Week 13
Posted on April 27, 2008
I was on vacation this week! It was absolutely amazing to see my 1 year old daughter discover outside and and watch her chase her 4 year old brother. I also found it amazing how much my son has grown and developed into this little man. I also have to brag a little; my son was playing golf in the back yard and he hit the ball about 50 yards! I think I may have a new Tiger Woods on my hands. Like I said it was an absolutley amazing week!!!
I did think about how how I use my paras. I am struggling on how to make them more active and positive in supporting some of my students. I feel that some of them would rather sit by and watch instead of being active and ask if any one needs help. I also struggle with helping my paras see that some of my students are becoming too reliant on them. I almost feel that some of my 1:1s are almost too enmeshed in their students lives. These are some really touchy subjects that I am hoping Michael Giangreco and his group will help me and my colleagues with.
Para Support
Posted on April 16, 2008
Sorry this is late, the flu or whatever the sickness going around is, has struck my house with a fury!!!
I am very excited because our school is going to be part of a consultation piece with Michael Giangreco and his Project Evolve. We are basically going to look at how to better utuilize our paras. I think that the special educators, the regular education teachers, as well as the administration see this as helpful. However the paras see this as the death of them. They see this a a threat to thier jobs.. Administration has told them that this doeesn't mean that they are going to be cut and have asssured them this is just a way to use their strengths.
I am very frustrated with how to help them see this.
I am also getting frustrated because many of my 1:1 paras are mad at me because I am giving their students some independence. They feel that they should be with them all the time. I argue that they need to eat lunch with their peers or go to chorus and just sing (before I did this I took in account everyone's needs). These students have the right to be teenagers too; they don't always want an adult around! I guess it goes to the piece of over relaince. How do we stress that our students also need to experience things themselves?
Assistive Technology
Posted on March 28, 2008
I thought this was a great start to the unit! I really enjoyed exploring and watching the videos. Again Technology has come such a long way!! While I was exploring I couldn't help but have flashbacks of two of my peers that would of benefited from AT.
My best friend in high school was profoundly deaf. She had an interpretter where ever she went. She hated it!! She felt as if she couldn't be a teenager and couldn't just be like everyone else. The only time that she actually felt like a normal teenager was when she finally received a TTY at the end of our junior year. She would constantly call me (at all times of the night too!) and would be so funny. The next day after talking to her she would bring the print out of the conversation to school to show me. She couldn't believe that we talked so much! I can't help but think that if she had more access to technology that she would of had such a different experience. She still comments to me that she felt cheated in a way. Now we don't talk over the phone; we just IM and she types way too fast for me to keep up!! I have to tell her to slow down that she is dealing with a dsylexic here!!
My other experience was with a work experience job during college. I went to classes with a young woman who had sever CP and used a normal laptop to take notes and communicate with me. She would only talk to me; if she wanted to communicate with the rest of the class she would type what she wanted to say and I would then read it to the class. This was a very arduous task for her; it would take her 10 minutes to type one sentence. She felt very uncomfortable and often talked with me about dropping out. I would tell her that I would help explore some new technology to help her but she was still very discouraged. Money was also an issue for her. Eventhough I encouraged her she eventually quite. I was upset because I felt that if she had somekind of way to communicate faster she would of stayed.
I find it encouraging that there are so many options and that there is some kind of funding for our students. I also find it encouraging that it is accepted among many students peers. I still find it necesary to educate teachers on how devices are used. If teachers know how it works I feel that our students will be more accepted in the classroom.
Week 9-Peer Relationships
Posted on March 24, 2008
I was really excited to write about my peer relationship model this week. The name of my model is People to People. It was inspired by some of the relationships that my students have made without my help. This all started when one of my students, who uses a laptop to communicate and do work on, was not actually paying attention or was not particularly interested in what the teacher was saying, thought it would be okay to play video games. One of his class mates thought this was really cool so he followed his wheelchair into my student's study hall in the area I work. This student asked if it would be okay if he came into my student's study hall to play with him and do some work. This made me start thinking and this is how People to People began.
I thought that students could come into my structured study hall on their own will and connect with students who have the same interests or just help them with their work. I selected six students to try this out first. Well is was a success and grew to ten students based upon word of mouth from the students already in it. The students inspired me to come up with a plan. I thought it could be cool for this to become a half credit elective course. People to People would not require a lot of staff or time to prepare. The students and I are currently writing up a proposal and a presentation to get People to People in the course selection book for next year. We know that this process may take a long time but we are up for the challenge and realize that we are learning along the way. I will keep you updated along the way.
Reflection 8-Peer Relationships
Posted on March 16, 2008
It is kinda funny and ironic that this week we are discussing peer relationships because yesterday was my son's 4th birthday party with 9 four year old running and wheeling around my house!! (Thank god my house is octagon!!) As you can imagine it was absolute choas!! Anyway one of the party goers happened to be a young boy with moderate CP that is in a wheelchair. He is in the same pre-school class as my son and the rest of the party goers. He has been to my house many times, upon my son's invitation because in the words of my son, "He rocks!" This little boy is absoultely amazing as well as his parents. They try to get him involved in things that any normal 4 year old boy would do. He has tried skiing this year and is looking foward to tee-ball in the spring.
So back to the party... we had all the normal party games and a pinata to make things more interesting. (I was smart I didn't get one that you have to hit I got one that the kids just pull strings and it eventually opens.)My husband I took a step back from the yelling and screeming and couldn't help but see the most amazing things. My son and his class mates treated him just like they would each other. My husband and I were ready to assist this little boy whenever he needed help however the little ones took over. They helped get juice, cake and pizza. They had turns dancing with him (spinning his wheelchair). It was like they were naturals at helping him. But what really amazed my husband and I was how they could care less that he was different or in a wheelchair.
I have been a special education teacher for some time and kids never cease to amaze me. We underestimate them so much! I think that we need to just leave kids alone when it comes to a situation like this. They know what to do! They know what it feels like to be left out. I sometimes think that adults make things worse by imposing our presence on them. When it comes to making and keeping friends we need to let the kids do their thing. We should be there to educate if needed but we should be try to stay out of it. Of course, I think that parents with children with intensive needs, should educate and inform other parents. I think that some parents have that initial fear that they may not know how to interact with this child while they are at their house.
Back to the party...it was a success, my house is still standing!! I would like to think that what I observed at the party with this little boy continues throughout his life. I know that my son has developed a very good friend who ROCKS!!!! I also think that the other little boys in my son's class better watch out I observed a kiss on the cheek from the most popular girl to this little boy; he is somewhat of a cassanova!
Reflection Week 7
Posted on March 3, 2008
I have really enjoyed reading the Consultation text. I feel it has helped me reflect on consultation and really looked at how my school delivers services. I have gained a new perspective on myself as a consultant. Reading this book has also given me hope that I could pass some of the ideas and skills to my colleagues. I think that it is kind of ironic that we are reading this text because I feel that especially this year I have been working a lot with outside consultants at work and in my personal life. At school I have been working with a consultant around two students on creating an alternative program to serve their needs. I have been also working with a consultant with concerns with my son and his learning needs. It has been an eye opening experience!
Week Seven - Vacation
Posted on March 3, 2008
This week was really nice! My little ones got over one of the worst bouts of the flu that I have seen in a long time from the week before. Both of them had the flu shot too!!! So this week was catch for my son Jonah to spend every waking moment outside. We did a lot of snowshoeing and a lot of exploring in our backyard. My little girl just liked being in the back pack screaming and yelling with delight. I actually got one day by myself to do some skate skiing but most of this break for me was doing homework for this class as well as another class that I am taking. All in all it was nice to be home with my family!!
Reflection 4
Posted on February 26, 2008
After a crazy week of extremeley sick little ones my reflection is finally here! After reading this week's readings, the wheels in my head are turning. I know that I said I was really unsure last reflection of what my role really was. I am now thinking that I am more of a consultant. Yes I am also a special educator because I deliver services but I also do a lot of collaboration outside the special education realm. Sitting home this week in between projectile vomit I e-mailed my supervisor and wanted to sit down with him and the rest of the special education department and look at how services and referals are done. This class has really inspired me to question some of the ways we do things. It is a breathe of fresh air!!
Week Four Reflection
Posted on February 24, 2008
HI everybody! I want to apologize my reflection maybe a little late this week. I had two extremely sick little ones this week who seem to be getting better but are still not right. I am still reading and will be posting a little here and there. I hope to get everything done by Tuesday. Thanks for being patient.
Third Entry-Consultation
Posted on February 13, 2008
After reading about consultation this week I have been really looking at my role as a special educator and/or consulting teacher in my school. If I am truly supposed to be delivering direct services to my students and consulting with teachers, how am I defined? I enjoy doing both; this is my job. As you can tell I am really frustrated as are the teachers I work with. I feel that there is not enough time in the day to really do both. The teachers who need my assistance in problem solving in their classroom find it nearly impossible to touch base with me because I am either delivering direct instruction or trying to de-escalate a student or meeting with teams. As Kampwirth said in our reading that the downfall of a resource/consulting teacher program model is "excessive caseloads, insufficient time to plan, and role confusion"(pg50). I am really loving this course right now because it is really making me reflect on my teaching philosophy. I maybe frustrated but I still know why I am in this profession-the kids. It makes me want to initiate a conversation with my colleagues on looking at how services are delivered in the classroom.
Second Entry
Posted on February 9, 2008
It is funny that some people call teaching a calling becuase I think it is. I could not imagine doing anything else with my life. When I am having one of those days or weeks, that you just feel like throwing in the towel, I have to remember that my students need me and that whatever I am going through is a learning experience. I used to hate when people used to ask what I did for a living because I always got the "Oh my" or "Aw isn't that nice!" and then the funny face! It took me sometime time to say "You know I am very lucky; I work with some special people." (Can you tell that I have had a somewhat stressful week!)
CHANGE!!!! Everybody hears this and seems to run and hide and want no part of it. Change can be a positive step in the right direction when it comes to education. I believe that we live in a culture where change is shunned; we as educators should embrace it. So many of my colleagues do not see the big picture or the possible benefits; they only see the extra work that comes with it. I find this so discouraging! Everyone seems so preoccupied by what they have to get done and don't realize that if a change is instituted that their work can be lessened and that they could probably celebrate their students' learning. So do not run away from change run toward it! You never know what will be waiting!
As far as collaborating goes I wish I could do more of it; it is so beneficial to everyone involved. You gain so much insight from others on a situation and ideas seem to blossom while doing it. Collaborative teaming allows for some awesome creative problem solving and allows for teams to celebrate, which doesn't happen all the time.
My First Reflection
Posted on January 30, 2008
I have been thinking a lot lately on how far special education has come. Growing up in suburban Connecticut and attending a small neighborhood schools, I can remember "that room" where "those kids" (students with intensive needs) were taught. I can remember wondering why they were in there and not with the rest of us kids. After all they were kids too. When I reached high school, I remember "those kids" were put into a room at the other end of the high school, pretty much out of sight of the rest of us. Seeing this really sparked my desire to be a special education teacher.
It is amazing how the times have changed. Today, by law, everyone has the right to access the least restrictive environment and be in the regular education classroom. I feel that overall the school I work in is very supportive of inclusion. Sometimes though, I question if they are truly being included. I feel that many times teachers do not really know how to modify the curriculum. Even after I have worked them to modify the necessary topics, they become frustrated. They feel that they have to get through a curriculum and that modifying takes to much time. As a result, these teachers seem burnt and in the end, as the special educator, I am given the responsibility for educating these students. When this happens, I feel that the idea of inclusion is lost and my best practices as a special educator are also endangered.
While reading the chapters and the other readings, the idea of student ownership kept popping into my head. Personal learning plans, I believe and maybe in a perfect world, should be implemented all through a student’s educational career. No matter what their abilities may be, students take charge of their learning; they are invested. Their teams are there to guide them on their way.
I think that overall, we as educators loose sight sometimes of why we went into education. It’s not for the curriculum or the paperwork but for the kids. We sometimes tell students and not listen. They really have excellent insight on what is going on around them; we just need to stop and listen.