Cathy's Grace Notes

Goose Egg

I was eating lunch in the school cafeteria when I saw a teacher bring one of her students in to the principal. She said "It's bad".   The little girl was hoding her forehead. I know this little girl because my youngest daughter and the girl's mom are very good friends.  I saw it from about 25 feet and knew it was a doosey (sp?) of a bump. This was her second accident in a few weeks.

I went to go check on Olivia to see how she was doing. Her mom, who is great with child and ready to pop any minute, came in and got her. I was a little nervous because of how big the goose egg was, so I hung around to make sure MOM was ok. She handled it beautifully, and took Olivia on to eh emergency room. To find out more about it and see the goose egg, go here. Please say hello and let her  know you are thinking about her. She is such a cutie.

By the way, Olivia, you have been FIRED from going on the geodome on the playground now!

Monday - A BUST

I had a schedule chock full. I was ready. I had everything lined up. Well... the day was sort of a bust.
We had a child to assess at 9:00 - this involved at least 4 people for the assessment for the variety of items we address. Well, one of the key person, the school psychologist, had to go home sick. So 9:00 cancelled. That cancellation happend first thing.
Then....
I went to observe a child first thing this morning - as in 8:00. I went across town, and found out she was absent.

I went back to the school and gathered my items for the 2nd round - going to 2 schools, one 15 miles away, to see a student who is on my caseload. Got there... he's absent too! What is with that??

So I proceed to another place where I have 3 on my caseload - that is another 10 miles away. It's a separate program totally (not public school), got there, and students had not yet been assigned to their final classroom  yet so I couldn't really go and bring the paperwork and such for the teacher who will be teaching that child.

I did get to talk to the speech therapist to discuss some of the students who I serve.

So, all that was planned will be added again to my Mondays, which are FULL right now for the upcoming 3 weeks. So.... I sure wished I could have gotten some of this done today. Best laid plans....

Did have a meeting this afternoon - glad it's over. Nuff said.

So.... how was YOUR day?

It's as clean as it's going to get....

Desk, .

It's as clean as you are going to see it. This was taken this morning. More was added to embellish what was already there. We finally found my stapler (the one that I have had since 1989, when I began teaching).

I really am going to try and keep it neat. I really am. Any advice gladly taken.

Return to School

Today (Monday) teachers returned to school to begin the school year. Students start Friday. Preplanning is filled with putting the room together and going to meetings and then more meetings.

I meant to take a picture of the desk with NO PAPERS on it, but I forgot.  Tomorrow I will post a picture of the desk. And maybe a few pictures of the room.

This year, instead of using paper for the bulletin board, I got some fabric for 2.00 a yard to use - it doesn't fade and it doesn't tear like paper does, so it can't be all bad.

That's all the energy I have to post now. Later.

Headbutting

Today my head got butted by another student's head. Student was in meltdown mode. I didn't see it coming.

Today my lights almost went out, and I saw stars. First time that has ever happened. Glasses got slung off my head too.

Today was the Fall Carnival -- my students don't handle change well. I think the headbutting was her way of communicating to me that she was in stimulation overload. Some students don't handle change well.

It was a long day.

Splitting Hairs

This keeps on cropping up and I don't know if this bothers anyone else, but I keep on hearing this and reading this over and over. I hear it enough that I thought I would throw it out to any one else and see what their spin on this is.

As a special education teacher, most people think that I offer "one on one"  services -  and that I offer individualized services - and there are times, like other teachers where I work with one child - giving them individual attention to their needs.  Teachers state that a particular child needs one on one help --- what's wrong with the term individual or individualized help? 

Right now, I have eleven students who come into my classroom. Three of those students use wheelchairs as their mode of mobility. Another one uses a walker to assist in walking. The others are ambulatory --- all have delays in their development. Some are more independent than others. All have an individualized education plan. It does NOT mean they have a ratio of one teacher to one student.

I have two other adults who work in my room full time. The other adults (therapists)come in to offer a variety of services which are more specific than this jack of all trades.

There are times that I chuckle to myself when I hear at a meeting they need to be in my room to get one on one assistance. At times, yes, but like any other class, not every child has "one on one" or individual attention. Only in rare instances should this occur and can occur in school settings.

Bottom line - they have an IEP - in individualized education program to meet their specific needs. Do they get one one one or individualized help? At times, yes. But as in any other classroom, we offer whole classroom instruction for big group activities, as well as times where we instruct using small groups, as well as times where they do get one adult to one child.

Does this make sense to any of you? Just because they come to my room does it mean they are going to get a teacher who is going to be giving "one on one" services to that one particular child. EVERY ONE of my students need instruction that may be delivered in a different manner or one that caters to the specific needs, but it does not mean the child will be getting a person to meet their every need. If we did that, we would not have any that would learn to fly on their own.

Continuing

Next meeting.... 8:00 Friday morning. To "organize and see how things are going."

Pantaloons - well, they will remain in a somewhat agitated state until..... they get ironed out to my satisfaction.

Girding up loins.

Update - not so good

Need remediation

At the end of today - it's beginning to look typical. DON'T TOUCH IT!

Things I Don't Like about my Job

Another bulleted list:

• I don't like having to work with child protective services.
• Dealing with children's hurts that need medical attention. The best I can say to the parent is "if it was my child, I would take them to the doctor".
• It hurts to see when a child is not making progress, and regressing and don't know the reason behind it.
• by the end of the day I went to the teacher retirement website - I am no where near retiring, but wanted to count up my years. By doing that I knew it was a mother of all days. Sometimes I feel like I have so little control.

Tomorrow is a new day. I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Prayers

Sometimes work has parts of it that are  hard - in terms of seeing families who struggle with their own problems - some things we can help with - others we cannot. However right now, several have their plates mighty full and its painful in many ways for all of us.

Prayers for children and their families and the challenges that they should not have to experience.

Requesting your prayers for the little ones.....