Snow Day

All that snow and then some did come! We had the day off, which was a very good thing since some of the side roads were still not cleaned off last night. I spent well over four hours at school yesterday, and boy did I get alot done!! There is a reason I live on the main drag! Looking back to the first day of school, I have grown in many ways and things are getting easier every day.

Checking off the list

The two music programs are done.
The movie and pizza party went well today.
Only one day left before Christmas Break and tomorrow afternoon will be fun!
But...rumor has it its suppose to snow 8" tonight. If you have ever seen nine kids the day before Xmas break you may know that I do not know if alot of snow is a good thing to add to the mix!

Then there is the parent that gives one of my aids and I our Christmas gifts infront of the second aid whom he gave nothing to. And to top it off, the aid got more than I did... Got to just laugh! Good thing I love kids because somedays there is no other reason to keep fighting for the student than my compassion for each one of them.

Is it Christmas break yet??

I should be going to bed, but its about time for an update. I just bought a rather large container of apple juice that tastes terrible and have a clean load of laundry on my floor.
So, Christmas Break can not come soon enough, maybe its because I want to see family and go to Colorado, but having a few days off from school sounds rather refreshing right about now. Today started out by learning one of my students had not had his medication. I assumed morning medication, but have a feeling it was more like last night. A family friend came to the rescue and brought in the medication for the student. Up to this point the child was showing exactly why he takes this medication, but was also saying the answers to our math identification of numbers faster than I could flip the cards. He was answering for everyone, so I quickly made a game out of not answering for his friends. Got him back to his typical self and then by this afternoon another student started to fall apart. Four walks and two trips to the sensory room later he was back on task. I really think his intense exercising was the ticket.
Next week starts the two weeks of craziness. Christmas program practice has already affected my students and is in full swing next week. The idea behind a really long music program practice I believe was suppose to be a really long prep time, but when I will be having a new aid for the third time in three weeks I am not so sure how that will go for me. The following week includes the program (programs, two in one day), a community mobility trip to the movies complete with a pizza party and then the last day before CHRISTMAS break. And I thought Halloween was bad...

appreciation

Once again, today was another chapter in my appreciation for my assistant. We had two students gone today which made things a little easier. When you go from nine to seven you can tell the difference. After recess was a 2nd grade assembly which left me and four 3rd graders holding down the fort. One would think this would be a great chance to get some good one on one work in. Not when a great deal of time is spent keeping one of the students with the other three. Then came lunch. The perfect attendance pizza party was also today. I sent my assistant to with the students to the party which left me with the rest of the crew at lunch, in the commons, during my lunch break, eating my sack lunch, hand over hand feeding a student...I think I got the bad end of that deal. Then out to recess I go. Considering I set it up that way I can't complain to much other than the school lunch pizza was not cooked real well, how appetizing to even look at.
I am to be observed next week by my principal. Slightly nervous, I won't lie.

I survived

I survived my first set of parent teacher conferences! I will say though 12 hours is a rather long day. There are always thoughts of what I should have said or could have said differently, but for the most part I am satisfied. I hope to improve in many ways before spring. Now I am going to enjoy my day off!

conferences part 1

Day one of conferences are over! I felt good about how they went, though I did not have many concerns with the line up of parents that I had coming tonight. Lots of extra time tomorrow in between each conference, hopefully I get a few things done but we shall see.

Well that didn't go well

Well the first classroom party of my teaching career is in the books. Today is the first time I have said to myself that I wish I could have done that over. The entire afternoon actually, but I would take just the Halloween party. I was too focused, should have been keeping my eyes and ears open. I beat myself up over not being able to structure things well enough. Often I will not pay attention to that little voice in my head; I really should start listening to it, it hasn’t been wrong yet. I wish I had been more social to the parents who came to help out. It’s a good thing I have till February to improve my classroom management before we have to do that again…

Highlights or lowlights

10/24/2008

Ever just had one of those days? Here is a quick over view of my Friday.
-At lunchtime, a student with Autism starts to have a bad day. By the end of the day he had sat in a cardboard box, threw a pitcher of cherry juice onto the wall/sink/floor, unwound a roll of paper towels onto the floor, and climbed a window.
-Another student had once again sat in the sink as well as playing the great ping pong game between the automatic sink and classroom door.
-Student not feeling good, enough said. And not enough pull ups.
Thank goodness it was Friday.

Oh my goodness

10/17/2008

If today had happened a month ago I think I would have just cried. I had the sub aid that was in my classroom yesterday again today. Plus a sub aid for my classroom aid. I had stocked up on fun activities and went into today not expecting much. By the time the day was over my female student had been sitting in the sink twice. Feet, rear end, and all. The first time the two sub aids were standing inches from her talking. I looked up, said please remove her from the sink, and went right back to what I was doing! It was just one of those days. I have a better appreciation for my aid after today, as I was both the teacher and aid. How does that happen when you have two aids in your room you ask; trust me it does! To top it off, I forgot duty twice this morning...

Ups and Downs

middle of Oct.

I can feel that I am on a downward slump. Had my first IEP meeting yesterday and today had a parent meeting. We are in the process of getting a second classroom aid for the class and today we had a random sub aid that was more work than he was help. He will be back tomorrow and my classroom aid will be gone in the morning. So that means two sub aids, me, and nine kids on a Friday. Kinda guessing not a lot productive will get done. I do not like the feeling that I have in my gut from the parent meeting today. I wish I could scream - I am new, I am trying, I am getting better every day. (ask me for what use to be written here...) Urgggg. I sure hope working 13 hours this weekend at my other job is a good way for me to relax and refocus...

Why are you stressed again?

10/8/2008

So I have had a few people not understand why I am stressed and overwhelmed. Being a first year teacher can't be that stressful, can it? Lets just say the state of Iowa and I need to have a talk. I am a beginning educator, aka a first year teacher. This means I have a few extra meetings to attend each month and projects to do for it. Yes, it is helpful but at the same time I get to spend the next two years doing this for a whole five graduate credits. Which leads me to my other 37 graduate credits. I am not certified to teach what I am teaching. I have a strategist level one degree and I am teaching in a level two classroom. The state of Iowa says I have two years to get my certificate of endorsement, possibly three if I beg :-). So I have the chance to reach one of my goals right off the bat, getting my masters. Some say, but you don't need to get your masters. A certificate is only a few credits short, so why not keep going. Oh, and I am moving this month from a not so great place to a nicer one.

1st trip to the principals

9/16/2008
So as a kid, I really never got sent to the principal's office in trouble. I got my chance today! After having my first parent meeting before school this morning, I went with the student to the principal's office for ''a talking to''. I was there as a second adult in the room, but I liked the fact that I know what was said and how the student reacted. I think it will help me in dealing with this situation. I also had my 1st sub today! That was a nerve racking experience to say the least.

What did you do over lunch?

What did you do over lunch today? I constructed a tent. A tent for my students to use as a safe place to go when they are mad or frustrated. It quickly became a large headache as the kids went crazy about the idea of having a tent in their classroom. I sure hope the newness wears off quickly! In the first 13 days of school I have already sent my first student to the principal's office (twice and the principal was not in either time). All of my students were at school today, only the second time since school started that we could say that (due to one of my students having surgery).

First day

8/21/2008

Today was the big day. As I was driving to school I saw a school bus with kids in it and I got excited and emotional. The day quickly showed me what kind of day it was going to be when the last bus came 30 mins. late. My slight mistake of unpreparedness for one of my students lead him to be climbing the walls all day. My nine kids were sweet for the most part all day and even impressed the music teacher! Making good first impressions! The day was rough all around including another long wait for the buses at the end of the day. Next year at open house I am going to have medication forms for each parent and find out bus information. Finding that the things I do not think are in my job description should probably be checked by me and then done myself anyways. The new school looks so good and is going to allow us to provide the students a great education not only in material things but also through the fact that we are able to educate all the students from the area in one building.

New classroom

I got to see my classroom yesterday for the first time. Unity is a BRAND NEW elementary school building and my classroom was created this past year. I am nervous and excited to begin setting up my room. There is lots to do and only limited supplies in the classroom. I am nervous as I have a level two mental disabilities classroom, I have lots to learn. I have a great support team and expect this school year to be full of surprises and learning moments.

Background

I graduated from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa in three years. At Morningside I majored in Elementary and Special Education with endorsements in Reading and Coaching. I am currently working on my Masters in Special Education Level Two Mental Disabilities.
What made you want to become a teacher?
I grew up in a family with deep ties to the world of education. As a little girl I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up and I never grew out of that dream. In high school I had an internship in the Kindergarten classroom at my school and the experiences there lead me to wanting to peruse Special Education.
How do you feel about being done with your studies and starting your first job? It is scary to think I am beginning my first real teaching job. I am also going to be working towards my masters in Special Education Level Two Mental Disabilities. I am excited to learn things that will be directly related to my classroom and the students I have.
Describe your job hunt.
I was blessed to get this job so early in the summer. I applied for a few jobs in the area and had two interviews. They were both in the area of level two mental disabilities.
What made you say “yes” to this particular teaching job?
Brand new school! Ok so the great support I felt from the other three teachers I would be working with was a strong factor too, ;-). I had wanted to teach in a level two mental disabilities room and Unity was a perfect fit.
What did you do this summer to prepare for the upcoming school year? I was a summer school teacher for the Boys and Girls Home of Sioux City.
A good experience that has prepared me for anything that can come my way. It has been a rough summer and I am very excited to begin at Unity. I also went and visited my aunt who has been a Kindergarten teacher for over 20 years. I was able to get many great ideas and a few supplies from her. I hope to go to the two teacher stores in the area this week to go SHOPPING! I was waiting to shop until I had seen my classroom.