From my perspective

As I sat in a math class today, this is what I see and hear:

• Students talking about Mexicans taking over everything
• Another student group recalling all kinds of stories from previous years
• Student sitting in the front row, sharpening a pair of scissors that he broke
• As a student leaves the room to go to the bathroom, calls a female student a jerk
• Teacher responds, watch our language after he has left
• Students are still eating parts of their breakfast that the stashed away in desks. Breakfast is over at 8:55, this was at 10:24
• Student refuses to do problem on the board because he has already done two on the board
• Really he wants to continue sleeping in the back of the room
• Teacher later is concerned that he at times has been eating bags of sugar and then will crash from being hyper. 
• Students decide to all gather on one side of the room to have a group conversation. I am pretty sure that I have heard the word stripper at least twice.. 
• Last minute of the class, two thirds of the class walks out of the room. Teacher try's to follow them saying you leave and it's a detention. After the bell rings, he tells the remaining students they can now pack up and leave

You ask, well what was the teacher doing during this whole time. Good question!

He was calling up students one at a time to the board to solve one volume problem and then later to solve a one step equation for class participation points. He was doing this individually to assess students while giving the rest of the class nothing to do.

Math class round 2 - cause we didn't have enough fun the first time.

• I walk into class with the class upset - because their warm up was having to write 21 times that they would not throw things in the room. 
• Why? Apparently several students were throwing things yesterday in class so this is how we handle it. 
• At the same time he is passing out detentions from yesterday. Further making students mad
• I'm called rude because nobody is listening and I am trying to keep the class quiet. Keep in mind they are yelling at teacher not allowing him to explain anything. 

Other things that I have heard from this class:

Oh good, I was just calling you. I was calling you to let you know that A has a headache. Good to know.
Later asks, well should I send him to the nurse? Well, that's your call.  This is a child who is normally very active, almost passed out at his desk.

Not that we have been at a level 0 (no talking) but I will let you go to a level 1 or 1 and a half during this next exercise. (Start again calling one student up to the board at a time)

Was told at 5:20 that one of my students was in a near fight at the end of the day... wanted me to do something about it. Umm the child has already gone home. Not much I can do now.

If that wasn't enough...

Had my teaching credentials questioned yesterday by a 7th grader. She didn't think I was a teacher because I'm not in the room all the time. All the gen ed teacher said was, yeah we co-teach. Thanks for standing up for me. Appreciate it

Same class, had a student look me dead in the eye and say why don't you take those students out, they are your students. Thanks but I teach all kids. Nothing from the gen ed teacher

We have an event tonight that I will miss. Students have been running wild in the building sense dismissal. Glad to know there is supervision :) 

Gearing up

Sitting here tonight gearing up for a new week. 7 days until Thanksgiving Break...

5 days this week. 2 days the following week..

Why only 2 days you ask? Isn't that just asking for trouble?? Why yes yes it is, but what do I know. :)

Last week ended on a high note...

Student threw her full milk carton of milk across the room at breakfast. Why? She wanted too. She now is the second child that her teacher has banned from having milk in the morning because they don't know how to use it. Don't think that's legal but okay..

By 9 am 4th grader dropped the F bomb.

New student who was supposed to start on Monday started on Friday and was put in the section I didn't want him in. Too be continued...

Day ended with me playing babysitter to high schoolers...

Why?

Massive fight (10 kids) got into a fight over... wait for it.... designer jeans.

I was supposed to cover for someone but called and said that there is no way I can cover. She wasn't happy but not walking away from this one..

You know it's bad when they call for all administrators over the walkie talkies. I'm some how included in this all call. Didn't think I was an administrator. If I am I SO want the pay check.

On a positive note.. there was no sped kiddos in the starting or ongoing of this fight.

Thank you dear lord for small favors.

Long time no write...

It has been a few days okay maybe more... since I last wrote.. For sure not lacking in the story department...

Oh were to start.... Ahh yes...

Had several students withdraw because they were facing expulsion.

One student among other things threw an apple down the hallway during passing period. Why? He wanted to get his friend's attention.

Another student during the manifestation meeting started screaming at her mother about telling family secrets. (really mom wasn't. Giving us background) Student tells mom it's all moms fault because she didn't get her the therapy that her probation officer said she needed. Sure cause being on probation isn't your first problem.

Third student got into three fights within the first 5 minutes of school. The third one could have been avoided had she stayed in the deans office where she was asked to stay... Nope too easy. She felt the need to leave and finish what she started. Have fun with that one...

In the world of how many times can we violate IEP's/ SPED Law:
Was told that at my school we don't offer the Certificate of Completion option and we can change the graduation requirements and student could get a general diploma.... Ummm... the student is 18 with no credits and has a low IQ. Mom knows that he isn't getting a high school diploma. She asked for a certificate of completion.. Oh and the state offers it and allows that to be an option for students but okay.

Had a student be dropped out of high ability... why? She uses a calculator. As a result maybe she can't handle the workload of high ability. Does she use it more than she should, yes. Is there some anxiety there yes. Does that mean you can tell her not to use her calculator. Nope sorry that violates her IEP. Was also told oh well maybe we need to look at who gets a calculator because maybe not all SPED students need them. Especially if we are only giving them the calculator for ISTEP. We shouldn't eb worried about one test. No cause my performance is based on that but what ever.

Where I work has started doing teachers and student's of the month. Fantastic idea!!! I somehow managed to win the first month.. Don't know how but okay.. The reason: my evaluation score, the number of phone calls and home visits I have done... Umm... I haven't done any of the required home visits but hey who's counting right? So there were for of us that were chosen... We all got it for the same reason. Not that I am ungreatful, but could we use a little bit of creativity?

I was setting up some conferences. When I was letting teacher's know, one teacher said, oh I didn't realize you were testing her... Cause you missed me hounding you for the paperwork...

Confirming above said conferences with teacher saying I have so and so's parent coming in for a parent meeting on Friday at 9:30. Teacher: So is the parent going to be there? Nope...

Was asked within 5 seconds of walking into my office for the morning if I had tested a student and why I hadn't placed this child. Teachers know I'm busy but if I could put this request at the top of my list of things to do they would be greatful because it is a testing grade and the parent wants someone to read the test to her..... Oh and she can't read...

So lets process here... Good morning to you too.. I had plans of getting other thing done this morning but I guess not. So I go stomping out of my office to find the testing file... cause I'm pissed and wanted to make a point.. (come to find out it was in my office but detail I needed to walk away)

Recap of the student with teachers -
Dad died - mom refused counseling
Severely inattentive - recommended that mom take her to the doctor (she didn't)
Recommended retention- mom refused

Do we see a theme here? Oh we do!!! So you want me to place her why???
Teacher response: So what do you want me to tell mom. Please write it out for me so I don't forget or say something wrong. Nope sorry... ain't got time for that.. I explained what needed to be addressed with mom. That's all I got.

Had a student go "missing" today... turns out he asked for a pass to the bathroom. Only he didn't go to the bathroom. He chose to go and get a laptop from who knows where and sat outside the cafeteria looking at highly inappropriate things doing highly to himself thinking we wouldn't find him.

Go to call parents about the situation not one single phone number works for them. Get two more from therapist and those don't work either.

Explained situation to therapist.. I got the response of well he is impulsive and maybe he didn't take his meds. Umm no sorry that is SO not the explanation here. And I needed to let her know the consequence so that she can advocate for him. Ummm... he chose sorry... At the end she was happy that a student find him but that it must have been traumatic for who found the student. Nope not really... if your tramutaized by porn and pants pulled down.. you don't need to be in SPED.

As I am dealing with above situation I walk into my office get a call from the front office saying that someone is here to test... where do they need to report to cause that can't use the conference room... Uhhh... tell them to wait and I will figure it out.. So where do they need to go? Tell them to wait. Cause above all else... the child is in lunch for the next six minutes...

Get off the phone, figure out where to put the tester and my phone rings again... Another staff member calling to say that an IEP is done and could I look at it right now so that she can send it home. She updated some things and wants  me to look at it... Told her so not doing right now and I will get to it. Later mentioned the writing goal that was inappropriate.. Her response: Well it was a carry over from last year... Uhhh if it's not an appropriate goal re-write it. Also I KNOW I didn't write the goal... and I had her last year.

After 30 minutes - I finally sat down to get lunch that I had so desperately been trying to do..  20 minutes to eat. SWEET!!!

Oh wait... Get a call on the radio.. I'm needed in the office... They can wait...

Get up there.. Yes.. the school psych is here waiting for you - Yep I know she found me... And there was another lady here looking for you and I don't know where she went (figured out it was the tester) Yep got that fixed too.. cause yeah no one can do anything without me.

Conference One of afternoon- goes great parent's on board were good... Finally I'm on a roll..

Crash - conference two...

Parent and therapist come in. Mom appears to have an anger issue but okay. 5 - 10 min in the conference get a phone call from the office. You can use the conference room it's open.. Thanks we're good and we have started.

We get to the part of the behavior rating scales. I said that I don't have the teacher's form.
Therapist: What do you mean you don't have it.
Me: Teacher didn't return it she lost it
Therapist: Well what do I need to do to get this form so that I can get this child an IEP? He really needs one..
Me: We have inut from the teacher so we're good.

Long story short the child has some anger issues and is possibly ADHD that's not treated.
Therapist wants an IEP because the child only works for rewards, looses his homework and is often off task.. Sorry nope I don't write IEP's for that.

Therapist: So what do I need to do?
Me: Follow up on the ADHD and we will see how he responds to treatment if it works we are good if not we meet again..
Therapist: So follow up begining of February...
Me: How about March...

Staff meeting today to go over discipline - much needed... I would say I remember the meeting but lets be honest I don't. I do know I agree with what was said....

During said staff meeting... a fellow staff member brings her kids who are students to the meeting and they are all over the place and one starts scream crying at one point..

Dean of students comes over to explain punishment for student earlier and asked if we had another number because the new numbers we were given didn't work at all either. So could I get ahold of therapist. Sure!

So I'm texting with therapist during the meeting with my boss who is standing behind me and who said to put phones on silent and pay attention.. Honestly I'm doing work... Swear!!!

Good thing there were handouts from that staff meeting!

Is it Friday?