I bow to special ed teachers

Because they work their butts off every day.  When I first started subbing for special ed, especially for the elementary grades, it was nice to be able to work one on one or in small groups with the kids.  However, in just two short years, I saw an incredible increase in work load.

When I sub now, my day is measured in minutes of time with the kids.  Moving from one room to another is calculated by seconds or I will short someone's time.  I talked to a sub recently whose teacher forgot to build in time for lunch in the sub plans because SHE doesn't take lunch time.

I mentioned this as an interesting vignette in conversation with another special ed teacher I was going to sub for this coming week.  When he heard me, he thanked me for reminding him to block out some lunch time aside for me when I come in.  Do any of them eat?

"She said she came this close to committing suicide..."

"...and then she showed me her scars," said my son.  His classmate had confided in him and his whole sixth grade class about how she felt after her parents yelled at her for poor grades on her report card.  He assured me that she had been depressed lately and this was the tip of the iceberg.  She had also been cutting herself to inflict pain.  Of course, she told him and the rest of her friends not to tell.  It took him a week to gather up the courage to inform an adult.

I'm glad he did and I reported to the school.  As I know her parents personally, I called her parents as well.

Her mother was initally glad I told her.  However, she became very upset and angry when she learned I also informed the school.  It was their private business and it was inappropriate of me to tell on them.

I know I did the right thing, both as a friend and as a mandated reporter.  But, it sometimes sucks to do the right thing. 

Hazzard pay for teachers at camp

I was a chaperone at my son's sixth grade camp last week for four days.  24 hours X 4 days = Total and complete exhaustion.  The teachers have it worse; they were on 24 hours x 4 days PLUS they were responsible for making all decisions PLUS participating in all study groups PLUS dealing with parent issues.  They DESERVE hazzard pay!

... three boys who got sick on the last day (vomit, pain, nausea)
...parent who decided at the last minute he wanted to pick up his child at camp but made no prior arrangements
..."I want to visit mah grrrlfriend" from a sixth grade lothario outside the girls' lodge
...Ensuring the student whose mother went into the hospital the day before camp is in touch with her family (VERY poor cell phone reception in the camp acrage)

To tell or not to tell?

My sixth grade son came home the other day telling me that his class made the subsitute miserable.  They were loud, at times disrespectful, and made him angry.  My son was girding his loins for the fall out the next day and fully expected his teacher to blast the class for their behavior.  However, she didn't mention anything.

I wonder if the subsitute chose not mention his experience or down played it.  I've seen it happen where a sub struggle with the class but did not tell the regular teacher for fear s/he would be seen as ineffective and not be called back.  Not telling is not the way to go.  For one thing, neighboring classroom teachers notice and trust me, the real story will out itself.

I had felt torn like this when I started subbing as well.  On one hand, I didn't want to be seen as a whiner or poor teacher.  On the other hand, the primary teacher needed to know so the kids would be reprimanded and recognize they would not get away with disrespectul behavior. 

I compromise by being as factual as possible.  I focus very hard on detailing positive behaviors as well as mention instances of disrespectful behavior.  I have always been able to find redeeming qualities in kids in every classroom I taught in.  Sometimes, the positive behavior came from the kids who collected negative points.  My notes to the teacher can sometimes result in a book length novel I felt it worth my time.

Hope and Inspiration from Japan

This is not directly relevant to teaching but after reading this letter, I was inspired by the innate goodness in people.  Sometimes I assume the worse in people and yes, in some kids.  But as the following shows, I can also legitimately assume the best and have my expectations fulfilled.

A letter passed on from someone in Japan where she has lived for the past decade teaching English. Very moving!!  It has been passed along and e-mailed quite a few times so the formatting is messed up.

Hello My Lovely Family and Friends,

First I want to thank you so very much for your concern for me. I am very touched. I also wish to apologize for a generic message to you all. But it seems The best way at the moment to get my message to you. 

Things here in Sendai have been rather surreal. But I am very blessed to have Wonderful friends who are helping me a lot. Since my shack is even more worthy Of that name, I am now staying at a friend's home. We share supplies like water, Food and a kerosene heater. We sleep lined up in one room, eat by candlelight,
Share stories. It is warm, friendly, and beautiful.

During the day we help each other clean up the mess in our homes. People sit in Their cars, looking at news on their navigation screens, or line up to get Drinking water when a source is open. If someone has water running in their Home, they put out sign so people can come to fill up their jugs and buckets.

Utterly amazingly where I am there has been no looting, no pushing in lines. People leave their front door open, as it is safer when an earthquake strikes. People keep saying, "Oh, this is how it used to be in the old days when everyone Helped one another."

Quakes keep coming. Last night they struck about every 15 minutes. Sirens are Constant and helicopters pass overhead often.We got water for a few hours in our homes last night, and now it is for half a Day. Electricity came on this afternoon. Gas has not yet come on. But all of This is by area. Some people have these things, others do not. No one has washed For several days. We feel grubby, but there are so much more important concerns Than that for us now. I love this peeling away of non-essentials. Living fully
On the level of instinct, of intuition, of caring, of what is needed for Survival, not just of me, but of the entire group.

There are strange parallel universes happening. Houses a mess in some places, Yet then a house with futons or laundry out drying in the sun. People lining up For water and food, and yet a few people out walking their dogs. All happening At the same time.

Other unexpected touches of beauty are first, the silence at night. No cars. No One out on the streets. And the heavens at night are scattered with stars. I Usually can see about two, but now the whole sky is filled. The mountains are Sendai are solid and with the crisp air we can see them silhouetted against the Sky magnificently.

And the Japanese themselves are so wonderful. I come back to my shack to check On it each day, now to send this e-mail since the electricity is on, and I find Food and water left in my entranceway. I have no idea from whom, but it is There. Old men in green hats go from door to door checking to see if everyone is
OK. People talk to complete strangers asking if they need help. I see no signs Of fear. Resignation, yes, but fear or panic, no.

They tell us we can expect aftershocks, and even other major quakes, for Another month or more. And we are getting constant tremors, rolls, shaking, Rumbling. I am blessed in that I live in a part of Sendai that is a bit
Elevated, a bit more solid than other parts. So, so far this area is better off Than others. Last night my friend's husband came in from the country, bringing Food and water. Blessed again.

Somehow at this time I realize from direct experience that there is indeed an Enormous Cosmic evolutionary step that is occurring all over the world right at This moment. And somehow as I experience the events happening now in Japan, I Can feel my heart opening very wide. My brother asked me if I felt so small
Because of all that is happening. I don't. Rather, I feel as part of something Happening that much larger than myself. This wave of birthing (worldwide) is Hard, and yet magnificent.

Thank you again for your care and Love of me,

Being a teacher and a parent

My son is going to middle school next year so we are in the throes of learning about the transition and choices available to a middle schooler that he didn't get in elementary school.  Parents in my son's class know I teach and are asking for my opinions on what their child should choose, over and above their son/daughter's teacher recommendations.

I feel uncomfortable.  Now I have to extra careful about what I say so that I am professionial with my feedback and not undermime other teachers.

I admit I didn't see this coming.

After they left, the sun came out, the birds started singing...

I subbed yesterday for a middle school teacher who taught 6th & 7th grade science, language arts, social studies, and MESA (extra science for minorities).

I ended up with this group of kids for four periods.  They were disruptive and distracting to their classmates.  They also were not interested in doing any work.  I sent them to the office for 3rd period.  They returned 4th period and continued to mess around.  I sent them to the office for 4th period.  They returned 5th period and this time refused to leave the room when I sent them out.  I ended up calling the asst. principal to come in and escort them out.

Each time they left, the tone of the classroom would completely change.  The sun came out, the birds started singing, and rainbows appeared everywhere.