What a week! I think I'm going to be saying that for awhile now. This school year has started off with a bang...a big bang! My new student with problem behaviors is preventing us from getting the amount of work done that we normally would get done. He disrupts lessons with his lack of willingness to follow teacher directions and do the work required. He has sat in the office at least two days this week, because he was so disruptive in either my or his homeroom teacher's class. We can't teach when he gets that way. This is beginning to put a huge strain on his homeroom teacher.
Yesterday, she became really upset with me and the principal, accusing us of conspiring against her in a matter. Nothing could be further from the truth! This really hurt my feelings, because she is also my friend. I am rarely in tears over an incident at school, but I was yesterday. When a teacher you trust and admire accuses you of conspiring against her, it hurts. However, I knew she was stressed and determined not to let this get between us. We talked about it and the day ended well. She is still my friend and fellow partner in crime to work with this student.
I am tired! Today is rainy...a good day to relax with a book. Monday will be here soon enough. Time to do a little recharging.
"Teachers who inspire realize there will always be rocks in the road ahead of us. They will be stumbling blocks or stepping stones; it all depends on how we use them." ~Author Unknown
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Ride the Roller Coaster With Me
Have I told you how much I love my job? I love it so much that I take it so seriously. I have prayed for wisdom these past two weeks since I've posted last; wisdom to know what to say and how to nurture and interact with all of my students, but for one hurting student in particular. He is my new student. We have to prove to him that we are not like all other schools and we are not like all other teachers. We truly want to help him be the person God has made him to be. Of course, we don't say that directly in a public school, but isn't that our purpose...to help children become what their creator made in them?
He has tried to establish his aura of authority around himself, not wanting to look weak. Oh, but I see a little boy in him that wants someone to care. I see someone who has a good brain, who can accomplish much more than he has in the past. I see someone who I believe will be a different person by the end of this school year. He has tried looking tough, saying all the things I've heard from children who put up a turtle shell around them to keep out the pain of rejection. The only difference is that I don't reject him. I told him I believe in him. I believe he has great potential, even if we do ride that same roller coaster every day. A roller coaster of deep anger and frustration in the valleys and up to the mountaintop is extreme glee and cooperation. We may be making baby steps in progress, but I do see progress indeed!
This year has become extremely busy very quickly! We have already submitted grades for progress reports and six-week grades are right around the corner. We have had one ARD (Arrival, Review and Dismissal) meeting already and I have another one scheduled for Monday. So...the special education paperwork has begun in earnest!
Speaking of special education...I attended my first Special Education PLC (Professional Learning Community) meeting for this year at the Region VIII Education Service Center yesterday. Our team will have the opportunity throughout the school year to bring back some good information and training for special educators in our school district. There will be many things that we will be able to share with general education teachers, as well. I look forward to taking a greater leadership role in this area and helping to bridge the gap between special education and general education.
Now, for the week to come...
"History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats."
---B. C. Forbes
He has tried to establish his aura of authority around himself, not wanting to look weak. Oh, but I see a little boy in him that wants someone to care. I see someone who has a good brain, who can accomplish much more than he has in the past. I see someone who I believe will be a different person by the end of this school year. He has tried looking tough, saying all the things I've heard from children who put up a turtle shell around them to keep out the pain of rejection. The only difference is that I don't reject him. I told him I believe in him. I believe he has great potential, even if we do ride that same roller coaster every day. A roller coaster of deep anger and frustration in the valleys and up to the mountaintop is extreme glee and cooperation. We may be making baby steps in progress, but I do see progress indeed!
This year has become extremely busy very quickly! We have already submitted grades for progress reports and six-week grades are right around the corner. We have had one ARD (Arrival, Review and Dismissal) meeting already and I have another one scheduled for Monday. So...the special education paperwork has begun in earnest!
Speaking of special education...I attended my first Special Education PLC (Professional Learning Community) meeting for this year at the Region VIII Education Service Center yesterday. Our team will have the opportunity throughout the school year to bring back some good information and training for special educators in our school district. There will be many things that we will be able to share with general education teachers, as well. I look forward to taking a greater leadership role in this area and helping to bridge the gap between special education and general education.
Now, for the week to come...
"History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats."
---B. C. Forbes
Monday, September 6, 2010
Where Did That Week Go?
Last week seemed to fly by! That's what happens when the year gets going full speed ahead. My mornings are filled to the max. I have four math groups within the first one and a half hours. I also have a social skills group and a reading group during that time. The remainder of the morning is filled with two more reading groups and two language groups. By the time I do 3rd grade recess duty and eat lunch, I only have time for one or two more reading and language groups in the afternoon. My conference/planning period is also in the afternoon.
My new student with anger issues had a really good week until Friday morning. He didn't want to finish out some work one of the staff members had him do and couldn't get his anger under control. Actually, he had difficulty with two staff members that day about not wanting to finish work according to teacher expectations. I ended up taking him to the counselor for some conversation about anger management. He came back in ready to work and was happy as a lark the rest of the day. I'm so thankful that staff members in our school work together to help children be successful.
I'm looking forward to starting Writing Workshop this week with my Language students. We made mailboxes out of shoe boxes and decorated them last week. We will use these to write encouraging notes to one another about things we have written. I am going to use the wonderful book by Cynthia Rylant, The Relatives Came, to have students think and write about memorable or happy experiences in their lives. I really think Language will become my favorite subject to teach this year. In the past, I have dreaded it like the plague!
Have a wonderful week!
"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." ---Henry Ford
My new student with anger issues had a really good week until Friday morning. He didn't want to finish out some work one of the staff members had him do and couldn't get his anger under control. Actually, he had difficulty with two staff members that day about not wanting to finish work according to teacher expectations. I ended up taking him to the counselor for some conversation about anger management. He came back in ready to work and was happy as a lark the rest of the day. I'm so thankful that staff members in our school work together to help children be successful.
I'm looking forward to starting Writing Workshop this week with my Language students. We made mailboxes out of shoe boxes and decorated them last week. We will use these to write encouraging notes to one another about things we have written. I am going to use the wonderful book by Cynthia Rylant, The Relatives Came, to have students think and write about memorable or happy experiences in their lives. I really think Language will become my favorite subject to teach this year. In the past, I have dreaded it like the plague!
Have a wonderful week!
"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." ---Henry Ford
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Routines
I forgot what it was like to get up at 5:00 in the morning! Man, I'm tired this week! My normal morning routine is to get up at five, make coffee and iron clothes (yes, I do it every day...something about crisp clothes I like). Then, I exercise. My exercise routine usually consists of 3 days of power walking on the treadmill and 3 days of a Christian alternative to yoga routines. I do not believe in real yoga, that's why the alternative yoga. Praise Moves is set to scripture and music (http://praisemoves.com/). This helps me to include worship in my morning routine. I also listen to the Bible on my MP3 player on my power walking days. After this, I shower and get ready for work. I'm usually out of the house and on my way by 7:00.
I like to get to my classroom early, so that I have a little time to get my thoughts and last minute details together before I see students. I didn't see any students this week until Thursday and Friday. Many special education students don't see students at all the first week or two. This gives the students time to acclimate to their general education classroom. However, on my campus, the teachers begin to teach later in the first week. So, I try to have the Resource room schedule figured out by then and do a trial run for a couple of days. If necessary, I tweak the schedule to work for them and me.
I always begin the year with a screening of my students' abilities to see what they have retained over the summer. This also helps if I have new students as I do this year. So far, I have gained three new students from various school districts in the area. I like the familiarity of having my students from year to year, but it is nice to have new students to add spice to our classroom. One of my new students may really add spice this year...he has a behavior intervention plan. So far, so good. It's amazing how some students can do a complete turnaround when in a different environment and working with different teachers. I really hope we can make a difference for this young fellow before the year is over. He must be the reason God had me return to this classroom this year.
Today, Saturday, I will spend much time working on lesson plans for the next week or two. I really want to put some thought into my new writing program. I attended the East Texas Writing Project this summer and have a wealth of ideas to use. I hope everyone has a wonderful, restful weekend!
"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
---Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933), 30th President of the United States
I like to get to my classroom early, so that I have a little time to get my thoughts and last minute details together before I see students. I didn't see any students this week until Thursday and Friday. Many special education students don't see students at all the first week or two. This gives the students time to acclimate to their general education classroom. However, on my campus, the teachers begin to teach later in the first week. So, I try to have the Resource room schedule figured out by then and do a trial run for a couple of days. If necessary, I tweak the schedule to work for them and me.
I always begin the year with a screening of my students' abilities to see what they have retained over the summer. This also helps if I have new students as I do this year. So far, I have gained three new students from various school districts in the area. I like the familiarity of having my students from year to year, but it is nice to have new students to add spice to our classroom. One of my new students may really add spice this year...he has a behavior intervention plan. So far, so good. It's amazing how some students can do a complete turnaround when in a different environment and working with different teachers. I really hope we can make a difference for this young fellow before the year is over. He must be the reason God had me return to this classroom this year.
Today, Saturday, I will spend much time working on lesson plans for the next week or two. I really want to put some thought into my new writing program. I attended the East Texas Writing Project this summer and have a wealth of ideas to use. I hope everyone has a wonderful, restful weekend!
"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."
---Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933), 30th President of the United States
Friday, August 20, 2010
Teacher Week
The infamous "back-to-school" week has been whipped! Guess what? I'm tired and it was only a four-day work week. It takes us a little while to get back in the groove of the daily schedule. Here's how the week went down this week...
Tuesday - first day back; we spent this day in district staff development sessions. There were some very good sessions on teaching and curriculum.
Wednesday - first day back on campus; the morning began with breakfast from our administrative staff. Then we listened to updates and necessities for the coming year all morning. In the afternoon, we worked in our classrooms getting bulletin boards decorated, organizing, and preparing for the students' return.
Thursday - worked on completing classroom decor and attended a meeting on teaching English Language Learners. In the evening, came back to meet students and parents at "Meet the Teacher" night.
Friday - our day began with a multi-district convocation with a speaker, Billy Riggs, a "Dis" Illusionist. He reminded us that we are valuable as teachers and that we could make the difference in one student's entire life outcome by how we teach and care for them. We finished our day with more work in the classroom.
My motto for this year: "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." ---John Wooden (1910-?), American basketball coach
Monday, here we come! Ready for a brand new year to give out of myself!
Tuesday - first day back; we spent this day in district staff development sessions. There were some very good sessions on teaching and curriculum.
Wednesday - first day back on campus; the morning began with breakfast from our administrative staff. Then we listened to updates and necessities for the coming year all morning. In the afternoon, we worked in our classrooms getting bulletin boards decorated, organizing, and preparing for the students' return.
Thursday - worked on completing classroom decor and attended a meeting on teaching English Language Learners. In the evening, came back to meet students and parents at "Meet the Teacher" night.
Friday - our day began with a multi-district convocation with a speaker, Billy Riggs, a "Dis" Illusionist. He reminded us that we are valuable as teachers and that we could make the difference in one student's entire life outcome by how we teach and care for them. We finished our day with more work in the classroom.
My motto for this year: "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." ---John Wooden (1910-?), American basketball coach
Monday, here we come! Ready for a brand new year to give out of myself!
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