I took the strengths finder test and my top five themes were 1) Developer, 2) Empathy, 3) Positivity, 4) Learner, 5) Includer. I feel that these are pretty accurate. I see myself as a person who doesn't want anyone to be left out and try to make sure everyone is included. In most of my previous job I have served as a mentor and/or trainer. I love working with people and watching them when they have learned something new. For students I think that reading is so important. Reading was my life saver growing up and even now I miss it when I am unable to read a book because I am too busy.
I am looking forward to seeing what everyone else has scored as their themes.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
What to do?
When I began student teaching this spring I tried hard to learn all of the student's names and to try to figure out what their particular challenges were. In the beginning I think most of the students were trying to figure me out too. Their was the usual testing to see how far they could go. The snickering when I was at a loss for the right word or erased everything on the smartboard while trying to teach.
One student really tried to test me. While in an inclusion classroom he crawled under the desk and pulled the chair in so that I couldn't get it out. I tried to convince him to come out and he said kept yelling I don't know you. The general education teacher finally said "let him be he is just making a bad choice so it is not our problem". I walked away surprised by the teachers reamark but kept an eye on him to make sure he wasn't hurting himself or anyone else. he rolled around on the floor until it was time to go back to his classroom.
I told the special education teacher what had happened and she spoke to him. I felt like I should have been able to figure out a way to get him back in his chair. I was disappointed that I had not come up with all the right words and ideas to get back in his chair, so I did what anyone in this case would have done, I sulked.
This week we were in the inclusion classroom and this same student did the same thing to the special education teacher. He laid on the floor and refused to get up. After about five minutes of this the teacher called the office and the principal came down to speak to the child. She told him that this is not the way a fourth grader acted and to get up and sit in his chair. He didn't move. I realized then that there is not set way of handling cases like this. The principal became frustrated and kept coming back giving him an additional five minutes to get up. I was not alone. She couldn't make him move either.
Perhaps the most disturbing thing about this whole thing was that when the teacher spoke to the parent she said "well if he doesn't want to do something why should he have to? He is in a special education class after all." Sometimes it is harder to deal with the parents than the students. Is it any wonder this child disrupts the class and feels he can do whatever he wants?
One student really tried to test me. While in an inclusion classroom he crawled under the desk and pulled the chair in so that I couldn't get it out. I tried to convince him to come out and he said kept yelling I don't know you. The general education teacher finally said "let him be he is just making a bad choice so it is not our problem". I walked away surprised by the teachers reamark but kept an eye on him to make sure he wasn't hurting himself or anyone else. he rolled around on the floor until it was time to go back to his classroom.
I told the special education teacher what had happened and she spoke to him. I felt like I should have been able to figure out a way to get him back in his chair. I was disappointed that I had not come up with all the right words and ideas to get back in his chair, so I did what anyone in this case would have done, I sulked.
This week we were in the inclusion classroom and this same student did the same thing to the special education teacher. He laid on the floor and refused to get up. After about five minutes of this the teacher called the office and the principal came down to speak to the child. She told him that this is not the way a fourth grader acted and to get up and sit in his chair. He didn't move. I realized then that there is not set way of handling cases like this. The principal became frustrated and kept coming back giving him an additional five minutes to get up. I was not alone. She couldn't make him move either.
Perhaps the most disturbing thing about this whole thing was that when the teacher spoke to the parent she said "well if he doesn't want to do something why should he have to? He is in a special education class after all." Sometimes it is harder to deal with the parents than the students. Is it any wonder this child disrupts the class and feels he can do whatever he wants?
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Full House
Although I have worked with children with with special needs before I have never had a class where all of the students had challenges. They all need attention and assistance and some times it is hard to decide where to go first. Unfortunately the students exhibiting bad behaviors are the first to get the attention and the children who are quiet end up waiting. I try to watch the teachers who have been working with these students for several years to get an idea how best to make it work. Every day it seems like a process of divide and conquer. Even though someone may be a one-on-one aide they also try to help the students who sit nearby. I have already learned a lot of techniques from my supervising teacher. The rewarding part is when you see a student understanding what you are trying to show them. After all that is why we are here to show them the way.
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