took me getting away from home and staying elsewhere for me to really really feel it. As predicted the last week of school was almost hellish. I was so disorganized and out of control that it was over within a second and I felt my kids run off to summer without so much as a hug (it felt like) Last minute IEP's that havent been affirmed, goals that need updating, T.A.s that did not get cards, aides that did not get recognized, 8th graders without presents. I feel badly that so much was slipped through the cracks. I got roped into reading off students names at graduation, so for at least 2+ hours Monday, Tuesday and Thursday I was at grad practice. I am not sad I did it. In fact, it made me feel more like part of the school than I have the whole 2 1/2 years I have been there, but it took time. It took time away from my other students. Granted, I will see most of these kids next year, and my 8th graders needed my time and attention this week. But I hate to leave other unattended. I say this every summer. I worry about my kiddos when I am not able to see them everyday. How do I know they are being taken care of? Eating? Showering?

>> Monday I got home at 6:30. Tuesday had an hour and a half IEP then rushed straight to our staff party, and then didnt get home until 8. Wednesday was picnic day, got back to school at 530, went out with teacher friends and didnt get home until midnight. Final day of school grad practice, random parents showing up at school to "chat with me" about IEP stuff. Running back and forth craziness. Kids running off when the bell rings. I worked, went home, changed and went to graduation until 9 at night. Craziness . ( I know, how many times can i say that?)

>>During the last day of school, Nick came up to me and asked: "Hey, Do you think sometime this summer you would want to come watch me ride my dirtbike?" I told him Of course I would! I would love to! His face lit up. Later he came up and said, "yea know. I don't know if you will be able to find the place. How will you find it?" So, I gave in. I looked at that excitement and I wrote down my cell phone number. I explained that he should feel very special because I do not give this out to anybody. I said he should not abuse it, but give it to his mom when he got home and Call me sometime this summer so I can come watch him ride. Later, he was on the phone with his mom and he said "I ask miss ___ if she wanted to come watch me ride my dirt bike this summer! She said yes! I have her number so I will give it you when I get home"
.. worth it.

Sam. My little Sam. One of the few I have had all 3 years. All grown up. Had brain surgery just months ago, and he's back and full of life. He came up afterwards and said, "but can't I have your number too? What if I have an emergency and I need your help!"

How do you respond to that? Apparently I am a sucker.

3 1/2

>> 3 1/2 more days of school. Bittersweet.. crazy. fun... so many words can describe how I am feeling. My new student left as quickly as he came, and I never had a chance to really reach him. 4 days is hardly easy to connect with a kid, especially a kid who has moved around to many schools and puts up a tough front. I feel badly because I went into the situation angry because getting a new student the last 10 days of school hardly seems fair. (to me, or the kid) I didn't give anyone a fair chance, or a fair shot but, I am happy to say we survived each other. It's depressing to know that the 5 days or so he was with us, were the worse behaved my kids were the entire year. One student can change all the dynamics. Sad.

>>This week is going to be crazy and busy. Monday I have a IEP, and work after school. Tuesday last IEP of the year and the school staff party. Wednesday is picnic day, and Thursday is the last day of school and graduation. I have 5 kiddos leaving me this year. And I think I might just cry during graduation. Sad.. I don't want to think about it.

New student

I know I mentioned a new student in my last post. Ahhhh he started yesterday. And he's proving to be difficult. It's so hard to have someone come in and mess up the good relationship my students have with me and one another. While dealing with his dispectful attitude and I turned to continue working with nick and he replied "hey.. At least it is only 10 days and not the whole year" kids are so on top of it.

I feel badly. I hold no love for this student at the moment. I know if I had him for a whole year it would be different, but when on the second day you're in my class you are calling me a bitch and my students care about me enough to come tell me then you are not good for the juju in my room. We will survive and I will kill him with kindness and hope that I can win him over in the next 10 days.

Internet issues

Internet issues so I am posting from my phone. Excuse the short post. 12 days left of school. I am getting a new student on monday. Yes. 12 days before the end of school. When we are supposed to be having fun, enjoying the days before summer, enjoying the last time we will see the 8th graders before they go to high school I am getting a new kiddo. Apparently he has a lot of behavior problems, but we will make it through.
I am already going through withdrawals of my 8th graders. I am going to miss them so much next year I can hardly imagine what it's going to be like. These guys make my days better and make my job fun! A few of them I have had since they were 6th graders. I have watched them grow up. I am proud of the people they have become. An I hope that I know them in the future.
Teaching is tough business. But I wouldn't change it for the world.

End of days

>> We have exactly 22 days left of school. In exactly a month we will be saying good bye. This will probably going to be one of those hard ones. This is the first group of kiddos I have had for all 3 years. Watching them grow up and change and learn. I am going to miss them, and I am going to worry about them.

>>Sam is back at school with a big ol' scar running from ear to ear. He is taking life in strides, but has retained his sense of humor and good attitude. I am so glad he is alright and that nothing more serious (well, except brain surgery) had to happen.

>>I went to my first out of state conference this past weekend. A few colleagues and I got to fly out of town to attend the Love and Logic seminar. The difficult part of this was that this is a parenting class and 3 out of the 5 of us that attended do not have children. I guess in the near future we will teaching district parents the steps to Love and Logic. There was a lot that was very interesting. But, again hard to implement in my classroom. One item I did like was telling my students "I love you but I'm not going to argue with you." My students at first were weirded out, but it came down to the fact that of course I love them. They thought this was hard to believe. I tried to explain that there are different types of love. Love that you feel for your family, your friends, etc. And I care and love them all very much. I actually think this made them feel happy and special. Many people may think it is weird to tell their students this but in my room it is a whole different world.

>>I talked with Sam for almost 30 minutes today about his family and his parents fighting a lot. He has told me aboutr this before and things are more difficult now that his sister is home. We talked about this and I let him tell me about how he was feeling and what he thought when his parents discussed divorce. Carl had to add in that "this is school time not personal talking time". I explained to Carl that this class is different. We sometimes need help to talk through difficult situations, and sometimes we just need someone to listen. I exoplained that I never expect him to tell me anything personal about his life, but if he ever needed to just talk I wouldnt hestitate to listen and be there fo rhim. I love this aspect about teaching. I love the good relationships i have with my students. I enjoy being there for them and I wish there was more I could do. I don't look forward to June when 5 of them graduate and then I need to worry and wish I had a way to keep in contact with them. I swear I need like a teacher facebook so they can be my friend and contact me. I wonder if anyone has any ideas on how to make this work.

>>So many funny things happen daily in my room that I wish I could just tape them all. I think a twitter is in order - Will update soon and let people know what I find out.

Spring has sprung

>> Spring has sprung in my classroom. I know I haven't posted anything of substance lately, but quotes will have to do. THe boys in my classroom are in full crude middle school humor. Enjoy. Carl: It feels like techno music when my heart is beating. -- Nick: I heard all the girls in high school are stuck up... so there goes my chance. -- (while using magnetic poetry) Carl: Pull up.. I need pants! -- Seth: I have an innie outtie! (pulls up shirt and shows bellybutton) -- Seth: DId you know that some elephants get indigestion when they eat peanuts? -- Carl: Yes. This is your penis.. I mean pencil! -- (Bell rings to go home) Jamie: HAPPY DILDO DAY!