5 Points

A letter to an administrator:

 

I wanted to share with you this email I got from A's mom...

I know that on Friday we talked about good cause exemptions, and you didn't agree with the exemption. I completely understand where you are coming from and respect your point of view 100%. I do always consider what is in the best interest of the student and will consider your advice as well as it was good advice.. 

Read what mom wrote... 

​When I told A that she didn’t have to retake the iread test, she cried tears of joy. I’ve never seen her so relieved. 

This.. this is why I do what I do.. this is why the good cause exemption was created (amongst other reasons).. While to some.. it's 5 points no big deal... easy peasy...to A asking her to retake IREAD for those simple 5 points was asking her to climb Mount Everest yet again... A has made SO much progress this year and is still reading at a mid second grade level on her own and that for her is still hard work.. All A wants is to be like everyone else in her class.. for reading to be easy.. 

So while it may have only been 5 points.. that exemption to A means the world. To her it is an acknowledgment of all of her hard work means something.. for her it levels the playing field im a sense.. it tells her she is good enough to be with her peers.. To her it's us as adults saying we know it's hard, you have made so much progress, keep making that progress, we are going to take a hurdle out of your way. 

I don't expect you to agree... but I hope this helps you to understand why sometimes it's not as simple as 5 points.

Testing

 Testing is an inevitable part of a job of any teacher, especially special education.

With it being the month of May, we are in the thick of it. 

Statewide testing is about done.. down to make ups and they can't be done soon enough.

While makeups are going on for ILEARN, continuing to work on details of IREAD retest and in the classroom teachers are doing NWEA. 

Never a dull moment.. 

Yesterday had a teacher freaking out because students didn't have use of a multiplication chart on tests for their service plans.. told her to go ahead and let them have it since they have consistently have had them.. later found out oh no she didn't let them use it because teacher didn't feel right about having them use it since it wasn't on their service plan. Okay. 

Same teacher freaking out that I was having students test in the room. They will be fine. No they don't have to be pulled into a separate room, no I'm not having the test read to them. I want to see what they can do and where they are at on their own. No you won't get in trouble you are fine. Apparently my answer wasn't good enough as teacher asked my aide the same questions. 

Today other third grade teacher emails me, tells me that student isn't reading the math questions on NWEA despite classroom aide sitting right next to him. (My first thought is what do you want me to do about it but I don't say it) Teacher asks if he should be reading the questions - yes.. I let her know that classroom aide could read them or that she could set it up to where the test read it and he would need headphones.. She got option two set up.

Make up ILEARN testing.. 

Student working on a short answer.. do I put a space between reason and two.. 

How do you normally write it? 

Student:blank stare

Me: how you normally would write it is how it will be done now. 

Later on.. 

Student:  I have the same passage but there is no directions as to what to do? Do I just not answer the question. 

Me: Bring it over.. pointed out exactly where it said student directions and let her know that while it was multiple paragraphs that she had to read all of that for the directions.. you know a little effort.

Flexing

 I am not one that likes to flex my credentials, especially to parents. When I do I'm making a point. I usually don't have to do it all that often.. 

I have done it not once but twice this week... 

The first time I had a parent (who is a school psychologist)  insisting that her child needs a 504 , tells me that and the team that we are calling it the wrong thing based on what the teachers at her school call it then says she only wants it for state wide testing.. my response while professional.. was pointed.. my words "As a 20 year veteran special education teacher, I will not nor will the state allow me to write a 504 solely for statewide testing. A student must have access to it through out the year for it to be valid."  Parent tried to backtrack... classroom teacher had the classic look of oh crap she's pissed (meaning me)

Second time was just today. Met with parents and a teacher to discuss student progress and testing. Saw the parents in the hallway introduced myself and said we were going to the same place. (keep in mind teacher was scared to death to the point of googling how to talk to parents about testing process) Needless to say Dad didn't know I was coming and was PISSED.. game on dude came on.. Ironically through out the entire meeting Dad would only talk to me... Whatever... Throughout the meeting Dad tried to explain away why daughter does what she does... no sorry but no.. May have even referenced God a few times (thank goodness in a Catholic School) Finally I looked at Dad and said look.. I have a bachelors degree in special l education and elementary education and a masters degree in special education with an emphasis in autism.. I have 20 years in education 14 of which are in public school 6 of which are here.. so I know how to do this.. to which dad backed off.. he wants me to do the testing.. I told him I would love to but I don't have the letters behind my name to do it... End game - Dad should be calling for testing.. 

When mom and dad left I looked at teacher and said.. good lord dad is a douch bag.. she cracked up.. probably a little on the spectrum.. but eh.. teacher asked me how I did it.. I was like you can take the teacher out of the ghetto but you can't take the ghetto out of the girl... with that and small town not many parents scare me... 

I told her  I don't know how to prep for these conversations because honestly I don't know what parents are going to give me.... my response depends on what I am presented with.. and yes I was flying by the seat of my pants.

As a veteran teacher - I don't have all of the answers.. I just go with what I know and meet parents where they are and well if I have to speak crazy along the way well I do.

Quotes of the day

 Kids often will say the silliest things... 

4th grade we were working on going over last weeks reading test in small group.. All they needed was themselves and a grading pen.. 

- one student brings her entire pencil box and looks irked when I pointed it out

Same student:

L: How long will this take? I have a story to finish writing. 

Me: It will take as long as it needs to take.

Later:

L: Why don't I have a grade on my test? 

Me: You have the fraction representation..

L: No.. why don't I have a grade on mine

Me: I have no idea

L: Well what is a -3

Me: No idea

L: But what is a -3 is like an A.. 

Me: I don't know ask your teacher

5th graders taking a math test I have my SXM app on quietly and typing at my desk. 

M: You have a keyboard that sings? That's cool

Me: looks at him confused

X: No that is her speakers playing music

M: Leans up to speakers Oh.. 

Tired

 One tired but happy teacher checking in :) 

Okay lets be real.. I'm honestly just avoiding what I really need to be doing... reworking a presentation. 

What presentation you ask.. Oh one that I signed up to give about a year and a half ago... then COVID happened.. I thought I knew what I signed up to talk about..something told me to check the description in the conference book.. yeah good thing.. here I sit reworking a presentation.. No stress right?? Umm.. I need to have presentation sent in to conference people by August 23.. yeah no pressure.. 

Also need to do the training for the ESL Screener for Kindergarten (have had access for about 2 weeks details) I've been told that takes up to 3 hours to do.. Then get to screen a few kiddos... 

Get to do a training for work on sex trafficking (thank you state legislature) yeah that's a three hour training. 

 

Have several student observations to do. (yep 4 days into school though one is for an evaluation) 

Tomorrow night is Back to School Night.. fun times! :) :) Love seeing my families! 

 

Need to attend a friends father's viewing or funeral either Friday night or Saturday 3 hours away... 

 

Laundry - is laughing at me right now :) 

 

Well back to my presentation - it won't write itself

Explanation

 As I sit here wrapping up a few things tonight I realize that I need an explanation of a few things... 

Why do I have to beg and plead for class lists to not get them and have to wait for them to be officially published on the school website.. 

How is it that I don't have access to a new family's contact info in the data base as an administrator but yet the school nurses can get it.. 

While I get my gen ed counterparts have a TON on their plates.. but why do I have to wait up until the first day of school to get a copy of their schedule because that is when it has to be posted in the Google Folder? Oh and mind you not all make that deadline when they have had since May to get it in. 

Why can't those on staff remember what grades I and the other academic support teacher have? We haven't changed in 4 years... 

Dear staff- just because I don't tell you about a new student with a 504 plan doesn't mean that I don't know about it. 

I'm sure there will be more.. 

Start of the year

 Here in a week I start the beginning if year 20 of teaching. 

One of  these years I will remember that the stress at the start of the year is always insane and it always starts before school starts. I always say I have to forget the beginning of the year to make it possible to do it again each year..  ce 

This year picks up with where we left off it seems like... still in the midst of a pandemic. At the end of the school year we had great hope that this year would be better Time be told, it is worse than when we left in May. CDC has recommended that masks go back into place yet Indiana hasn't made the call to make masks mandatory again. It is going to be a long year with the pandemic.. 

It seems like this summer I couldn't really not stop checking in on work. Between potential new students, current parent complaint, WIDA testing information.. it just never seemed to stop.

This summer also had its tragedy. One of the incoming 2nd graders was killed in a car crash. Very sad. Other family members in the car survived, he did not. So so very sad..

Time to take a deep breath, buckle up and get ready to ride the horse again.. it's going to be a wild one. 

Day 170

 We are on day 170 of 180... Wow.. .never thought we would make it.. no guarantee for the next 10 days either.. 

At least it will be funny as all get out... 

Morning Carpool: I prop the inside doors open.. Spanish Teacher walks out the second set of doors and asks if I want them open.. No.. horn hasn't blown. She looks confused and walks away... 

• we have only been doing this 170 days and this isn't your first time on carpool
• we still question how much she understands of English
• and we wonder why she's not coming back next year

As coming into the building:

We deemed one of my aides the Pre-K wisperer... managed to get crying pre-k student to not only stop crying but start walking to his classroom  

When you see the assistant principal and school secretary running around with their walkie talkies already out.. its going to be a long day.. this is at 7:50 in the morning. 

It just gets better :)

Parent: Oh by the way I forgot to give M his meds this morning; I hope he won't be too much of a problem 

Me: Oh that makes sense... only had to threaten to take Humpty Dumpty away a few times.. we're all good. 

Teacher: Ha Ha! That may explain the screeching condor sound he has been making,

 

Later in the morning... 

 

Max B.. sitting at my table.. "He's going to be naked here in a minute" (as Charlie V was walking in the room) Good think I looked up- Max was referring to taking the sweat protector off his water bottle... 

 Giving students a minute of down time... Liam... yeah its the daddy's that make the baby's... me.. WHAT WHY??? Oh we are just the cool boys... yeah okay... um new topic. 

 

4th Grade Science test 

 

O- How do you spell attracted

 

Me- good thing I know you are working on a science test or I would be worried.

 

Me: Yes C I am completely crazy

 

C: No you are completely and utterly crazy and out of your mind.. 

 

Me.... true fair point :) 

Reflection part 2

Continuing down memory lane...

Today one year ago, March 13, 2020, was another one of those life changing/ defining moments. (as for many people)

As an educator I walked out of my classroom at 3:30 thinking I would be back in a couple weeks. (as did many around the state) Little did we know that it would be for the last time of the 2019-2020 school year. When the school year was ended by the governor of Indiana, it made the pandemic so much more real. It also left teachers with the feeling of not having closure to the school year that we so need and want every year. Yes we had virtual but it wasn't the same. We are creatures of habit and mourned just a little for not only what we lost but what our kids were loosing.

However - the State of Indiana saw what we as educators are truly capable of doing in 48 hours. We were able to completely switch mid gear to completely virtual learning without any road map of how to do it, we just did it. Teachers - we get the job done!

Was it pretty - probably not

Was it bumpy - yep for sure!

We got it done despite it all!!

A year later I can say that we all have learned a lot, grew a lot and shed a few tears along the way. We are better for it all. I am also privileged that I have been able to be at a school that has been in person learning since August. We approach the 4th quarter with amazement that we have come this far.

As we enter the 4th quarter - we are met with spring break and statewide testing. We hope and pray that it all goes smoothly. No matter what though, we are educators and we got this!

 

Reflection

 

Every so often we can pinpoint a time or a day that our lives changed, a defining moment in your journey of life. Sometimes at that moment you know the impact it will have on you other times it takes time and reflection to see and understand the full impact. 

 

One year ago today (March 12, 2020) was one of those days. We as a teaching staff learned that the local school district was ending in person learning until the end of their spring break due to Covid 19 With guidance from the Bishop, we as a school staff were going to follow the same plan of the local school district and be out until the end of spring break. 

 

The day was spent trying to work out the logistics of how this would all work, hoping that it would just be short term. Little did we know what was to come..

While I have been able to remain safe this past year, it hasn’t been easy. Nor has it been easy for anyone. For myself and the staff I work with know and understand it takes a village for sure. Not only do our actions affect our health but the decisions that our students and others make affect our ability to continue to remain healthy and have in person learning. 

 

The state of Indiana will open the state vaccine portal on Monday for teachers of any age to get their vaccine. I am very grateful for this, as the possibility of getting the vaccine through the Federal Government program was looking grim. I am hopeful that I will be able to get the vaccine sooner rather than later so that I can do my part to help. (Please note.. I am not here for a vaccine debate. If you choose not to get the vaccine, that is your choice. I feel that this is the best choice for me.)

Excuse for being absent

This may be the best excuses I have seen for why someone is absent

"aches and pains possibly related to athletics" aka, working on his Youtube channel

Reasons not in attendance

 So why is your student not here today? 

No reason, she is fine, she will be back tomorrow. 

Cat died

Laughing all the way

 OT: - When I come next week to do my evaluation, I will need a room with a table and a couple of chairs.

Me: Got it.. (Cause you know we are a school and don't have that)

Me: I see that you didn't include G's classroom teacher in on the Zoom invite so I forwarded it to her. 

Psych: Why did you do that?

Me: So that she can participate in the meeting

Psych: Oh they come? I wasn't aware of that?

Me: Then who were you going to have sit in? 

Psych: One of the teachers from student's home school (who hasn't even met the kid)

 Me: um yeah no. G's classroom teacher will be in on the conference since she actually knows him and works with him on a daily basis. 

 

KDG Teacher - yeah I just want G identified so I'm not held accountable for his lack of progress. If he is identified then I have justification for lack of progress. I can also show it to admin to get more leverage for what I want. 

 

I am also not the staff member that you need to justify when you are going to mass. Don't care. Don't need to justify when you are going or not going. Not my business nor do I care.