Teachers Chatboard – Teachers.Net

Join Teachers.Net

Chatboards

Recent Groups

Teachers

MEMBERS

248 Members

+ Join Group

Pinned Posts

ALLAll Teachers

Teachers.Net LIVE CHAT Support group - Tues eve!

Featured Jobs

Full-timeMontessori Teacher

Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

TemporaryTeachers, rural schools

Peace River North School District

Full-timeHead Teacher: 2nd/3rd Grades – Mills College Children’s School

Mills College

Teaching Jobs on Teachers.Net

Featured Job special only $39!

https://teachers.net/jobs

Become a Teachers.Net sponsor!

Teachers Chatboard

EXERCISE ROLL CALL - Thursday

by Bev-MI

Apr 12, 2018

8,024 steps so far. Walked three miles at the senior center. Rain/sleet and foggy weather. Snow storm predicted for this weekend!! It's around 43 this afternoon. I am still staying with DM at night. We did make it out Monday for hair appt (she got a perm!). She had her doubts a couple of times...Getting in the car was difficult. 100 years! Keep mov...See More

Like (1)

Comment

(4)

report post

view previous comments

Elaine/ret/IN Oops, I forgot--10,213 steps in 2 walks and some shopping! E

Apr 12, 2018

report post

men52 Elaine: I wasn't lurking. I just could never get on this site for ages so I just thought teachers.net had folded. That happened before on another I site I used to frequent a few years ago. On a lark, this morning I thought about seeing if the site was still alive. I am gradually going back and reading posts from the time I got unavailability. I wil...See More

Apr 29, 2018

report post

Low Functioning Preschoolers

by Michelle

Apr 26, 2018

I am an early childhood special education teacher. I teach students ages 3-5 with disabilities. I have a student with Down syndrome who is also displaying some characteristics of Autism. He is nonverbal, and very sensory seeking. He loves things with strings and will lay on the floor and dangle things in his face. Besides this, his only other inter...See More

Comment

(1)

report post

men52 I had male students, both fives, years ago in my multiaged preschool class and one had those same limitations. The first boy I had had years earlier was high functioning.

The one I had with similar limited interests like your student was very challenging. He also had ingrained negative behaviors that warranted constant supervision to keep...See MoreI had male students, both fives, years ago in my multiaged preschool class and one had those same limitations. The first boy I had had years earlier was high functioning.

The one I had with similar limited interests like your student was very challenging. He also had ingrained negative behaviors that warranted constant supervision to keep the other students safe from his impulses. The difference I had from you which I consider a huge advantage, was that he was in a classroom of typical students. Having a room full of typical classmates gave him a lot of role models. Those children copied my patience and interactions with him as we searched Possible activities that might interest him. (He had been kicked out of every preschool in the county due to his behaviors before the parents found my school) I had him for two years

. He always made a one bead stringing necklace that he called his "shaker" which I am assuming is what you meant as "stim" since he would swing it in a circular pattern(I do not have special ed training so I don't know the lingo). He was allowed to do that in designated places in the room so that he had boundaries. One thing that I recalled that he could engage in were rhythm instruments. I kept a basket of those in the shelf and either I or a small group of classmates would sit together, sing and play instruments. I sang to him often especially when I needed him to respond to directions. I recall both boys I had with Downs had a strong connection with circles. They even ran in circles. I am not sure if that is something you can connect with your student or not.

The female students with Downs had none of that non interest problem at all. I got them as 3 year olds before bad habits were formed and the boys were five year olds the first time I had them. As you know with these children, although it might take them longer to learn something, once they do, it is next to impossible for them to "unlearn" a formed habit. I was getting my training the year I had the two little girls in class. My mentor was there to observe that class and she said something interesting to me. She said that the only reason those two girls stood out from the rest of the class was that everything they did was so exact and perfectly executed. They were as different from each other in all ways, but they both had great work habits.

My classroom always had plenty of opportunities for real work to be done - sweeping, cleaning, dusting, feeding animals, watering plants, preparing snack - all meaningful activities that all of the students enjoyed doing, even the young man I wrote about above.

I don't know if any of my experience will help you or not. When I had all those special needs students that last year, the inclusion law went into affect that next year. Five of those students went into typical kindergarten classrooms. One ended up transferring to the state's blind school, two got withdrawn for homeschooling, and the other two, including the boy with downs were taken out of their classrooms within months and put into a contained special ed classroom with 7 students. I loved those years of working with those kids. I hope they have the same fond memories that I do. I know they all had a profound positive effect in their typical classmates. All of them are adults now.

I hope you find what works for your little guy. I remember the frustration of trying so many different activities that ended up not working. Best wishes

Apr 29, 2018

Like (1)

report post

EXERCISE ROLL CALL - Thursday

by Bev-MI

Apr 26, 2018

Good afternoon! The sun is shinning and the snow is almost gone!! Little green leaves poking up in the flower garden.

7,800 steps so far today. I got 3 miles in, walking at the senior hall. I've been busy knitting baby things!! My oldest niece is expecting this fall. This is the gal who travels all over the world, lived a year in Russia, ...See More

Comment

(1)

report post

men52 Hi,Bev! I thought this site died a couple months ago since after several days/weeks of attempting never worked, I stopped trying. For some reason this morning I thought I would try again and here I am.

I bought my new hybrid bike almost a month ago. The weather here has not been desirable for much outdoor riding with the cold and lots of r...See MoreHi,Bev! I thought this site died a couple months ago since after several days/weeks of attempting never worked, I stopped trying. For some reason this morning I thought I would try again and here I am.

I bought my new hybrid bike almost a month ago. The weather here has not been desirable for much outdoor riding with the cold and lots of rain, even snow. However last week I have taken it out for rides numerous times and I just ride along effortlessly. What an amazing difference between riding my 40 year in old bike and this one. I foresee longer and faster rides this summer. I am excited!

My cycling club asked me to lead a regular group of novice/senior cyclists each week. I accepted. It's just on bike trails which we have considerable and easily accessible. I still need to get a mirror to help me see behind me. I will start after school is out for me in a couple weeks. I also want to help with the training group I was in last summer on Saturday. They also have groups going out on Thursday evenings and having a social/dinner afterwards at a new pub near our routes. That should be my summer routine for outdoor riding.

I still do spinning class at least once a week. I try to continue that in the summer to use as cross training. I don't stand much riding outside like we do in spinning.

Unfortunately my very last test for my Medicare physical showed that my borderline osteoporosis has crossed over into the real thing. They wanted me to take 1500 mg of calcium supplements plus vitamin D in addition to some prescription med. I researched the side affects of that, and I told them I did not feel comfortable taking it since the potential damage would be permanent. I do not take nor have taken prescription drugs except antibiotics a couple times. They told me then to just stick with the calcium vitamin D. That works for me. I can also increase a weight resistance routine. Evidently all the walking I do isn't enough; so more is needed. I dislike lifting weights so I am going to look into piyo or yoga because I could use more flexibility in my hip area to balance all the cycling.

I signed up to teach again in the fall so my head is full of all sorts of ideas on how I want to set up the room and curriculum. I am only having 4 girls and the rest boys so they will need plenty of opportunity for movement built in. I will have a new co teacher so instead of me having to adjust to the style set in the early weeks, it will be the other way around.

Grandson age 11 got his new bigger bike with gears so we should have lots of rides together. He went with me last Sunday on his too small bike and ended up walking a lot towards the end because he couldn't keep up. Now he's got the right size and has no excuses. He lives riding bikes.

So that is my catch up roll call story. Have the others like Elaine been posting?

Keep movin' everybody!

Apr 29, 2018

report post

New Teacher Struggles

by Anonymous

Apr 26, 2018

I am a first year teacher. I am young, fresh out of college at 22. This has been a very good year for me, and I have been told by one of my co-teachers that I have the management of a 3rd-4th year teacher. The one problem I've run into this year is that people treat me like I'm incompetent as a first year teacher. It's like just because I'm young, ...See More

Comment

(2)

report post

Tara T Kegley Hi, My name is Tara Kegley. I have been teaching for 29 years. Congratulations on making it through your first year! Hang in there with your co-workers. Sometimes, stagnant teacher feel threatened by new ideas.

Apr 29, 2018

report post

Apr 29, 2018

report post

Math games and Activities for kids

by Teacher

Apr 29, 2018

Using Number line for Addition

https://www.learnmathwithfun.com/games/using-number-line-for-addition/

Comment

report post

Tiny Classroom Organization

by ETeacher

Apr 28, 2018

Hi, my class is a self-contained unit for student's who have severe cognitive disabilities, grades 6-8. My class is currently housed in a full sized classroom with 8 student's and 3 adult staff. Due to the addition of more general education classes and the small number of students, my class will be moving to a half classroom. Many of my students ha...See More

Comment

(1)

report post

haha Sounds like you have a challenge coming up. I had a similar sounding class (e.g. 7 MS students, 2 in wheelchairs. two others with lots of needs/propensity to physically acting out, running etc, assorted other challenges) with 4 adults in a very small classroom.

As I recall, we managed to find room for desks, a group table, a one on one tab...See More

Apr 29, 2018

report post

Apple Seed for Sunday, 29 April 2018

by Barb S. hs/ret

Apr 29, 2018

We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat.

~ Queen Victoria

Comment

report post

My dear friend

by martin

Apr 28, 2018

Looking for a retired special educational teacher,lives in South Houston'

Name Earlene. Please call Martin

Comment

report post

Apple Seed for Saturday, 28 April 2018

by Barb S. hs/ret

Apr 28, 2018

Good things happen that we can't believe.

~ Madeleine L'Engle

Comment

report post

Principal gift

by melony

Apr 28, 2018

I am responsible for getting gift for my principal who is leaving at the end if the year. I am thinking of ordering a wine glass with our school name etched in it. Then filling it will candy and getting her a bottle of wine. Nothing expensive but a small token. What do you think? Suggestions?

Comment

report post