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Heather - Hi everyone, Welcome to the chat!! I'm Heather, your hostess this evening...subbing for Emma
Heather - Could everyone please tell us a bit about yourself...are you all students and/or beginning teachers??
Heather - I am a veteran teacher...13 plus years, pretty diverse background, but predominantly Special Ed. on the elem. level. The last eight years I taught students with severe behavior/emotional disorders...fondly known as the "ballistic kids"!!..LOLOL
gabi - i am from argentina
Heather - As of the past two years, I am for the first time staying home with my own three young children, very active in their schools. I am the chief editor of a newsletter for teachers titled, Pencil Points. Emma, who usually hosts the chat is one of my awesome publishers. We have both had the same goal of supporting and mentoring other teachers.
Heather - Argentina...WOW!! wonderful!!
gabi - i am an english teacher in the south of my country
gabi - i live in a ski area
gabi - i work on my own
gabi - this is patagonia region
Heather - Are you originally from Argentina?? Sounds beautiful!!
gabi - yes ...
gabi - www.7lagos.com
Heather - What grade level/age students do you teach??
gabi - you can see my town
gabi - san martin de los andes
Heather - thank you, I
Heather - sorry, my clumsy fingers are not working..LOLthank you, I'd love to see it.
gabi - kids..teens..adults
Heather - gabi, what do you consider to be your greatest challenge as a teacher...Gisele, tell us about yourself
Heather - Welcome tkimball!
Gisele - I run an educational site called Math Goodies. My background is 6-12 math & computers.
gabi - i think it is to be loved and respect by all my students
gabi - if i can get their respect and love ..i can teach them a lot of things
jt - hello all. Just finished my student teaching today. I accepted a job at an alternative school for students with severe behavior/emotional problems.
jt - anyone here have experience with working in an alternative school setting
Heather - Gisele...I KNEW I knew that name. I have suggested your wonderful site in my newsletter, Pencil Points!!! Yes, as far as I know you're in the right place...hope I am. I'm subbing for Emma McDonald who usually hosts. gabi....Amen to that.
gabi - this is small town ..students are not like in big cities
gabi - i used to live in buenos aires ..and there it is completely different
Heather - Welcome jt..congratulations!! I have not worked in an alternative school setting, but taught in a self contained classroom for severe behavior/emotional disordered for eight years.
Heather - Gisele, Yes, Emma & Dyan are my incredible publishers...they took over the publishing of the newsletter last August. gabi, I'm sure it is!!
Heather - It can be if there's an issue you'd like to discuss..fire away.
GrammarCracker - I am a mom of six and have just completed an internship in English (secondary). I am actively seeking employment. My youngest daughter is autistic so special ed is an important isssue to me in two ways.
Tessa - i am finishing my first year of teaching at a catholic school grades 3&4. i would like to know how to keep my speedy kids busy with good stuff while i work with the others
Heather - Grammar..bless your heart, and I thought I was doing good to have hair left with three!! My area of experience has predominantly been severe behavior/emot. disorders, but do have a bit of experience with autistic students....Welcome Tessa, Becky, basilrabbit..
suz/az/sped - Tessa, do you ever have your speedy kids work with the others, or even silent reading can work depending how much time
suz/az/sped - This is my first year teaching self contained K-2
Tessa - they do silent reading and i have them writing, plus other free time activities, but they get bored easy.
basilrabbit - tessa, have you thought of interactive bulletin boards?
suz/az/sped - maybe try a challenging project for a small speedy group to work on, dealing with a current unit.
Heather - Tessa, congrats on finishing sometimes one's hardest year...the 1st!! A couple of suggestions for your speedy finishers...perhaps center and/or choice activities related to a ongoing theme
GrammarCracker - While I was student teaching I had a few speedy ones...I always had work for them that was going to be done anyway, reinforcements, etc. I found that if I didn't have something for them to do they wanted to cut up and play.
Tessa - that's an idea. most of the time i feel like i am running around like the chicken w/o a head
Heather - suz...congrats to you too..are these special needs ? What exceptionality?
GrammarCracker - I am from Colorado but I am living in NC for school. But I graduate on Saturday.
Tessa - suz, i thought i had a challenge but K-2 is really interesting
Heather - We in the Seattle area..for almost 4yrs...moved from North Carolina....Grammar...where in NC?
basilrabbit - i finished student teaching in march and have just started subbing (while looking for a job)...any advice for subs and classroom mgmt?
suz/az/sped - I was originally told it would be a resource room and it kind of us but the students I have should really be mostly self contained. You name it, I got it. autism, cerebral palsy, Down's, Rubenstien Tabi, LD, language development, fetal alcohol syndrome
GrammarCracker - What is Rubenstein Tabi?
suz/az/sped - I have some serious problems with our district so I accepted a resource K-5 position for Palm Springs. I'm so excited
suz/az/sped - R.T. (sp?) is a rare disease. Kind of dwarfism with moderate mental retardation
Tessa - i have this one about subbing. don't let them get their bluff in on you. start right out like i did. i don't like trouble and i don't accept trouble, i didn't get it either and i subbed a lot in middle school. be ready to talk ,they love to talk about themselves
Heather - suz..I have heard a whole gamut of names for those types of classrooms...very challenging when one has such a mix of needs.
GrammarCracker - I know about rare disorders, but I had not heard of that. My daughter has Landau Kleffner Syndrome
suz/az/sped - Yes, B'ham was beautiful, but I really love the sunshine down here and my hubby is a big golfer
suz/az/sped - Yes, I graduated last march and subbed in the spring. Be overly tough! I kind of enjoyed subbing.
suz/az/sped - What is that Grammar?
basilrabbit - thanks, tessa and suz...i had a challenging classroom while student teaching which i handled fine, but subbing has a different feel...i love it so far, though
Tessa - the only thing i did not like was going to different places all the time. i like where i am at but the drive is getting me. have an interview tuesday closer to home, any advice?
Heather - Tessa, I agree...regardless of the teacher's classroom structure or lack of, subs should come in with high expectations and structure. Grammar, that syndrome sounds familiar, but don't know much about it myself.
GrammarCracker - I love subbing...except in NC they require you to take a class in Effective teaching and the teachers usually give me a bunch of junk..no lesson plans...very frustrating. I have a sub bag with things to do and stickers and such...I also carry class rules.
suz/az/sped - Tessa, try to just breath, breath, breath and good eye contact.
Heather - Grammar, good grief, do I EVER remember having to take Effective Teaching when I was hired by the county..even with 7 plus yrs. under my belt...
Tessa - i had a student one time on my return visit go "oh, yeah, your're the one who doesn't like trouble. every other sub had trouble with him but he became one of my faves.
suz/az/sped - Tessa, there's lots of jobs here in AZ and Palm Springs is still hiring. Pay and insurance is good
GrammarCracker - LKS is also called Acquired Epileptiform Aphasia..She was normal until the age of three and suddenly developped seizures and lost all language skills...receptive as well as speaking
Tessa - thanks for the interview advice, i do occasionally forget to breathe during those things
suz/az/sped - wow Gramm. Must be tough with 6 kids. I admire you!!!
Heather - suz...LOLOL can I have an Amen for breathing...circular, deeeep cleansing breaths
GrammarCracker - (smile) My daughter gives me faith and patience
Tessa - suz, i am pretty settled here in ohio. my husband has had the same job for 20 years. Family is here. I went back to get my teaching certificate after my two girls started school.
Heather - Grammar, I'm sure she did...how old is she now?
GrammarCracker - I have applied to six counties in NC and seven in Colorado...keep hearing that they begin hiring in July...Becca is almost 5
Heather - Tessa, I too wish you the best...I think the best rule of thumb is to be honest, and confident in yourself. Grammar, do you have her in any kind of developmental program??
suz/az/sped - So where do you really want to live Grammar? Anywhere? Because my district here (although it stinks) would hire you now, and Palm Springs CA might too.
GrammarCracker - Well, if Colorado bites thats where I'd like to go. But if not I will stay here until I get tenure.
GrammarCracker - Becca is in Early Intervention. I pushed and she goes five days a week. She gets speech and occupational therapy
Tessa - Thanks for the advice but it is bedtime here in the eastern time zone, morning comes fast. I finally figured this out and now it is hard to get off.
suz/az/sped - Good Grammar. Push for those services cause they won't give em unless you keep on them. Get as much for her as you can!
Heather - Grammar-YES, you are your child's strongest and best advocate.
GrammarCracker - We are playing it by ear as far as inclusion goes for Becca. It does not feel right yet, but I would like her to be mainstreamed if she ever can. She is learning Sign Language right now
suz/az/sped - That's good Grammar. How old did you say she is now? Even having her participate in music, pe, library, recess, lunch etc. with other kids would be good for her. At least partial inclusion.
Heather - Grammar, that's excellent. I myself was always on the conservative side with inclusion...wanted to make sure my students as well as the inclusive classroom were involved and prepared
GrammarCracker - Good idea suz
GrammarCracker - She will be 5 in December
Heather - Yes, suz...those time periods are a great place to start the transition.
suz/az/sped - my university pushed inclusion fairly heavily, but it has to be right for the student and fair for the other students now. At least half of my students now should be only with other kids for extras, but nobody cares what I think or what's best for the kids. It's all money, politics, room space. Such depressing reality for my first year teaching
suz/az/sped - I was given half a room with no materials, curriculum, etc. with so many different disabilities and ones more severe than I was told. It's been tough but I've survived!
GrammarCracker - Well, my feeling is that she should feel good about what she can accomplish...right now, she is nowhere near ready. She is very smart, but she cannot keep up with the other kids because of her communication problems
Heather - suz, that is depressing indeed. It's certainly not meeting the needs of the child... it tends to set both the special needs student and the mainstream classroom up for failure..
suz/az/sped - Gramm, you sound like you know your daughter best. I've just seen such huge frustration levels and behavior problems from these students for being put in a regular class.
suz/az/sped - Over 1/3 of the teachers at my school are leaving and 1/4 of the district. The district just doesn't get it.
suz/az/sped - They say it's because of the heat and lack of datable males in town, but they won't confront the real issues.
Heather - I swear you are describing some of my early classrooms. I know all too well what it's like to walk into the lions jaws so to speak.
suz/az/sped - How long have you been teaching Heather?
Heather - suz, sounds like someone needs to do some serious documentation, rattle some cages....what do the parents think of the high turn over??
GrammarCracker - Are you going to stay?
suz/az/sped - Although it's been a tough year I'm not giving up on teaching sped. Palm Springs gave me a choice of reg or sped and I took the sped cause I didn't want this year to ruin my impression of making a difference.
suz/az/sped - Grammar, I was offered a position in Palm Springs CA 2 weeks ago.
Heather - suz, I taught for 13yrs...predominantly Special Ed., and a wide array of other areas, preschool, elem. ed, etc..
suz/az/sped - If worse comes to worse I can switch to reg ed
GrammarCracker - I am planning to go to Grad school for special ed..Really?
suz/az/sped - Really what?
GrammarCracker - The job
Heather - suz, good for you... If I may offer a bit of advice, don't let your first experience drive you out of spec. ed.
suz/az/sped - I'm trying Heather, that's why I'm givin it another chance:)
GrammarCracker - Here they dont do much hiring until June and July
suz/az/sped - They are pretty desperate over here in the SW
GrammarCracker - Havent heard much from Colorado
Heather - It really pains me to hear of teachers who have the desire to make a difference being driven out because of intolerable situations and lack of support.
suz/az/sped - Well I went to the job fair for 3 districts in Palm Springs and got an offer then
GrammarCracker - I interviewed with several school districts and they were encouraging...but they havent called for second interviews...even though they said they were mightily impressed
Heather - suz, did you say your offer was in Spec. Ed?
GrammarCracker - Believe it or not, our standards are very high...we have higher standards here for technology and such
suz/az/sped - It's been such a rough week heather. yesterday a new student who had big family, abuse, hunger, etc. problems kicked me and the principal in the shins. I can't believe a 5 year old could say and do everything in the book. Then my little girl with cp was outside and had a huge siezure and stroke. My aide found her and we were about in tears. It didn't seem to bother anyone else. It's been a rough week cause of the end of school the kids are crazy:(
suz/az/sped - Grammar, hang in there. Many districts really don't hire till June and July. they are more worried about finishing up the end of the year. hang in there. Something will come about.
GrammarCracker - awww...
Heather - Grammar, from my past experience at least, districts often do their initial interviews this time of year, and then wait to see how the configurations for the next year are shaping up..it's so often a numbers game...
suz/az/sped - I feel like I've aged 10 years.
GrammarCracker - Bless your heart suz
suz/az/sped - Yes Heather, they gave me a choice but wanted me to do sped. I made sure it was definitely LD resource (which I want). I have to take 30 more credits for CA but they apply towards masters and I have 5 years
suz/az/sped - Thanks Grammar
Heather - suz...hangest thou in there sweetie...I can't begin to tell you how many of those very same "hairy...why the heck did I think I could do this" kind of days...LOL Then I'd have one of those days when it ALL comes together, and that would last me a good long while...
suz/az/sped - yep, thanks. Only 3 more weeks!
suz/az/sped - I had my last IEP meeting for the year today. I really feel like just playing games etc. for the last 2 weeks.
Heather - suz, I think LD resource would be a welcome, much needed change for you....IEP meetings,..ugh..those I don't miss!! Welcome Teach4fun !!
Teach4fun - Does anyone know about Functional Behavior Assessments?
GrammarCracker - I am getting irked at one school...it's brand new...scheduled to open in the fall. All of my classmates have gotten calls except me and when he interviews he asks them if they have experience in forensics. Of course they dont but I do...I also have better test grades, GPA, etc. I have e-mailed him twice and he said he was going to call but he hasn't.
Heather - suz...take care, it was a pleasure having you with us.. I wish you all the best!!
Heather - Teach...hmmmm, I've heard of several, for what exceptionality??
Teach4fun - LD/ED
GrammarCracker - Well, I am going to have to go...my son asked me to rehearse a speech with him. Take care all. IF you are interested I have a a website devoted to LKS...http://sites.netscape.net/stutchr/homepage
Heather - Grammar, thanks so much for joining us. I will certainly visit your website....wishing you the best in all your endeavors..take care!
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