October Journal Articles

October 1, 2008

Today my supervising teacher provided dropped the bomb on me. She told me I had to complete an IEP for her and host an IEP meeting for my IEP. She gave me a psychometric form f or this student. She also gave a copy of a real IEP and a blank one. The IEP meeting will not be real but it will be a test run, to see if I actually know what I am doing

After first I was a little scared, but she told me she would help me to an extent. I think I will be able to do this. This is simple. This assignment will be very beneficial to me because it helped me get familiar with what will be needed of me

October 2, 2008

Today was review day. We are testing for all subjects tomorrow. Sometimes I am realized when we review for test. Its is a break because sometimes the general education teachers will make you feel a little uncomfortable. That’s the only thing I dislike about inclusion. The general education teacher and exceptional education, needs to come together to teach the children what is needed to be learned. They really make me feel a little awkward.

October 3, 2008

Today was test day. I worked with the 4^th graders. The 4^th graders are the easiest to teach. The really pay attention and try to complete their work. They work really hard and I am so proud of them. Most times I really don’t have to help them; I only have to read to them. If I read to them they really do understand what to do.

The SCD students are the most difficult to work with. They need more time and more attention than all the other students. It’s not difficult; I just have to remember when working with them, to slow down.

October 6, 2008

Today was the beginning of nine week tests. I learned that when administrating a test there must be an administrator and a proctor. The proctor is there to oversee the test; to make sure the test is being run smoothly. There is proctor in every classroom that is being tested.

I also completed a Data Inquiry Sheet pertaining to the most current assessment that was administered to my students. This sheet contained the test objectives and the challenges with the data, such as any specific skills that the students seemed to be struggling with. It also included a proposed action where the teacher had to list steps that will be taken for students that fail to master the objectives and what instructional strategies that will be used to improve student performances. This sheet showed the “good news,” or what the teacher was especially proud of in teaching the unit and also the target students.

The very last section of the sheet listed the different class periods and the percentages of students who scored 100-90%, 89-80%, 79-70%, and 69% and below. The last step in this process was to list the next steps, or what will be done between now and the next meeting for discussion of this data.

October 7, 2008

Today was a very long day, simply because I was up all night working on my assignments. When I stay up late at night, I discovered that the next day will be hard to complete. I need to fix my schedule so I can get more rest at night and become a more productive teacher. Mondays are my longest days, because my days do not end till Tuesday morning. I decided to change my schedule and be more focused on my education.

October 8, 2008

Today as I was walking down the hall one of the general education students asked me could she go to class with me? I said no because this is not your class, you are not assigned to this class. She said why not, “I am stupid too”. This comment really upset me. I did not know what to say to her because I want to tell her off, but I could not. She did not know any better, but the sad thing is, some of my students can run circle around her.

Children can be very mean, especially to exceptional education students. I watch the way the others treat them, while inclusion, especially during small group. Sometimes the general education students act funny when they are pulled out and placed in small groups with them. They sometimes say mean things and do crazy things, but if they only knew

October 9, 2008

Today is another review day. I am so happy that it is Thursday; I no longer have to do inclusion for the rest of the week. I can give my students all the one on one time that they need. I enjoy inclusion but I really enjoy tutorial, because we can hit the areas that they are weak in. When we are in tutorial we can spend all our time on one subject while in inclusion we have to

October 10, 2008

Today, I encountered a problem with one of my well-behaved students today. She got upset because someone had moved her stuff and she took her frustration out on everyone. Because I knew that she was usually a well-behaved student, I didn’t get too upset. I just calmly told her to turn around again and continued my lesson. Eventually, she turned around. Later, I spoke with her and she told me that she was just having a bad day and she apologized. I accepted her apology because everyone has bad days.

During my planning period, I was informed of the new process for IEP reevaluations. The first step is to obtain permission from the parents by sending Parent Permission for Reevaluation Form. Next, the teacher would have to contact the school’s psychometrics and schedule the reevaluation meeting. After that, a Written Prior Notice has to be completed. Lastly, the teacher will need a copy of the student’s current IEP.

I am learning so very much about not only teaching, but about the several forms and documents that has to be completed by the exceptional education teachers.

October 13, 2008

Today the majority of the students understood the lesson. However, a couple of students were having difficulties. I soon realized that their difficulties were a result of their behavior. They constantly played and talked, which caused them to miss the directions that were given, along with an explanation of the assignment. So I gave them a warning. Then, I moved their seats. I placed one on the left side of the classroom and the other on the right side of the classroom. Soon, the classroom was quiet and every student was on-task. I thought to myself, “Mission accomplished!”

In addition, I became familiar with an Interim Evaluation Form. This form included the parent/guardian’s name and the student’s personal information. It also included a list of areas where the student could be commended, and a list of areas where the student needed improvement. At the bottom was a section where the teacher could make comments and remarks about the student.

October 14, 2008

Today I learned about the Sam6i schedule. It is a schedule that tells exactly what each child in the exceptional education is receiving during school hours. It has to be placed in every child’s IEP. I really love inclusion so much. It may be rigorous job when it comes to paperwork, but helping the students is so simple. All you have to do is break everything down to them, explaining exactly what is needed of them. Once you explain exactly what you want the student to do, they got it. For some that’s all they really need is a little guidance and want they receive they got it.

October 15, 2008

Today I was in charge of the reading block. In the reading block, we did synonyms and antonyms. Most of the students caught on to the lesson very well. Some even thought that the assignment was easy. The students had to pull a word out of the bag and give me two words a synonym and an antonym. Then the students had to make a sentence out of the words pulled out of the bag. The assignment was fun. It showed me exactly what they knew. I was proud because all my students did so well in the general education setting. They were completing the assignment without help.

Also today we had to report the signs of abuse to the counselor. A particular student came to school with a huge bruise on his neck. The siblings of this student, which is in another class, also had marks on them too. I was so shocked because I saw how much pain the student was in. Everyday this student comes in and gives every teacher a hug. So on this day the student did not, so when asked why did I not get a hug, the student gave me one. When I touched the students back moaned of pain and I asked what was wrong. The student lifted the shirt and there was a bruise on the back, but the sad part is the student looked at me and said, this one does not hurt as bad as the one on my leg.

October 16, 2008

Today we tested all day because on tomorrow the students are only going to be here half of day. The students were a little tired by the end of the day because they had to do so much. They complained and fussed all day long. To me some of the tests are not valid because the some of the question cover things that the students have not been taught. I also think that the teachers should keep the exceptional education students in mind when taking their test, because some of the work is unnecessary. The students are lost and some times so do I because I sit in each class everyday with the students and pay attention. I even try my hardest to keep them on task and when I see some of their test and I am dumbfounded.

October 17, 2008

Today was a half-day for the students. They seemed very happy and so was I, but hated the thought of professional development. Most time professional development is very informative, but it also is very boring. The speakers sit in front of the audience and talk for hours and the room is extremely cold and then they expect us to stay awake. I just ask for a little excitement, at least sometime. On this particular day, we attended professional development at North Jackson Middle. It focused on autism. It showed us many different ways we can communicate with them without using any type of spoken words. This professional development had me in full affect. I was wide awoke and listening. They even had toys and gadgets to play with which made it more interesting. I honestly believe that all the workshops and professional development should have some type of activity that can be shared.

October 20, 2008

Today I was offered a job at Galloway Elementary. Dr Roby talked to me about working with the autistic class there. She said that she really needs someone that is willing to stay and work with the children because they need stability. The children are so use to having a different face every year when we all know they need someone that the see everyday because they are custom to a routine. They do the same thing over and over everyday. Therefore seeing many different faces must be very confusing to them.

Hearing this made me very ecstatic. I could not wait to get home to tell my mom all about it. At first I was a little skeptical, I did not know if I wanted to take the job because I have never worked with autism before. I am still thinking about what I am going to do. Eventually I will understand and know if that’s what I want to do.

October 21, 2008

Today Mrs. Sargent and I went down town to a workshop that touched on Tier I, II, and III. I really did not understand what was going on but I do understand that Tier is an intervention program that will analyze if a child needs to be placed in special education. The child must go through all three levels, if the child does not complete all three successful he will be tested for exceptional education.

There are a lot of students that are in the general education population that should be in special education. These students are all sitting out there struggling without help. This is so sad to me because the teachers are just failing them and are not taking out time to see what is really going on and this is ridiculous.

October 22, 2008

Today I was not feeling to well, I became ill and had to leave but before I left I did make my rounds. I went to every class, I felt so bad but I could not leave the without doing my job, so I took a half of day.

October 23, 2008

Today is review day, but this week it is a little different. Usually we review all subjects but this week we are reviewing for two because the administration changed the testing schedule. Instead of three or test every Friday, we now only have two. This was a very smart idea because our students already have a lot on their hands.

Also today, one of my students was selected to do energy patrol. I was so proud of her, she really deserved it. Energy patrol is when students are selected out of each class to make sure the lights are off in the classrooms when no one is in there. From my understanding Jessica is the first exceptional education student chosen to do this out of all the years it has been in effect.

October 24, 2008

Today is testing day and I did not work with the 4^th graders. I worked with the SCD students. I did this all by myself. I took me all morning long to complete every test. Mrs. Sargent said she wants me to be capable of teaching all students. She also said that there is a class she wants me to visit before my student teaching is complete.

I really enjoy working with Mrs. Sargent. She is the best exceptional education teacher I have ever met. She wear many hats, she has so many things that she is in charge of. I honestly think she is glad I am here because she needs all the help she can get.

October 27, 2008

During tutorial we began discussing biomes. Biomes are large geographic regions in many locations with similar kinds of communities and climates. There are five teachers that work with the exceptional education students, two teachers, two student teachers, and one teacher assistant. Each teacher was assigned a particular biome. The biome that was selected you were in charge of helping the students make it. My biome was the deciduous forest, which is the geographic region that we live in. The students were told to bring a shoebox because we were making a biome in a box. The students were excited about this and so was I.

October 28, 2008

Today we started working on the biomes I only had to one student in my group. So are assignment was a breeze she did everything I asked her to do, with no problems. I also had to help with a student that was in someone else group because his helper did not come.

Mrs. Sargent is also preparing us for the rest of the week. She is going out of town and I am very nervous because she has not missed any days. I am scared that I may mess up, but she keeps reassuring me that I can do it. I don’t know why I am so nervous but I am. She will be gone for two days; Wednesday is her last day for this week.

October 29, 2008

The biomes are starting to look great. The children are getting the concept but I think the teachers are having the most fun. They say you learn more when you start teaching and that is so true. I have learned so much these past weeks than I have learned in the last couple of years. It is so much fun to learn. Sometimes I wonder where was I when these were taught to me, was I not listening. There have many lessons that I really had to sit down and study before I taught it.

The biome that my student and I are working is the deciduous biome. Our box is covered with brown paper so far. The student that I am working with is always so busy. She is constantly on the go. She is the student who was elected to do the energy patrol, not only does she do that but she also has speech. She does speech three times a week so we have to move fast, but I really enjoy working with her because she always but her best foot first.

October 30, 2008

There is one student that I never have a problem with. He is the best student that we have. He is one of the unfortunate students; his family does not have a lot. There are days when students pick on him and talk about him. On yesterday his shoes were falling apart. The bottom of the shoe was hanging and he was the center of all the humiliation. He was so sad in class; all he wanted to do was hold his head down on the desk.

Later that day in tutorial he told me all the things that people said about him and he was about to cry. I saw how hurt he was so I decided to buy him a pair shoes. When I gave the student the shoes, I asked him do he like them. He said, “No, I love them”, and he gave me a big hug. So all day long when he saw me all he could do was hug me and tell me how much he love his new shoes and thank you. Also, today Mrs. Sargent was not here and everything went okay.

October 31, 2008

Today was a rough day. With Mrs. Sargent gone, there were only two people here today the teacher assistant and I. I thought this day was not going to come to an end. After testing I felt like I was the only one doing work and that is a bad feeling, especially when we are a team. With working with exceptional education, it must be teamwork at all times. There is no time for any slackers. Everyone must pull together and make it work. I felt so bad at the end of the day, that I wanted to apologize to anyone that may have thought that I did not take my job seriously, because I now know how it feels to be the only one working when there are more than just you in the room.