Join a Mailring at the
Teacher Mailring Center
http://www.teachers.net/mailrings/
Kathleen - Tonight's session is the regular monthly meeting of Special Education teachers.
PANSGRL - Kathleen, I teach in a private school for kids with SED
Kathleen - Pans and Bon, what would you say are the most difficult problems, biggest challenges you face?
Kathleen - I'm not a special ed teacher, but I'm seeing alot of press about IDEA. Is there anything about IDEA that you would like to talk about here?
PANSGRL - I know that friends that teach elsewhere have problems with staff support; however that is not the case at the HS I teach at. I have a difficut time sometimes being consistant..
Kathleen - Pans and Bon are both High School level, you must have a lot in common.
Kathleen - Pans, do you mean being consistent in your expectations and follow through with students?
Kathleen - Bon and Pans, how long have you been teaching (I'm just trying to get a feel for the level of experience here)
PANSGRL - Kathleen i'm actually working on my masters as well...so IDEA is well something that in my classes we talk about everyday.
Bon - Creating the kinds of responsibility and self-direction behaviors that our kids need to be a as prepared as possible to compete post-secondarily, Kathleen.
Kathleen - Bon, so you have lofty aspirations for your special students in spite of their special needs?
max - I teach severely emotionally disturbed, elementary level, in a "center-school" (all SED environment)
PANSGRL - Bon what population do you work with?
PANSGRL - Max we've bumped into each other before!
Bon - Yes, Kathleen. I really do want them to expect success, and the "regular" population pretty well sets the standard, in my opinion.
Kathleen - (Pans, that's the way I should be asking the question: "what population do you work with?" not "what do you teach?". Thanks :-)
max - as educators of special needs children I feel one of our greatest responsibilities is to build responsibility and self-direction/coping skills within our students
Kathleen - Bon, you've lifted my spirits with your attitude about the potential of your students!
PANSGRL - Oh I don't know sometimes i think we get carried away with the terminology and forget we're talking about people.
Bon - Pan -- my kids are grades 10,11,12 in mostly regular classes except for the help they get in study skills (extra time, organizational strategies, etc.)
max - our students are just kids Kat, except they have a higher frequency, duration and intensity than others of most everything they do, but underneath it all, they are simply children!
Kathleen - good point, Pans, we don't want to lose sight of the humanity behind the paperwork. I always bring a photo of the child to the PPT meeting.
PANSGRL - Kathleen what state are you in?
Bon - max -- me too. Because as soon as they leave us, if they don't have that, the bottom can fall out.
Kathleen - max, I agree. I remember having that realization strike me early in my career. I'm in Connecticut. Where is everyone else?
Bon - I'm in WA State.
max - and they can do it, they learn what they see!
PANSGRL - I have graduating seniors that are going to be on their own in just a few months that are petrified!
max - Florida, here
PANSGRL - California :)
Bon - PAN -- We do have a lot in common. I am hoping all mine will graduate too -- June 4th !!!
Kathleen - why are people in California always smiling??? ;-) must be the weather
max - will they have additional support Pansgirl, or are they "on their own" (ie. assisted living, or school-to-work program)
Bon - We're practically in all four corners.
max - Kat, 'scause they are tanned and slim!!!
PANSGRL - Our program "emanicipates" them and we release any kind of contact
PANSGRL - Kathleen it was 80 degress today with a slight breeze.
max - pansgirl, do you mental health agencies do inter-agency type support, with school?
Bon - PAN -- don't you have to do a statement of transition saying they are ready to 'move on'?
Kathleen - go ahead, rub it in, Pans :-)
PANSGRL - Max because most of them have "records" we help them with a job and apartment, but then that's it,
Kathleen - "records" as in arrests?
max - our programs are now extending beyond hs somewhat, a friend of mine works for the state setting up the transistion into work, once they are out of school, services are still provided
PANSGRL - Bon it really depends on their PO's
PANSGRL - Kathleen, yes most are sex offenders
Brutus - I have K-3.
max - services are not school realted once they graduate, but we are attempting to work on the inter-agency agreement
Bon - Pan -- Do you have many with parole officers?
Kathleen - Brutus, self-contained k-3 or resource?
Brutus - Sounds like everyone here is high school level.
PANSGRL - Max that's great, I'm concerned for these kids without any support
Brutus - Resource. I have SLD/DH/MH students.
Kathleen - Brutus, I teach kindergarten, "regular" ed.
max - pansgirl, how can that population just be turned loose without follow-up support, or do they just wait until they get back into the courts for the other level of services?
Kathleen - SLD?
PANSGRL - Bon almost all of them!
Brutus - Specific Learning Disability
max - Brutus, I teach elementary presently
Kathleen - PANS, what is the success rate for your kids after they leave and go out into the world?
Bon - Holy Mona!! How was your day, today?
PANSGRL - Max their records get sealed when they turn 18 :(
Kathleen - thanks, Brutus, I'm not familiar with that term. In what state are you?
PANSGRL - Kathleen we can not contact them.
Brutus - Ohio
Brutus - Has everyone finished their IEP's?
max - I find a giant problem in sp ed is a child is classified with a "label" and carries that; for instance, my seriously emotionally disturbed children often have severe learning problems/ SLD / but they are seldom addressed due to the behavioral classification, anyone else see that happening
PANSGRL - NO way they just keep coming!
max - LOL Brutus, our IEP's are not at any given time, come due throughout the year!
PANSGRL - Max it's true people have a hard time looking past the "loudest" disability.
Kathleen - PANS, if they were failing, getting into trouble, you would read about them in the newspaper, right?
Brutus - I have been writing IEP's all year too for newly identified students, but May 14 is The Day for all the IEP's of kids I have been serving this year.
PANSGRL - Kathleen, they are form all over California and some even out of state, i wish we could keep track some how. I would love a project like that for my Phd
max - yea, and they can be loud!!! but it is so rewarding to get them on their instructional level, find the modality they learn through, and watch them grow (even if it is slowly!!!)
PANSGRL - Brutus Yikes!!!
max - I was in a middle school that had one date IEPs at one time as well Brutus
PANSGRL - Max, never thought I'ld like working with HS but they sure are fun!
max - bet you'd find you love whatever level you end up with, pansgirl!!!!!!
Brutus - No kidding PANSGRL, but after that the end of the year should be smooth sailing!!! Lots of field trips.
PANSGRL - Hey is Prism out there? Or hidding?
prism68 - Here, just checking on everything
PANSGRL - I don't knwo I'm having a hard time planning curriculum around all the "field trips"
max - Kat, the % of our emotionally handicapped children that have large police records is astounding
Kathleen - max, that must be very discouraging
Brutus - What do you teach PANSGRL?
PANSGRL - General ed and Sign Language, and I missed what you teach....
Kathleen - PANS, it would seem that you could get a grant for a study like that, but privacy issues might prevent the collection of data?
max - it is almoust a factual thing you have to learn to accept Kathleen, and I always find the brightest side of a situation; often the court orders services (psycharists, case manager, medication review, etc. that school has no power to ask for)
PANSGRL - Kathleen that's exactly my problem ;(, but i need to finish the masters first anyway...
Brutus - At this time of year I would take your job in a heartbeat, but otherwise I enjoy my job. I HATE all the paper work with sp. ed.
max - Brutus, teach more profound students and you have less IEP's to do!!!! I have had as few as 3 to 4 in a class, presently I have 7
PANSGRL - Max 3 to 4 students????????? My largest class is 13!!!
Brutus - I taught MH for 4 years. I had 8 kiddos. I still didn't enjoy IEP time!
prism68 - Does anyone else teach Emotional/Behaviorally Disordered
max - do many of you feel it is left up to you to establish the curriculum guidelines, I do?
Bon - max -- I have 26 this year.
max - me either Brutus!!!
max - been there , don that Bon!!!
PANSGRL - Prism .... I do, HS
Bon - 26 IEP's, that is. Approx. 50 kids in 5 classess.
Brutus - I don't teach that inclusively, but have 3 identified SBH (severe behavior)
max - prism, I have severely emotionall disabled (SED)
Kathleen - Bon, not 26 all at once I hope!
Brutus - Should I have said exclusively.
prism68 - What state PANSGRL? Our county doesn't even serve EBD HS
Kathleen - Hi, Ashley, jump right in to talk about Special Education issues. What population do you work with? :-)
PANSGRL - Max, we get no guidlines at all, sometimes i feel llike i'm floating.
Bon - Kathleen -- No, they're sprinkled all through the year. I just pick 'em off like apples.
max - I did have one year Kathleen, in a varying exceptionalities pull-out class, it was a nightmare!!!
max - ditto Pansgirl!!!
PANSGRL - California, most are right out of California Youth Authority or on their way.
Brutus - Do you all teach self contained?
prism68 - yes
Ashley - hi! i have a first grade inclusion classroom
max - I have self-contained, within a SED center school that serves all the SED elementary students for our district
PANSGRL - Max, it's crazy does your school push behavior before education/
prism68 - I like the freedom of choosing my own curriculum
Brutus - What do you think about grouping sp. needs kids into 1-2 classrooms, instead of distributing them among all classes?
max - Ashley, I would think that would be great, young enough to make changes, how do you like it and do you have the support you need???
PANSGRL - I teach at a school of about 80 students all with SED, 60 are residential.
Ashley - i have learned a lot this year but, no, not nearly the support, surprise surprise
Brutus - Those of you that teach SED must have a HUGE amount of patience.
Ashley - i agree with brutus
max - pansgirl, I think behavior modification is best taught through academic lessons, so I love to do it that way; some others don't get beyond teaching behaviors; or attempting to
prism68 - My students are mostly great, but they are residents of the orphanage
max - I have all the patience in the world with the children Brutus (God blessed me with that) but He didn't give me any for the adults that mess things up!!!
prism68 - I agree with Max, we teach behavior "in the moment"
PANSGRL - Max, with i could talk more to you! But if I'm BBQing I need fire!
prism68 - We also use the Boystown system at my place
Brutus - I've been there max. Know exactly what you mean.
PANSGRL - Later all happy Friday early!!!!!
max - prism, what age group again,
prism68 - first thru fourth in my class
max - prism, I have heard that the Boystown system is good, do you like it, I am not versed in that area
max - prism, bet you have a strong bond with your students :-)
prism68 - I really do like it, it works for those "untouchables" like juvenile delinquents
max - Pansgirl, always love to talk about my kids, see ya again :-)
Ashley - just wanted to stop in and see what was going on here
prism68 - I don't really get as caught up with the kids as my first couple of years
Brutus - Do these chats happen over the summer?
Kathleen - Brutus, yes, we will have chats over the summer. Interested?
max - I definately maintain a professional distance, but I become very involved within their lives; I do home visits, resprit (SP?) care, etc
Brutus - Yes! I won't be as stressed!!
Kathleen - repite care. max, you mean you give the parents time off from the kids??
prism68 - I used to do the respite, it's great
Kathleen - LOL, Brutus, I know what you mean. People seem very interested in having sessions over the summer for all grades and specialties and topics
max - stressed does happen Brutus, usually I am not, but this year I understand what near burn-out means, and its from the adults, not the kids!!!
Kathleen - Brutus, have a good day! thanks for coming!
Kathleen - well, max, it turned out to be a good discussion. Thanks for helping to keep it going!
max - Yes Kathleen, because of professional boundaries, I try to do it only through an agency which "pays" me to do it; I go with goals and objectives and just take the child for the day; for instance, I took one to the science museum in Orlando, to a shopping center and out to dinner, practicing appropriate behavior all the time
Kathleen - max, would you be willing to lead other sessions sometimes? you do a good job and I could use the help.
Kathleen - max, a private agency pays you. does the money come from the parents?
max - sure would Kathleen, also have a few other people that you might be interested in!!
Kathleen - max, you have other people who would lead?
max - Kathleen, the services are usually paid for through Department of Families (use to be HRS) most of the children are on welfare so they are easily funded, those that aren't still recieve services, just a little more difficult to find funding, some parents insurances pay for some services
Kathleen - They are lucky to have people like you to help out. It must be very hard for the poor parents
max - Kat, I'll send the name of a professor at South Florida, Mimi Heidelman (SP???) who does a great program on ppositive behavioral intervention, she would be a great "guest" and I con't see why she wouldn't be interested, or on of her graduate students
max - max can't type and read at same time anyways, LOL
Kathleen - would you moderate that guest's visit?
max - everyone complains about the parents of these children, if they only realized the pressure of maintaining one of my "kids"
Kathleen - I think we need to have more compassion and empathy for most parents
max - I'd be happy to do anything you need Kathleen, I'll get in touch with mimi sometimes this summer and see what's what; also have others we could think about
max - I always get my parents involved from the very beginning, and the more difficult they say they are to do so, the quicker I get to them, I always have great parent backing
Kathleen - max, I really appreciate that. Just e-mail me kat@teachers.net or kathleen@teachers.net and I'll help select a date/s. be in touch with your ideas.
max - great Kat, have a nice evening!!!
Kathleen - you sound like me. the ones with the "reputation" are the first ones I work hard to win over
Kathleen - max, thanks SOOO much!! goodnight now :-)
