tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37732504157906552822024-03-14T00:23:01.865-05:00Teacher PondersWhile this blog was originally set up to document my year on leave to become an administrator (join the dark side), I had to quit my journey to special education administration as I was losing IQ points and my sense of humor.Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-3091222458214767902011-05-01T11:27:00.000-05:002011-05-01T11:27:51.687-05:00Holy Observations!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">As I have mentioned in an earlier post, I love supervising student teachers. For a variety of reasons. It's much like driving around town at night, glimpsing in lit and uncovered windows to see how the other half decorates.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">I have been in inspiring rooms with amazing cooperating teachers. I have been in mediocre rooms and watched my students out teach the cooperating teacher, I have been in really horrific rooms with poor model teachers and watched my student teachers struggle with the ethics, philosophy and methods in which they are trying to construct a meaningful experience for themselves.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">I am left to ponder how incredibly diverse programs are, how the inequities effect students and teachers. How it is simply the luck of the draw where all students land for their education. It's really the same universal crap shoot at play as where we are born, what race we are, what religion our parents practice, the genetic mix that determines all sorts of things, our socio-econimic status....</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">Even with all of that, our country is committed to providing every one of our children with the opportunity of free and appropriate public education. No small task. Pretty idealist. Absolutely righteous. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">I could now launch into the current politics of it all, but let's not go there.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">So, back to the diversity of programs, teachers, districts, and philosophy.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">It's 2011 and I had so hoped that special education room assignments had progressed farther than they have. Too many of the programs are down long and winding, darker hallways tucked in the back of school buildings. They are usually as far away from the office as possible.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #9fc5e8;">One such room is the old shop facility at a middle school. It is a huge space. OK, yippee! Not in a closet or locker room. It has windows. Yippee! It has a concrete floor, huge ominous pipes and exhaust vents twisting throughout the uncovered ceiling. Any kiddo with anxiety about spooky things overhead would be totally freaked out in here. The acoustics are bad, divider walls are filing cabinets and book cases. Adults and kids are in and out of there constantly. There is no place to hang some cheer, interactive bulletin boards, art work, student work. The teachers in that room are frazzled. My student teacher was skillfully able to teach her small group in such a way that it felt cozy and safe. It was all about her, not the facility. She is a keeper.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">A</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #76a5af;">nother setting is a not that far from all the goings on of reg ed. It is a middle school self contained CDS room. Kiddos with significant challenges spend the bulk of their day in this room. It has its own bathroom, as toileting is an issue. It has a connecting room for spreading out, it has a SMART board, and get this! The powers that be allowed the teacher to design and request what she needed for her room! Say what???? You read me right. She, the teacher, wanted each of her students to have their own space. She designed and ordered up little office cubicles for each student! The walls are very low, they each have a computer, and a nameplate. They are not used as timeout spaces. There is a large table in the center of the room where most instruction takes place. It is full of love and the purpose of coming to school is very clear. The teacher is amazing, my student teacher was so amazing she moved me to tears. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">And in sharp contrast is a very dark place. Elementary school self contained EBD. Way in the back of the very dark building. No happiness anywhere in the whole building... so imagine the EBD room. On the upside, there was ample space. Two big rooms, windows. Across the hall is the seclusion room. Yep, the seclusion room. Yep, it gets used a lot. Let me describe the classrooms. Two gigantic messes. Heaps of stuff everywhere in no order, no welcoming elements, no signs that anyone at all cares. Luck of the draw, no? </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">So, while I am there observing my by nature very happy and loving student teacher, a student is in the seclusion room. The door was open and he was chillin' out, I guess. And then the door begins to bang open and closed. So, what do the adults do when this obvious cry for attention happens? They lock him in the seclusion room! He gets hysterical, escalates, and my student teacher tries to continue her lesson over the din of adults and hysterical student drown her out. It was upsetting. It was crushing. It was wrong. My student teacher finishes her lesson and allows her students free time.... things that require the use of earbuds and headphones. Smart girl. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #bf9000;">She comes back to me so we can discuss the lesson she just taught. We were alone. All we needed to do was look at each other. Poker faces on, but intense eye contact. I whispered to her if she found this upsetting. She said yes it was and that it went on all day long. She hates the environment, the philosophy and methodology. She tells me the hysterical kiddo in the exclusion room lost his mother (she was killed) just a year ago. This is the anniversary month. He just had his first birthday without his mother. So we put him in a locked seclusion room and tell him when he calms down he can come out. Are you fucking kidding me?? </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">That poor kid needed hugs and whispered sweet nothings in his ear. He needed his mom. He needed someone to care that getting down to academics wasn't possible for him because his grief was big. BIG. Because he doesn't have a mom. Because that void is so huge he cannot even describe it. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Let's just keep on using behaviorist methods with this kid. Let's shut him down and teach him that nobody really cares about anything except him getting his work done quietly.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Yeah, it's a wonderful world for him.</span></span><br />
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</span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-2548788638199559212011-04-22T09:42:00.000-05:002011-04-22T09:42:33.529-05:00Adolescence HellI love, love, love teaching in a middle school. I love the humor, the screaming hormones, the variety in size, shape, development. Middle schools are my favorite places to be. I don't even mind the smells of middle schooler bodies after gym class.<br />
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But living with one such beast? Not so much. The rebellion and opposition, the angry fight to disengage from me as a parent, me as ruler, me as boss. The lack of interest in personal hygiene drives me to distraction. Unattended zits, body odor, greasy hair, wrinkled clothing covered in pet hair thrown on for a day at school, folders torn and full to overflowing with wrinkled, torn and stained papers, sleeping and more sleeping, waiting to do homework until the adults needed to help are ready for bed, the love for inane and really stupid adolescent TV shows, excessive milk consumption, growing an inch every few months which then necessitates new clothing and shoes, and did I mention the constant opposition and lack of awareness of how one is affecting others?<br />
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Now multiply that by one million or so, and you have my life with Movie Man. Add to above list, ADD, communication disorder, anxiety disorder, learning disability, no internal clock (no clue how much time is passing or sense of where he should be at any given time), and some perseveration. <br />
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I will be honest. I do feel the almost impossible not to act on urge to run. Pack the car with some precious items (books, chocolate, bottle of bourbon, jeans and t-shirts, debit card, license and iPhone) and leave. This is really hard to fight. Really hard. And there are times I am reduced to a very silent, close to tears, giver upper.<br />
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I love Movie Man. I love him so much it hurts. I am very afraid for him. His faulty wiring seems impossible to overcome at most, compensate for at the least. And right now, he is fiercely defending his position that he has nothing to overcome, no responsibility to own his deficits and mindfully work on them. And even though I know he is doing his adolescent job, most days I am very depressed about it all.<br />
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In 10 years (not any more optimistic than that) I hope to look back on this period and chuckle. I hope to look back on this period and say, "Who knew he would ever be successful and happy?"<br />
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I just hope I haven't suffered a debilitating stroke or heart attack getting us there.Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-52065438912376668932011-04-16T21:07:00.000-05:002011-04-16T21:07:31.564-05:00Mother Guilt; How Did I Miss It?S<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">o, I have been very busy getting used to my new gig and protesting in Madison. Our Governor is ruining our state. The sick will be sicker and become hopeless, the poor will become even more poor and be forced to live even less healthy lives, the wonderful teachers of Wisconsin are retiring in droves, many are scrambling to find second jobs, putting their houses on the market, selling second cars, canceling vacations, and the wealthy will get richer and share even less. Families with kids on waivers and such for extra services will no longer be able to offer their kids what they need to improve. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">It is very scary in Wisconsin right now. Very scary.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">So, on to the personal. The mother guilt part. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Movieman has always had some issues as I have mentioned earlier in this blog. He has significant learning issues, executive functioning and working memory deficits, ADD, and an anxiety disorder. So that is what we have been attending to. And it has been ineffective.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Middle school has been quite the, well how shall I describe it? I can't. It has been a mixed bag with mostly very low lows. On the up side. We have a good cocktail of meds that are working effectively to help the anxiety as well as the ADD. He scored advanced in the reading section of the WKCE and proficient in the math section. He has an incredible LD resource teacher. Really. She is a saint. Movieman had a horrible LD resource teacher for two years. A woman with no business holding a license to teach let alone a job working with kids. So we have already survived a two year wasteland of crap services. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">On the down side we have seen the social/communication gap widen exponentially between Movieman and his peers. I will spare you the details, no, the glaring evidence, that I was not seeing objectively. I mean I am trained in this stuff for God's sake! I lost my objectivity. My sharp observation skills were dulled by mother love. Have you seen the view from the River of Denial? It is breathtakingly peaceful.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">Let's now add years and years of communication patterns that are spectrum-ish. Add to that his almost lifelong avoidance of hugs form most people, including me. I always chalked it up to him being mad at me for having Superman. Add to that a limited ability to empathize or connect much of what he chooses to do or not do to the natural consequences that follow. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">GRRR! I am so, so, so mad at myself. STUPID mom! </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">So we now head into more assessments looking for a communication disorder label to access as much speech and language services and some social skills group work. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">I am almost ready to acknowledge and accept that Movieman has had his needs neglected for many years because I was in denial, took my eyes off the obvious, and put all my energies into Superman's therapies. I neglected one son to save another. I sacrificed one son to keep another from slipping away.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;">How will I ever be able to right this wrong?</span></span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-36571829135873803342010-10-21T08:56:00.000-05:002010-10-21T08:56:23.929-05:00Voyeurism<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every day that passes, I am more grateful for working through enough stuff to quit EBDland and move on to teaching at the university level.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved EBDland, but it was killing me. Literally.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, the best part of this new gig? Well, there are many. But supervising student teachers allows me to enter all sorts of classrooms and watch how others are managing their caseloads and classrooms. Kinda like driving around the hood slowly late at night, peeping in lit up windows to see how your neighbors are decorating the living room.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have seen exceptional. I have seen deplorable. And the good part....? I don't have to do anything about it!!!!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been an incredible experience to then process with my student teachers. It is invigorating to analyze, ponder, reflect, and problem solve. It is amazing to watch the next generation of teachers come into their style, evolve, and collect the good, the bad and the ugly and sift through it all in their efforts to be really good teachers. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately one of my student teachers is in the worst possible situation. In one room there are 6 teachers. It is arranged very poorly, it is very unwelcoming, there are some real safety issues in there. Ld teacher working in small pull out groups has to teach over the din of hour long meltdowns. I mean full on screaming! And the administrator said, "Well, that's just special ed."</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are you cussing kidding me????? What kind of school leadership is that? Sacrifice quality learning environment for the LD kiddos? Really? This same administrator hands out much less harsh consequences to special ed victims of special ed peer attacks than she does if a special ed kiddo attacks a reg ed student. So, special ed kids don't deserve quality learning environments? So, special ed kids don't need to feel safe? So, special ed kids don't need protecting from other special ed kiddo bullying?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh yeah, I am furious. Oh yeah, I can't let this one go. Not sure how I will address it, but I will. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So grateful I stopped the insanity of crossing over the the dark side.</span></span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-62184690384585202342010-10-15T19:58:00.003-05:002010-10-15T20:01:49.171-05:00Whew!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sorry I have been out of it for so long. That certainly was not my intention or preference. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As mentioned before, Movie Man was having a most challenging transition to middle school and Superman was presenting a bit more aggression than usual and was expressing some new found emotions. I have a real love-hate relationship with Superman evolving. You gotta take the good with the bad and as he claws through another layer of Autism (which I love), he has so much to process and put in some sort of order. It usually is not a pretty transition (which I hate).</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now let's move on to my career change. LOVING IT! Love, love, love it. What the hell was all my fuss about? No, let's not go there.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am having a blast teaching advanced methods to seniors ready to student teach next semester. I was nervous for the first few weeks as I was not teaching as I noted some of my peers were. They are way in the world of academia and research and I am.... well, I am not. At first I felt really self conscious (although I have total autonomy), I was nervous that I wasn't brainy enough. I took a long hard look at most of my fellow professors and thought about what they offered and where they came from, how much public school teaching they had done before becoming tenure track professors. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And I concluded that what I have to offer is of incredible value. 18 years of real experience in the trenches. with real kids, in real situations, with real teachers, with real parents, with real frustrations. That knowledge base is irreplaceable. And the whole point of making this career change is to make a difference in the way special education teachers in training are trained, to offer up some real strategies and stories that will empower new teachers as they enter this incredible profession. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">OK, PLUS, I want to make sure that my own kiddos have a better chance of always landing in good special ed programs. I am that controlling, yes, I am.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anyway, I am having a blast doing it my way. And the feedback from my students has been incredible. They express gratitude every single day. They are relieved. They are hungry to better understand, to fill their bags of tricks with good stuff that works, to be given permission to cut loose, follow their instincts.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They are even beginning to embrace my goal for them to become independent thinkers, to question research based methods, to expose themselves to the vast amounts of great information and resources, and to throw out what they don't want to use and embrace trying new things and making it work for each and every one of their students.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am also so adoring being a student teacher supervisor. It is a great form of voyeurism, no? I get to sit in a variety of classrooms in a variety of school districts and just sit and watch, and then I get to process it all with my very talented student teachers. One placement is dreadful with a capital D. It has been a blast to work through it with my student teacher, to empower her, to help her in ways her cooperating teacher is not. I love watching the kiddos in each placement, learning how different districts offer different solutions for all sorts of issues and challenges every district faces. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think what I want to do with this blog is to chat with you all about what I am seeing and how we are all finding solutions. I also hope that you all will comment as we go along and that you will let me know what you think is most important for teachers in training to understand before they student teach.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's good. Really good.</span></span><br />
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</span></span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-24290304465916276532010-09-15T08:44:00.002-05:002010-09-15T08:45:36.306-05:00This Should Not Be A Problem<h2 class="date-header" style="color: black; font-size: small; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Readers, please take time to read the following post written by an exceptionally caring and talented teacher. Daisy's blog is </span><a href="http://compostermom.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Compost Happen</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">s and is listed as one of my favorites. She is definitely not the only teacher faced with this problem. It's complicated on so many levels. If you have suggestions, please make them!</span></h2><h2 class="date-header" style="color: black; font-family: Geneva, Arial, serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br />
</h2><h2 class="date-header" style="color: black; font-family: Geneva, Arial, serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;">Wednesday, September 15, 2010</h2><div class="post" style="font-family: Geneva, Arial, serif; font-size: small; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 3px; padding-left: 3px; padding-right: 3px; padding-top: 3px;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=3773250415790655282&postID=2429030446591627653" name="5298244420768460505"></a><br />
<h3 class="post-title" style="color: #006600; display: block; font-size: large; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;">These boys need books. Lots of books.</h3><div class="post-body" style="color: black; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div><div style="clear: both;"></div>I love teaching reading. Reading is the heart of learning. A child who can read has access to so many worlds, so much fascinating information, so many opportunities, so much fun.<br />
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</div><div>Every year my students span a wide range of reading levels. This year the range is wider than ever, and there are more struggling readers than ever, too. Seven children, all boys, who read at a first grade level.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Fourth graders. Nine- and ten-year-olds who read like the little kids -- when they read at all.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I can teach them, work with them every day. Sight words. Phonics. Structure. Basic punctuation and what it means. But in the meantime, they need to read on their own. And therein lies my challenge. I need to help them read, read a lot, and read often. To do that, I need to provide these boys books they can read and books they want to read. Something easy, outrageously easy, and yet something exciting and fun.</div><div><br />
</div><div>I have the structure planned: each of these kiddos will have his own box of books at all times. The box will contain books they can read, books at their level, books that they'll read when it's time for them to read on their own. A literacy coach once told me that after students independently read 25 books at their level, they move themselves to the next level. These boys need to read. I know, I've already said that. 25 books will sound impossible to them, so I won't say it out loud. But I will provide books, and they will read, and read, and read.</div><div><br />
</div><div>The only barrier is money. Oh, yeah, money. School budgets are already pared to the bone. To buy more books, first grade reading level but high-interest enough for a fourth grader, will take money. Stimulus funds? Spent well, but spent. Title I Reading funds? Put to good use, believe me. I'll be at a Title sponsored training tonight.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Grants? Help me out. There's a local grant group, but they don't buy books. Bless their heart, they think there are enough books on the shelves, and no one needs more. Shudder. <i>Are there really people who think this way?</i></div><div><br />
</div><div>Now what? Readers, can you send me to a source for grant money for these kids? A source that will send the money, and soon, so I can buy books and get these guys reading now? Leave it in the comments or email me. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">Okaybyme </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">at </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">gmail </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">dot </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;">com.</span> Please. Let's give these boys a future. A reading future.</div></div><div><br />
</div></div></div>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-3321323153960849932010-09-11T13:24:00.000-05:002010-09-11T13:24:49.011-05:00Movie Man Hits Middle School (Yes, another parent smack down)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">I am afraid for Movie Man.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">I am heartbroken for him.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">I just don't know what to do. I have most often advocated for him and intuitively believe much of what he is displaying behaviorally is systematic of other issues. Hubs and I don't always agree on Movie Man's motivation or reasons for certain behaviors. That causes some tension.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Well, Movie Man started middle school a few weeks ago and I wish I could report that all is calm in our house, that he is adjusted, happy, and learning.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">But I can't.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">He was sent to the principal for not stopping whatever he was doing after several warnings and cues from the teacher. A very seasoned and tolerant teacher who gets it.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">When Movie Man came through the front door after school, the very disjointed story of being sent to the principal spewed out of him before he made it to the living room. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">However it was unbearably frustrating because Movie Man is not very articulate when retelling a story. It is hard for him. Really, really hard. So, his anxiety mounts as his father and I ask questions for clarity and our anxiety mounts as the questions go unanswered. It's pretty ugly.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Thank goodness his LD teacher called within 30 minutes of the school day being over. Hubs takes the call and LD teacher shares the story, shares some observations, shares he might be overmedicated, shares she did not know what else to do when Movie Man could not get unstuck and shut up. Really. What else could she do? Changing the environment, the pace, any variable is best for getting someone unstuck. She did the right thing by getting him out of the room.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">So Hubs decides the best consequence is to write a letter of apology and try to get Movie Man to really figure out why he gets so stuck. Great in theory and I supported this, but I knew Movie Man could not possibly articulate the why of it all. He truly was sorry. But I don't think he really understands how disruptive his perseverations are. He is not making the connection, the cause and effect of it all.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Anyway, Hubs sat with Movie Man and as patiently as possible tried to help Movie Man probe into the why of it, how to organize the letter of apology. They got through it with Hubs scribing. Movie Man was frustrated. He truly was clueless about the why. He was even having trouble remembering the teacher warning him. Then Hubs gives the directive for Movie Man to rewrite the letter in his own handwriting and tweak it to make it even more Movie Man's voice. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">And that is when yet another battle of defiance broke out. No TV until the letter is done. Stalemate. Hubs ups the ante by harping and nagging. Movie Man digs in even more. Hubs won't leave the room. Movie Man won't move off the couch, pick up a pencil... nada.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">I suggest Hubs just leave it. Walk away. I say, "I trust Movie Man will do the honorable thing and get the letter rewritten." I then say I am going upstairs to fold laundry and remind Movie Man not to turn on the TV.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">As soon as Hubs and I both get our of Movie Man's space, the letter gets done. Beautifully done. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">And even though that was a proud feel good moment that provided some parenting emotional relief, I still feel sick about what is ahead for my sweet Movie Man.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Is he only OCD and not AHD? Is he also on the spectrum? Does he have a borderline personality? </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">How the hell are we going to get him to adulthood?</span></span><br />
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</span></span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-1437544436186033672010-09-10T13:23:00.000-05:002010-09-10T13:23:33.494-05:00A New Year, A New Role<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">I now have one 2 hour class session and one 2 hour student teacher meeting under my belt.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">And I believe I am in love.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">I believe I made the right choice.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">I know I made the right choice.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">I wasn't so sure while I was in syllabus writing hell. And it was hell. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">The last few weeks have allowed me to make some great and noteworthy observations. Although not new to these sorts of observations, I still found them worth pondering.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">1. When you are new to an organization, members of that organization make a lot of incorrect assumptions about what you know and who you know.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">2. When you are new to an organization and have questions, and feel some urgency about getting answers, the peeps already familiar don't feel your same urgency and because they are really busy getting the school year under way they don't respond in a timely manner... if they respond at all.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">3. It's scary starting anew, but man, is it exhilarating!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">4. We are not doing a good job in teacher training programs. The students are starved for relevant information, practical strategies. Theory only takes you so far.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">5. After gathering information about student needs, I realize the original timeline and topics to be explored need adjusting. I feel very strongly about giving my students what they need. They know where they feel unprepared. They know what they need to become effective teachers working with their preferred population. Well, they sort of know. How can they really know?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">6. Training students to become independent thinkers and inquisitive learners when they are used to simply getting assignments done so they can check them off the to-do list is going to be no easy task.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">7. I love having a captive audience! My goodness, isn't it great to be able to finally tell it like it really is and hope to effect some change in practice, philosophy and beliefs?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">I am looking so forward to a weekend full of planning. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">I have a renewed hope about what I can do on behalf of kids. I was so afraid I would not feel this way once I left my direct service role.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Whew! </span></span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-3689763728854713722010-08-31T09:40:00.003-05:002010-08-31T09:40:55.165-05:00New School Year Anxiety<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On the home front, we have a very nervous Movie Man entering middle school. So nervous, in fact, we took another trip to his pediatric psych. Hopefully we have the right solutions and we will avoid what we have gone through for many years.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anxiety is a brutal condition and it effects so many of our students. It can look like conduct disorder, opposition, ADHD, under achiever. When we treat it as anything but anxiety we make things worse for our students. As teachers, we can destroy them and make taking learning risks impossible for them.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Superman keeps telling me he is a "home kid" meaning he would rather be at home than anywhere else. In his pajamas. I see his point. He is worried about 5th grade. He is already convinced it will be very hard. And it will be. As the kids get older there is more sit and get, more listening, more verbiage. Kids with Autism don't learn as effectively as they could in this sort of environment. And what that looks like is a kiddo who is below average and oppositional and maybe ADHD. Sensory issues are exacerbated when they have to attend to verbiage for too long. Superman is also on the throes of a worry perseveration about weather. And of course, stormy rains are expected for the next few days. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, to all the teachers out there... I know you all have butterflies just like your students. Be mindful of what feelings behaviors are masking and that most often they are simply a way of coping. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">School has become less therapeutic, less child centered. And it is not because teachers are less caring. It is because all the suits in the world are misguided and since they have all the power, THEY are the reason so many kids are experiencing more and more stress in school.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I love teachers. May you all have a wonderful start to this new school year. Use compassion, have fun, and enjoy the kids parents turn over to your care. </span></span><br />
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</span></span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-24420882469635254822010-08-31T09:18:00.000-05:002010-08-31T09:18:12.270-05:00The Magic Lives!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wowy zowy!!!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am so excited to report that despite principal's lack of support,</span></span><a href="http://teacherponders.blogspot.com/2009/09/ebdland-magic.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Aunt Sally</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> will be used it the EBD room this year! Art teacher approached new EBD teacher and asked if she was interested in pursuing the use of Aunt Sally or if she really wanted her removed. She said she wanted to learn how to use her with the EBD kiddos!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Take that pissy principal!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Turns out the EBD teacher wants me to come over and help her get it going again! Pissy Principal really tied EBD teacher's hands in directing her to use all the crap my replacement had used. Turns out EBD Teacher has a degree in recreational therapy! She gets it. Yippee! Aunt Sally is very happy.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, Art Teacher and I went to get yet another loom yesterday and it was an amazing experience. A wonderful 80 something couple were done with their loom. They were amazing. Very inspirational. They are living the golden years in a beautiful rural setting in a minimalist, but very techno-savvy home. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, we collected a beautiful loom (we named her Grandma Rosie after the lovely woman who gave her to us) from their house and delivered it to the middle school EBD room where my old students attend. They are so excited to have the loom there so they can continue using weaving as a way to self-regulate.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, take that Pissy Principal! </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I will be helping middle school EBD teacher write her mini grant to get the supplies she needs to get it up and running. Meanwhile I have Miss Mae in my living room as Art Teacher got a larger, more appropriate loom to use in the art room. We have named that one Stella. She comes from a basement in Chicago and is very happy to be used in a loving and helpful way in an elementary art program.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And you better believe my student teachers and Methods students will know all about this sort of magic.</span></span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-64221250957893128962010-08-24T10:58:00.000-05:002010-08-24T10:58:53.707-05:00Aunt Sally Updates<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">So, I get a call yesterday from my </span></span><a href="http://teacherponders.blogspot.com/2009/09/ebdland-magic.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Aunt Sally</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"> partner saying we needed to get Aunt Sally out of my old room.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Say what? Really? </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Yes, principal barked this order to my partner in passing. What happened to all the support we got for Aunt Sally from her? This boils down to yet another administrator NOT walking the talk. Yuck. Ho Hum. Nothing new. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Nevertheless, it still hurts. It sucks. It is just plain wrong.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">It is wrong that my replacement was allowed to kill the gifts of Aunt Sally. It is wrong that the building administrator was not strong enough to encourage the continued use of Aunt Sally. It is wrong that the administrator did not encourage my replacement's replacement to use Aunt Sally and to develop her own program based on what had been working instead of telling her to continue on as my original replacement had. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Nothing good came from my room last year. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">But, time marches on, I have a new job, new focus, new opportunity to expose future teachers to all the great experiences I have had, how to reach kids in crisis, how to be effective.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">I went to sleep last night feeling very sad for Aunt Sally. Feeling that the greatest thing I have done as a teacher was not strong enough to stay alive in my building once I was gone.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">All hope is not lost! We have looms up in other EBD rooms and they are enjoying great success. And then I get the email that lifts the grief, that renews my hope, that is a great smack down to principal with now spine, no sense of how to lead. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">One of the middle school teachers wants a loom! She is excited and when she told a student I had two years ago and who greatly benefitted from the loom, he lit up and got all excited! He celebrated! He is now looking forward to this school year! His foster parents are ecstatic! </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">So my partner and I are going to rescue another loom this week, get Aunt Sally set up in the art room, and keep the dream alive.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Because kids in crisis, kids in worlds of hurt, kids in need of tools to help them self-regulate need this.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">Amazing Grace.</span></span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-45827123252677263462010-08-22T11:14:00.000-05:002010-08-22T11:14:16.237-05:00Trying To Adjust<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Hey All,</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I stepped away from much of my routine to celebrate Foodie getting married. What a great week away. What a great wedding. What a great Union. What a great daughter-in-law I got.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anyway, when I returned home with Superman (Movie Man and Hub stayed for a few more days), I was hurled into my new job. My new career. My new adventure. It's a mixed bag and I sure as hell hope I get things sorted out and feel some peace about it all.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am going to teach an advanced research-based methods course and supervise special education student teachers. I had hoped for full time employment that would include an office, a home away from home. A place to replace my classroom. A place to practice the back-to-school-set-up-my-classroom rituals I so loved for 18 years. Well, there is no longer such a place for me. Except in my heart. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So much of preparing for a new school year is about making the learning space for my students what it needs to be for them. For 18 years, whole summers of thought and planning went into the start of a new year, but I had a tangible place in which to visualize, decorate, plan, shove belongings, furniture, resources around. A room of my own. I cannot tell you how many hours I spent just sitting in the middle of my classrooms amidst entire contents shoved either to one side or piled in the middle after cleaning services were done with polishing the floors and wiping down the surfaces. I was never one to leave bulletin boards up. I always took everything down and put it away. I never wanted to be in a rut. My kiddos returned to me and they deserved to see new things from different perspectives. What worked and was comforting went back up, but usually in a different place.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was the rearranging and shoving around of the heavy classroom furniture that helped me prepare, ground myself, rethink the whys, wheres and intentions of the last year's choices. Even when I moved and changed districts and students, pondering past choices while looking ahead is what centered me. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So what am I to do this year? How will I adjust to a fresh start with no classroom that is mine and only mine? How will I keep my wits about me without the benefit of seeing my dear colleagues throughout the day? How will I feel a sense of belonging? All the things I relied on for 18 years are no more. And how will I ever adjust to the whole concept of academic freedom? Wow. What I have always craved, but now facing it, I am a bit perplexed. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But maybe that's OK. Maybe that's good.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Moving on. Passing the baton. Sharing my story as special education teacher. Helping new teachers stretch and question to become independent thinkers. Exposing them to my unconventional methods. Hoping against all hope that I can encourage them, keep them passionate, teach them advocacy, warn them without scaring the shit out of them.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But they better be good or I won't pass them on. After all, my own special needs kiddos may well be their future students.</span></span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-50496122395779899522010-07-27T10:04:00.003-05:002010-07-27T12:55:58.027-05:00Behavior Modification = Manipulation No Matter How You Wrap It<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">No. I am not through presenting my argument against the overuse, the misuse, and the abuse of behaviorism in our schools.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">We really must continue this crusade to reform how we </span></span><s><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">manipulate</span></span></s><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> manage kids. </span><a href="http://www.alfiekohn.org/index.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Alfie Kohn</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> stresses that behaviorism is nothing more than manipulation by extrinsic forces. We use it to get kids to do what we want them to do in the way we want them to do it. In doing this we take away any chance of the student developing independent thinking, a strong sense of self, a sense of personal social and learning style. We teach them instead to only do what is rewarded by some carrot we deem valuable. We get so busy charting, we forget relationship building. But what bothers me most is that we don't think while in the trenches of managing by manipulation.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">To do it right, we are supposed to collect data that supports the need for a change in behavior. We need to know what is happing, how often, under what circumstances. We need to determine what the very specific replacement behavior is desired and then aim for it in smaller increments (behavior shaping). Let's face it. We typically skip this part and go straight to the, "God! This kid is driving me nuts! He needs to stop all this annoying talking out/defiance/out of his seat/pencil breaking/refusal to work/poking others/avoidance behaviors/you fill in the blank. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">So let the bribing begin. Let the "If this, then that" dance begin. Strike up the band, get out the sticker charts and bins of junky plastic toys or promises of pizza lunches. We can get really busy and focused on this stuff. We can pour tons of energy and thought into this stuff. We can feel like we are taking action to correct this behavior and the kid will be better for it. He will readily learn, he will do quality work, he will love being in our classrooms because he will realize his evil ways just don't pay.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Yeah, right. Right? </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Well, let's say you have a kiddo who is a young member of a gang. Let's say you have a kiddo living in a constant state of deprivation. Let's say you are working with a kiddo with no power or control over any aspect of his life. Let's say you are working with a really bright kiddo who is bored out of his mind. Let's say you are working with a kiddo with a significant learning disability. Let's say you are working with a kiddo who has an unidentified sensory issue. Let's say you are working with a kiddo with any number of mental health issues. Let's say you are working with a kiddo who is paranoid.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">These behaviors you have identified unruly, undesirable serve very important purpose to each of these kiddos. They are doing what they do because it works for them. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">And here is the reality. You trying to manipulate them will only make them cling tighter to the undesirable behavior because in their heads and hearts, these behaviors are what help them survive. Why the hell would you want to take that away from a kid already feeling powerless, deprived, hopeless, backed in a corner by what life has thrown at them? Why would you want to make an already scared kid even more scared? Why would you want to make an untrusting kiddo trust even less? Kids are smart. They know when you are just trying to trick them into doing what YOU want them to do. You have now chosen to get into a power struggle. Because your kiddo is going to prove to you that he cannot be manipulated. You have now hired him to use even more undesirable behaviors to hang on tight to what he believes is keeping him alive.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">So now you turn to a bigger carrot. You try to find that one thing that will motivate your kiddo to do what you want him to do. You try to find the one thing your kiddo would do anything to get.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Hello!? He is already doing all that he can to get what he really wants. Power, control, autonomy, self preservation, feeling safe, filled up, attended to. These kiddos are very sensitive to manipulator behavior. They know from manipulation like no other kiddos. They can smell it from afar and they HATE sticker charts... even the really cute theme oriented ones. Believe me. They don't care how you have it all wrapped up. Manipulation of behavior is manipulation of behavior. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">The fight against being manipulated then becomes the focus.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">And dear teachers, you lose. Your kiddo is fighting for his life. </span></span><br />
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</span></span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-35620251722848262182010-07-24T13:27:00.000-05:002010-07-24T13:27:31.944-05:00Prizes Demotivate? Since When?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, since FOREVER. Really. I am not fibbing here. I am not exaggerating either. I know I can get a bit overzealous and rabid about the whole behaviorism topic. It's only because it is one of the topics I am most sure about. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You all know by now that I cannot tolerate poor methodology and practices that either do nothing or do harm. There is so much new good stuff out there, people! There is no excuse for hanging on to some of the old stuff just because it's what we have always done. It is time to take a critical look at what we have been doing and objectively and systematically deciding if it is it really effecting change or causing more stress (or worse yet... making things worse). Is what we are doing hurting or helping relationship building? Instilling a sense of well-being or increasing insecurities? Is it allowing for learners to take risks and dare to explore or is it shutting the learners down? </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know where this is going, right? Back to my favorite ponderer and questioner of all that was once thought HOLY in education, Alfie Kohn. I have some great real life examples of how rewards have demotivated, hurt relationships, stopped learning, increased undesirable behaviors (in the kids as well as the adults using this crap!)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_387504267"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">Punished by Rewards </span></a></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.alfiekohn.org/index.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">by Alfie Kohn</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">..."rewards do not require any attention to the reasons the trouble developed in the first place." As Kohn explains, the rewards and consequences make it much easier for the behavior modifier as they never have to ask the big 'why?' questions. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How easy it that? A monkey could do it! Don't stay in your seat. No points for you! Smart ass comments. No points or recess for you! Assignment not started, completed or done right. No points, no recess, and add to that lunch in isolation for you!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The theory is (based on experiments done with rats) the student will do all he/she can to avoid no points, no recess or lunch in isolation so the undesirable behavior will diminish. Well, folks....it just ain't so. But why not? Surely if you are more persistent and more stubborn than the acting out student, the behaviors will be corrected. You can outlast this kid. You are the adult for God's sake!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And now we have a power struggle. Yep, the perfect storm for an ODD kid to dig in and take you for the ride of your life. And he will win. HE. WILL. WIN. In his mind anyway. He would rather sit in isolation from morning bell to dismissal bell than be manipulated by you and your stupid point system. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, let's see what is lost here. A lot. And I am not even talking about the beating your ego is going to take if you persist. Losses are big and sometimes permanent. Relationship building stops, much needed and highly valuable peer interaction opportunities cease, and often times learning stops dead in its tracks. Oh yeah, this is good. Let's keep it up. Surely this kid will break soon.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nope. You will break before him. You will get sick of isolating yourself in that room with that kid. Your anger will grow, you won't be able to take a punk kid refusing to do everything you ask of him. You will start to find even more ways to make this kid feel uncomfortable. You will just hit harder with your big old hammer. How can a kid sit all day and do nothing? Really? Isn't he going crazy yet?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Nope. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because a kid like that is great at disassociating. Because a kid like that is SUPER sensitive to others trying to control and manipulate him. Because a kid like that is all about survival and self preservation. Because a kid like that needs control somewhere in his world because he has suffered any number of degrading, humiliating, hurtful things already. Because there is NOTHING you can do that is worse than what he has already endured. The most important thing for him is to have some control over his destiny. In his mind, this is life or death. He is in fight or flight. And he is going to show you. And he does.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And sadly, that is what happened to two of my boys during my absence last school year when my replacement built the program around tokens, points, and levels (behaviorism). They stopped learning, they found no joy in school, they further internalized their identity as being trouble makers/losers/bad seeds. They became runners, were suspended in excess of 20 days each, cost the district extra money when another paraprofessional was hired to babysit, were assigned shortened days (oh yeah, that's a great solution!), were empowered by how much control they had over others, and next year they will be placed in two more intensive/restrictive programs......that use tokens, points and levels.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a loss. </span></span><br />
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</span></span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-15786139520018015252010-07-12T10:44:00.000-05:002010-07-12T10:44:40.657-05:00Pondering<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">OK, so I posted all those fabulous ponderable quotes last week. Did you all talk amongst yourselves? Don't you just love, love, love Alfie Kohn?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What I really like about<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"> </span></span></span><i><a href="http://www.alfiekohn.org/index.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Punished By Rewards</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">is how Kohn thoroughly examines, explains and analyzes behaviorist theory, research and practice. And that brings me to yet another bee in my bonnet. (Yes, my bonnet is quite a-buzz with so many annoyances!)</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Why have we become so absolutely dependent on research based practice to the exclusion of good sense, following our gut, doing what we know to be right for certain kids? Don't get me wrong. I love all the research being done now. All the new brain stuff is fascinating and has certainly opened some of the kinks in Superman's hose, however, if we had not even bothered to consider other approaches, Superman would still be lining up his toys.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What we have to be more diligent about is the analyzing of the data, really thinking about the research, how it was conducted, when, where and on what population? There are many, many variables in any research about learning, kids, the brain. We have to be careful not to overgeneralize and especially not to throw out what we know works because we cannot find any research about it.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Back to Kohn. He points out that behaviorist research was done on pigeons and rats... and then generalized to human behavior... and then we all bought it! We all started applying this stuff to humans in all sorts of environments and stuck to it (even when it was obvious it was not working) all because it was 'research based'. And then when newer research is done calling into question the effectiveness of the earlier theories and findings we ignore it all.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We humans can really be dumb. And lazy in our thinking.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So back to Superman. When I started my obsessive search for treatments and therapies for him right after he was diagnosed ( well, not really right after... I went into a three month period of denial where the 'A' word could not be used in my presence...) I kept bumping into the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.lovaas.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">ABA (Lovaas)</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> approach as it was 'research based' Note here that ABA methods are all based in behaviorist theory. No thank you. I don't want my kid looking me in the eye or saying hello because there is an M&M in it for him. I wanted him to discover relationships. So I dug deeper and once I sifted through it all I found some really good stuff that made sense. That felt right. That treated kids with Autism as people, not trainable animals.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We completely abandoned </span></span><a href="http://www.autismtreatment.info/Concepts+of+ABA.aspx"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">ABA method</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">s</span>. We joined Superman in his preferred activities. We wholly embraced and accepted him as he was and respected that he was doing certain things as a way to cope with the world because his sensory and perceptive wiring was all tangled up. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And oh my, did we get questioned. A certain ABA group in our fair state pressured me (no, harassed me) with menacing phone calls trying to guilt me into doing what was right for my kid. After all, research showed their approach worked, netted great results. Right? My gut said not. We had difficulty getting any funding for the therapies we felt best for Superman. It was a real struggle. And we aren't talking about all those strange fringe therapies that include pulling metals out of our kid and other such biomedical approaches. We are talking about<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://stanleygreenspan.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">Greenspan's Floor Time</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and </span></span><a href="http://www.autismtreatmentcenter.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">The Autism Treatment Center's Son Rise approach. </span></span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What about the results, the very real results those approaches were getting? Oh I forgot, no 'real' research has been done on those approaches. You want to know why? Because you can't set that research up in such a way that allows for traditional data collection. Well, why not? Because we are dealing with HUMAN BEINGS here! Because we are counting on, relying on, human connection. Because it is the respectful relationship that makes progress possible, probable. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sometimes we just don't have time for research to be done. Sometimes we need to act. Sometimes we need to rely more on what we know to be good and true and effective. Sometimes we really do know what we are doing...</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, I am very nervous about how much we are following, following, following. We do less and less higher level thinking and reflecting on what we have done and what we should do next. We rely less and less on relationships to show us the way. We just keep doing what doesn't work without wondering why, We blame the kids for not changing when it is the methods we are using that need to change. We come down harder and harder on the kids. The hammer just gets bigger and harder when we should be trying a different tool altogether.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And all that behaviorist research has a place. Just not in a special education classroom where kids are doing the best they can with what they have. We are making things worse. Kids are being left way behind all because they can't be manipulated by the lure of a tub of junk toys. If there is a prize in the box they want, they may do the one thing they must do to get it. But it won't be quality work. It won't be generalized to the next request. And it certainly won't be done from the place within that needs to be opened up so they can lead a productive life, hold a job and enjoy loving relationships.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let's not be so scared to wander away from the research that has been done if it just isn't working in our situation. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And we all know from graduate school that any findings, numbers, statistics can be skewed....</span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-51746716532015180992010-07-08T11:29:00.000-05:002010-07-08T11:29:31.360-05:00Ponderable PerspectivesI<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"> have been delightfully buried in some of my very favorite books and articles addressing education challenges. Here are some direct quotes from these readings. They are nothing short of delectable morsels worth every moment of pondering. Roll them around in your head like you would a fine wine on your tongue. This is the stuff of which I base my practice.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">And because y' all know by now how impossible it is for me to just drop a quote on you without my opinion (you also know how I love to pontificate!), stay tuned to future blogs because each one will be pondered upon by yours truly. I just know you can't wait!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">From </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">The Trouble With Boy</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">s by Peg Tyre</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">"... perfectly smart kids develop at different times."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">"Teachers also need to help boys develop emotional vocabulary."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">"By fourth grade, though, children who attended academic preschools earned significantly lower grades - behaved worse - then children who attended play-based or mixed approach ones. The boys who were best able to keep pace wit the girls had attended the child-initiated schools. The boys who fell farthest behind the girls were the ones who had attended the academic preschools."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">"Parenting has become a competitive sport."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">"Boys who don't thrive in school, who disengage, and who fail to reach their potential not only are suffering assault to their self-esteem and confidence, but are setting themselves up for a life of economic insecurity."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">"... using her high-powered fMRI machine, she found that boys and girls use different neural pathways to decipher simple words. Inside the "black box" of their skulls, boys and girls use different parts of their brains to read."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">"The male literacy deficit is not something that is immutable and hardwired in boys. It turns out that schools may be teaching them wrong."</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">From </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Punished By Rewards</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"> by Alfie Kohn</span><br />
<br />
"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;">The underlying assumption is that there are exactly two alternatives: punitive responses or positive reinforcement, sticks or carrots, slaps or sugar plums."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;">"The troubling truth is that rewards and punishments are not opposites at all; they are two sides of the same coin. And that coin does not buy very much."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;">"Rewards usually improve performance only at extremely simple - indeed mindless - tasks, and even then they improve only quantitative performance."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;">" 'Do this and you will get that' turns out to be bad news.... Even assuming we have no ethical reservations about manipulating other people's behavior to get them to do what we want, the plain truth is that this strategy is likely to backfire."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;">"As behaviorists carefully admit, theories about rewards and various practical programs of behavior modification are mostly based on work with rats and pigeons."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;">"Behaviorist's conception of humans as passive beings whose behavior must be elicited by external motivation in the form of incentives is, by any measure, outdated."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;">"If it does make sense to measure the effectiveness of rewards on basis of whether they produce lasting change, the research suggests that they fail miserably."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #8e7cc3;">".... what is not always recognized is, first, just how utterly unsuccessful rewards really are across situations, and second, just how devastating in indictment is contained in this fact."</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ponder away. </span></span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-20258413670718089932010-07-01T15:24:00.003-05:002010-07-03T10:23:23.771-05:00Closure Is A Good Thing<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">I get up this morning at 5ish having slept about 15 minutes the whole night.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">I did some laundry and some corresponding, dressed and headed over to school a bit before 8.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">I have my ID badge that unlocks the main doors, no room key as principal said it would be open, remember?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">Get to school, my badge lets me in.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">Go upstairs, my door is locked and as I peer in, I note that it is so full furniture from another classroom I am not sure I will be able to get to my stuff.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">Luckily there is major demolition/construction going on to install write boards so I ask one of those guys to let me in. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">In I go. I took very little. I left so much stuff and realized this is probably how my aunt felt when she was facing terminal cancer. She just detached form her belongings. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">I only took my favorite workbooks to use as examples in my university methods course, my very-own-made-up-and-invented-by- little-old-me-mediation tools. I was about done hefting all this crap in a laundry basket and a milk crate and wandered over to the big cabinet.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">And. Was. Horrified.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">Blatantly staring at me were three gigondo clear plastic bins filled with junkie toys. One bin labeled, 500 points. One labeled 1,000 points. One labeled 1,500 points. And in each bin the size of the junk items grew in proportion to the number on the corresponding bin.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">I actually yelled out, "Oh know! What the fuck?"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">I slammed the doors fast. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">At this point may I encourage (insist) you all refer to </span><a href="http://www.alfiekohn.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Alfie Kohn's</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"> book, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">Punished By Rewards </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">and then</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"> </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">have a look at</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.danpink.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Daniel Pink</span>'</a>s</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">book</span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">, Drive.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"> </span></i></span></span></span><br />
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span> </i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">So on with the morning. I sit at</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"> </span><a href="http://teacherponders.blogspot.com/2009/09/ebdland-magic.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Aunt Sally</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">. I hang on to her. I actually stroke her solid, smoothly worn beams. I cry. I finally cry. I realize I am most sad about leaving Aunt Sally. I apologized to her for not being used last year and that I would do all I could to get her back to kids.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">I schlepp my stuff (just three loads) to the front door and hear my phone ring. Not once, not twice, but three different times.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">I load the car, check voice mail and hear the superintendent called and wants me to call him back. You read that right, SUPERINTENDENT. Oh brother.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">I come home, have a nervous breakdown, talk to Hub and a sister to get my mojo going and return the call to THE SUPERINTENDENT.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">Long story short, it was a pleasant call. We exchanged a few jokes, he addressed all points in my letter to him, apologized (yes, APOLOGIZED) for not getting back to me about the </span><a href="http://teacherponders.blogspot.com/2009/11/big-brother-won.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">November issue</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">. He told me he greatly appreciated my work, he even referenced Aunt Sally. I told him I appreciate him taking the time to call and address my concerns, I wished him well and told him I would be ready and willing to assist the district in any way. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">OK, so it was damage control. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">But I will take it. Closure done professionally. Too bad my principal couldn't do that.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7f6000;">Ooooh, gotta go, I see another door opening!</span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-76503101940824352402010-06-30T22:25:00.000-05:002010-06-30T22:25:08.011-05:00Wow, That Door Really Hurt When It Hit My Ass.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Well, well, well.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">My resignation was received Tuesday by noon. My job was posted by noon today. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">By 11 this morning my principal sent an all staff email announcing I had decided to resign from the district using the usual administrative one line bullshit about thanking me for my years of service to the district and the students.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">By 3 this afternoon I was booted off school email.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Tomorrow I am going into my room to pack up the rest of my stuff. Principal won't be there, she assures me my pass will work to get me in the door and that my room will be unlocked.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Any bets on that? My pass key won't work and room will be locked.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Downtown is partying tonight and will continue to do so into the school year.......</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">..... until they see my name on the next school board ballot.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">And you know what? I don't think we are irreplaceable in any meaningful way. I think we are only replaceable in the any-warm-body-will-work sense.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">I am sad.</span></span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-5397662080104355282010-06-29T10:49:00.000-05:002010-06-29T10:49:37.279-05:00And The Door Has Hit Me In The Ass<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, it is now official. I have submitted my written resignation to the school board and superintendent. The Superintendent also got a two page letter outlining how I arrived at my decision to leave. It outlined the </span></span><a href="http://teacherponders.blogspot.com/2009/11/big-brother-won.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">unresolved issue from November</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> as well as concerns I have about the special education department. I was careful not to name names or use specific examples of stupidity. I offered my assistance and let him know I was going to still be around as a parent of special needs kiddos in his district. I informed him that while I was counseled to seek legal action regarding the November incident, I chose not to in hopes that bringing awareness about it there would be no further victims of this sort of harassment.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yeah, I know. Why waste my breath. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess I am treating him like I would my students. Ever hopeful that once in a while what I have to say has of a bit of value and will stick.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I did make good points that I felt were necessary to expose. Not for revenge. Not to be fixed. But to be the voice of those unheard and uncared for. One of the most important being two African American boys expelled from our district after they left my program... at the end of the year after I begged for reasonable help and was told to suck it up. Yep, expelled because our district placed them in a resource program where they were certain to be unsuccessful. So, isn't it our fault they failed? Shouldn't other placements have been tried? Shouldn't I have been consulted before this decision was made? I knew these boys and although they were quite prickly, I deeply cared for them. Shouldn't we all be doing everything we can to make sure they graduate from high school? </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And my second point was about how our district keeps hiring special needs teachers for less than 1.0 FTE. Really? My kid has autism ALL day, not just .6 of the day. Do any of you know any CD, EBD, AUT or LD kid that is only challenged by his/her disability a fraction of the day? Oh, if only. Geez, what I would pay to have Movie Man and Superman special needs for only .6 of the day.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I included a bit in my letter about the lack of vision, effective leadership and planning in the special ed department. I had to. You know I did.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But what was good about the letter is that it was not angry. It was out of deep concern.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I mailed the letters at the post office to guarantee I would not dig the envelope out of my own mailbox and then sent it all to my principal electronically so she would get it a few hours ahead of Downtown Suits. She called this AM. I did not take the call. I know I need to return that call, but just cannot right now. She is not going to care much at all about me leaving. She will care that she has to find another EBD teacher this summer. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am in a state of grievous shock right now. Even so, I did the absolute right thing. I will continue to advocate as I always have. My audience has simply changed.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My blogging will continue as I have just gotten started. We have so much more to share, to explore and to bitch about, don't we?</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can only imagine what cleaning out my classroom will bring to the surface.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank goodness I have therapy scheduled today!</span></span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-31122011585194123622010-06-27T12:52:00.000-05:002010-06-27T12:52:15.685-05:00I StatementsLet me introduce you to a woman I respect greatly. Not only for her personal journey, but for her clear and consistent common sense message.<br />
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What brings me to this introduction is yesterday's post. I mentioned 'I' statements the kindergarden teacher was using and was reminded of a great piece written by Jane Bluestein about how bogus the <a href="http://www.janebluestein.com/handouts/whatswrong.html">'I' statement </a> concept is.<br />
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Check out <a href="http://www.janebluestein.com/">Jane's website</a>. Read what she offers up. So much of it is free and easily accessed. All of it is relevant, true, and right on.<br />
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I want to be like her when I grow up.Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-78377351916336980752010-06-26T12:40:00.003-05:002010-06-26T12:53:49.337-05:00Poor Ben<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Just spent a frustrating half hour watching a show called Kindergarden on HBOF-W. Original showing was in 2001 and all I can say is I hope to hell the teacher on the show is no longer teaching. Poor Ben. This little guy was adorable and just needed a teacher who understood.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">My God, all she did was 'Blah, blah, blah, bah blah". And so much of it was all about her. "I am so disappointed. I am having trouble teaching with you in the room." Was she trying to use 'I' statements? Did she think that would help out this little guy? She was also big on pulling Ben out of the group and timing him out. No reteaching, no examples, no engaging Ben in positive activities, no practicing with his peers. Just a bunch of lecturing and demeaning scolds. And to top it off she sent a horribly nasty note home with Ben to his parents about how nasty he was that day after he had to meet with the principal! Are you kidding me? From where I sat, Ben was just a little short on impulse control. He was sweet, and seemed genuinely confused. He was not hurtful. He was annoying, but not hurtful. He was smart and personable and just a regular little kindergardener trying to figure it out and get along.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Here is the perfect example of a teacher thinking that if the student could repeat back what the right choice would be, he could follow through and actually do the right thing. Some kids can give you the right answer all the time and put that into action. Other kids can give you the right answer but cannot walk the talk. Some kids know the right thing to do and do it. Some know the right thing to do and WON'T do it. Some kids know the right thing to do and CAN'T do it. Some kids don't know what to do. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Turning what one knows to be the right choice into action is really hard for some kids. It's our job to figure it out why and then how to help them along.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">The absolute wrong thing to do is to talk, talk, talk and use guilt and personal disappointment as the motivator. You run the risk of kids internalizing all sorts of negative things about themselves. Once a kiddo starts believing there is something wrong with him/her, you have a long and hard road to changing that belief. And it is from that belief that many more wrong choices are made. This is a horrible thing to do to a kindergardener who is actually doing his best.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">So, why am I so agitated by this? All the rage is bubbling up again. We make so many mistakes with kids and then consequence them for not turning out like we think they should. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">I guess it is simply the injustice of it all that gets me. Way too much of this going on.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Let's be more careful out there, people.</span></span><br />
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</span></span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-31510695969087521892010-06-25T11:40:00.000-05:002010-06-25T11:40:24.398-05:00Slowly Disengaging and Coming to Terms<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">his</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;"> morning I got a call from my dear friend and best paraprofessonal ever. She is my soul sister. Sister is my age, feisty, smart, caring, and dedicated. I love her.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">So, she asks if we can go out to celebrate. I asked what we were celebrating and she replied we should celebrate me coming back. I told her that was not the case, but I have not made it official as of yet. She was a true friend and supported me... but as her true self told me to shit or get off the pot. She is right, of course.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">She catches me up about school stuff, especially about my favorite ever student. He was in a world of hurt all year. Anyway, Sister says she stayed connected to him all year despite the disproval of the teacher and other paraprofessional in EBDland. I was glad to hear that she worked her magic as often as she could throughout the year. But it was hard on her. Very hard on her. Luckily she only works afternoons so could swoop in like a breath of fresh air every single day. And she was a breath of fresh air. Every single day.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">She fills me in more about how the year went. How fiercely she and favorite student ever hugged and cried the last day of school. I think he knows he won't be back. I think he knows his days in his second home are over. I think he knows he is walking out the door alone to face whatever condition the district has in mind for him. And it is certainly not in his best interest. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">I feel so guilty. I wonder if things would not have gotten so bad if I had stayed. If he could have stayed through 6th grade, just one more year, if I had stayed. I abandoned him. I hope he forgives me.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">Or maybe I am full of delusions of grandeur and he would have been in this much trouble regardless of who was in charge of EBDland. He has so much to deal with in his young life. But I would have been there to love him, to provide a safe place for him, to help him work through some of it all, to help fill some of the gaping holes in his psyche. To just be a safe place. He needs a safe place.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">And so do I. And it is not as EBD teacher in a dysfunctional crazy making system.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">But how are others coping? Why can't I? </span></span><br />
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</span></span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-10983301469764406322010-06-24T22:52:00.000-05:002010-06-24T22:52:14.265-05:00And One More For My Bag of Affirmations<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OK, last night was lovely. I had a great session with my therapist about my kids and then met a wonderful friend for a long dinner over a bottle of wine and some fondue. We talked about my decision to leave EBDland and try working with teachers in training. I expressed I was feeling quite certain and the thought of running for the local school board is sooo sweet for so many vengeful reasons.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I get up and do all the things I do after sending Movie Man off to summer school. There was very little drama today. Thank. You. Universe!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I carry a cup of heavily creamed java to my bedroom, crawl back in bed and read a novel. I won't lie. I dozed. Right after lunch it was off to Social Thinkers Group with Superman. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then I bumped into a fellow special education teacher over the bin of potatoes at the neighborhood grocery. I love this woman. She saved Superman this year. A remarkable teacher. Anyway, she shared with me that the very special education administrator that caused all my pain and suffering is being reassigned back to the very schools that they took her out of last year.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And that is when the always- there- but- dormant- for- the- day- stuff boiled up and over. I mean from deep down under the extra three rolls of fat I am storing around my belly. It stabs and claws its way up through my heart, spins around my brain, snags on emotions, and implants rage. Angry hot rage that I cannot let go of without a xanax. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What the fuck. Sorry, but what the fuck? I am experiencing such a huge disconnect. Someone please help me out here. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This woman is mean, worthless, has no real experience, no useful knowledge base and is hurtful. She is also stupid. Yet she sits in a nice office, pulls in a great salary, and goes through each and every day believing she is good at what she does. Since she still has her job, any outsider would assume she has it because she is effective, knowledgeable, and real leadership material.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But she is not! She is not. She is not. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here is what scares me. The remarkable teacher who saved Superman this year wants to leave her position at Superman's school to avoid being victimized again by the particular administrator.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is wrong. So very wrong.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am outraged at the injustice of this.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am really so tired of the world as it is. I don't feel there is any hope.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...........but I have one more affirmation in my bag that leaving is the right thing to do.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I just feel sick tonight.</span></span><br />
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</span></span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-18033527476351660462010-06-23T11:10:00.000-05:002010-06-23T11:10:24.883-05:00On The Home Front<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">S</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ummer is here. The kitchen is open 24/7. Soggy pool towels and swimming trunks litter the kitchen and bedroom floors. The dog is smellier. New reasons to loathe my body as more parts are exposed because wearing a wool sweater to the pool doesn't work. The noise level is much increased as the boys are annoying each other for sport. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Movie Man hit a wall when summer school started. It was ugly. His anxiety is debilitating and as his mother it is time to find more aggressive and therapeutic approaches to relieve his pain. I signed him up for two summer school classes at the middle school he will attending next fall. The thought was that time spent this summer in his new school would help alleviate some anxiety in the fall. I carefully chose nonacademic classes so he could find ways to shine and demonstrate his love and knowledge of things he has skills. So Movie Man is taking Leadership in Film and Digital Editing. Perfect for him, right?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nope. Hub and I have had to literally pull him out of bed, carry him to the shower, put him in the shower and dress him more than once. Movie Man gets so irrational he is unable to even express his worries. It is all just a bundle of intensely uncomfortable feelings he has no language for, no maturity to understand. All he knows is that he has to fly. Adapt, move on or die. Flight or fight. Hide under your bed, make outrageous emotionally charged statements in hopes your parents will feel so sorry for you they will let you quit or run away. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, none of it worked. While my heart broke for him, I knew I had to see him through it to the the other side. I had to show him I believed he would be OK. I had to show him he could do it. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So after days of very troubled and upsetting mornings, he now goes off to summer school barely on time, but anxiety free. With patient persistence and acute observation and quick calls to his teachers to check in so we could correct Movie Man's perceptions of what was going on, we were able to learn more about Movie Man. His learning disability and processing speed make him feel he is going to miss important information. And he does miss important information. But once he has the information he needs, he is very capable, insightful and a wonderful contributor to his classes. It is that space between what the teacher says and when Movie Man is supposed to respond or perform that he gets lost in the abyss of anxiety. The anxiety then makes it impossible to listen and understand. The cycle is relentless. It is debilitating. It is paralyzing.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Add to the summer to do list.... get a good cognitive behavioral therapist for Movie Man and a good pediatric psych for a medication consultation.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Superman is now taking piano lessons from a lady in the neighborhood. He looks so absolutely autistic when taking his piano lessons. Parent Smackdown! All that autism affect kicks in when he is in a new place and it is not pleasant to watch. But, I am learning how to help him. I sit next to him in his lessons and the teacher is a dear. She is willing to stick with it, wants to learn how to help him, and is very flexible. I love the methods she uses and we are sticking with it. 30 minutes is too long. So I take the visual timer with us to the lessons and set it for 20 minutes and put it on the piano. We practice in bits and pieces throughout the day in short little blips. I have learned that once Superman is shown what to do, he does it flawlessly. It will be slow going. It will be challenging. We will all benefit.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And best of all... Movie Man and Superman can be left alone for up to 2 hours!!!!! Oh the freedom! </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am off to lunch with my best friend. The boys are engrossed in making a movie. I know they will call me a hundred times while I am away. That's OK. We are clearly moving forward and that is cause for real celebration.</span></span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3773250415790655282.post-88971741727164093272010-06-23T10:35:00.003-05:002010-06-23T15:38:42.376-05:00Affirmation and Fanning My Little Flame<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to visitation for a teacher pal's father. This man was a great guy, fought the fought, lived a full life, and produced one of the best teachers I know. May he rest in peace.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since my teacher pal is wildly popular, well loved and a lifelong local gal, going to the visitation necessitated I spend time chit chatting and catching up with my colleagues. How many times was I asked if I was coming back? How many times did I say I was uncertain? What a liar! I know full well I am not going back.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There. I said it. I meant it. I mean it still today.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The content of the chit chat and catching up was affirmation I have made the right decision. It is the same old crap as when I left. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only worse. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many of my pals were scheduled to spend two days in an expensive training for </span></span><a href="http://www.pbis.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">PBIS</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Another fad recipe approach to school wide behavior management. Check it out if you like. It is simply common sense marketed. Expensive in dollars as well as time.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By now you all know I don't cotton to any recipe (even in my kitchen) excepting Social Thinking as that is truly a gifted program for kids on the spectrum when used appropriately. This resistance to following a recipe may be a real fault at times. But it serves me well as a teacher. I take time to know my kids. I take time to understand their strengths. I take time to build meaningful relationships with each of them. I constantly gather thoughts, opinions, information, theories, strategies, tools, methodologies that might help the kids. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">EBD kiddos have a multitude of issues. Learning, behavioral, self-regulatory, emotional, and comorbidity or mental health issues. They are not comfortable at school. They are not comfortable at home. They are not comfortable with peers. They are not comfortable in their own skin. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My job is to make them comfortable enough to learn. We all know that the learner is most effective when they are calm, comfortable, feeling safe, are not in states of deprivation, and believe they can learn. Manipulating them to conform through points and levels does not make them feel safe. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Learning is risky business. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, back to PBIS. How does that help the kids on the fringe? It doesn't. But, that is what my district has decided to do with stimulus money.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So there is one issue. Another is that they have yet to figure out what to do with my</span></span><a href="ttp://teacherponders.blogspot.com/2010/06/fuel-for-fire-and-i-am-only-gonna-get.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">favorite student</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> of all time. Director tells principal that he is taking the lead on this one. HUH? Where has he been all year?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And another issue is that the district has decided to start a ONE YEAR EBD program in one of the elementary schools. Really? I suspect they are just trying to find a place to put my favorite student of all time for the one year remaining before middle school. They don't know what they are calling this program, what its purpose will be and who it will serve.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could go on and on. I will spare you. Bottom line is that we are victims of very poor management. The mediocre top keeps recruiting and promoting the mediocre underlings to join them downtown. Mediocrity breeds mediocrity but that mediocrity expects perfection from teachers and students per high stakes testing scores.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Too much wrong, too late in the game, too many kids being left behind. Public schools aren't any longer what they were intended to be. I, for one, am not going to let them go down without a huge fight. We can do this, people We can make public schools what they should be. We can. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have to.</span></span>Liberty Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12027499609835665307noreply@blogger.com0