Wow! Where has the time gone!

Hello Everyone,

     Where has the time gone this year?  I truely meant to be more diligent in keeping this blog up to date, but the time has flown by.  I apologize for that and can't help but wonder why as a child time was so slow and now it flies.
     I have to say that the class is so much calmer now that our exploder has moved to another school. I have to say though that I have heard that he is worse at the new school, which is understandable, and has been moved to a behavior class.  I feel sorry for him and the staff there at his new school.
     Our class is busy at this time of the year with testing, growing plants, and raising butterflies. We are getting ready for the annual testing in four weeks and after that is the downhill slide to summer. I have put in my application for summer school and will keep you posted whether I am chosen. If not - mountains here I come.
     Well, I am off to work. Enjoy your day and thanks for sticking with me.
BE GOOD HUMANS!

Valentines and the classroom

     Ok...lets remember what this day was like when you were in school. You filled out valentines cards for EVERYONE, boys and girls alike. Even the ones you did not like. Then you taped a paperbag to the front of your desk and that afternoon you walked around depositing the cards into the bags. Well.....its not quite the same now but close. We send a list of names home with each student, ask that they NOT send sweets and still someone is missed and in comes the candy.  Which part of NOT do families not understand. These kids are on sugar overload as it is and do not need the additional boost.
     In other news, this is a busy time of year for us. We have testing and holidays and I am on the leadership team and we are busier than a bee right now. Then it was sprung on us that we are observing another leadership team (another school) this Friday which means I have to readjust my lesson plans to accommodate a sub......geesh a little warning please!
     Other than that all is good. Everyone has settled in to a student leaving and everything is running smooth. More to follow, but that is all the news that is news.
Take care and BE GOOD HUMANS!

Burden Lifted

Well the nightmare that has been this event is over! My problem child...no problem parent is moving on. Unfortunately, this means he is going to have to change schools twice within the next 6 months. Not something that is going to be easy for him to do..but there was not reasoning with this woman. Thank you everyone for your support during this trying time.

On a happier note - we did a role-playing activity today that had everyone cracking up in the classroom. We practiced allowing someone else to pass in front of you and how to respond. You would not think this would create the laughter it did but the kids were hysterical and we all laughed ourselves silly.

I can't believe we are almost through our second grading period. I have to start testing which is always so much fun...NOT but I am sure they are all going to do great!

Well more later - take care and BE GOOD HUMANS!

Another Round of Sickies

Hello All,

Well to catch you up from the last post, nothing has changed. He is still in my class and no one seems to have put any stock in her allegations. So, another day in paradise.

We are on our second round of the bug going around. 1/2 of the class is coughing and has running noses. I soooooooo love this time of year. I am hoping that the one go around with it that I had is enough. Keep you fingers crosses.

This year is flying by. There seems to be so much more that I want to get done and don't have enough time. Oh well, like I tell the kids you tackle big projects the same way you eat an elephant. One bite at a time.

Then as if life was not busy enough, Sharon has been told that she must take the CSET, even though her credential program waived it. So I have decided to take it with her and OMG is there a lot of information that I have forgotten. Should be amusing and I will keep you posted. Take care of yourselves and BE GOOD HUMANS!

Life Happens

     Wow....today I was smacked in the face by the evil and viciousness of some people. I started my day off by chatting with South Gate P.D......ok let me back up a bit.  I have a student who is very non-verbal and struggles to form even the most basic of sentences.  This same child supposedly told his mother that after he hit me during a melt-down I hit him back.
     Now anyone who knows me knows that these kids are my life and that I would never jeopardize myself or my career by doing something that foolish. Luckily, the cop saw through the mom and basically said that I was going to sound like the shinning star in his report. 
     At first, I was amused by it all, but as the day wore on I became more and more angry.. Does she not realize how serious of a charge this is and did it no occur to her to talk to me or the other aides in the class first????I guess this served as a wake up call that not everyone is decent in this world and regardless of how you try to help them, they can still turn and stab you in the back.
     I wanted to share this with everyone to show that even the best intentions don't guarantee smooth sailing. I am going to try and let this go, but I am sure its going to be a long 105 days left of school, before he changes schools.
BE GOOD HUMANS!

Happy New Year!

Hello Everyone,

     We are back and its the start of a new year. The boys, (yes I have all boys) are back and they are doing ok considering they have been at home for three weeks. I have to admit though I am looking forward to the three day weekend this week. They are a bit wired and unruly...it usually takes about three weeks to get them retrained.
     My new guy is doing great. I have him going to a general education class for language arts and he is doing great according to the teacher. He blends right in....talk talk talk!
     I asked for unused computers on Facebook over the holiday and received 4.  YEAAAA. The down side of that is that I can't get two of them to work so we have to wait for our IT guy to set them up. UGGGGHH We are upstairs, no elevator, and he does not like to climb stairs so lord knows when he will get up here. Oh well such is life in public education.
     Well, I am off to work. More to follow sooner. I wish everyone a happy new year and stay tuned for more exciting news from the room.
     BE GOOD HUMANS!

Happy Holidays

      Wow! Have I really been gone so long. So much has happened this last month, both in and out of the classroom. Where do I begin?! The kids are getting very excited for the holidays and are counting down the days to vacation. (not just the kids) We did a new type of project this year called "Pocket Books." We did one for Thanksgiving and another for Christmas. They are centered around art projects while teaching about the holidays and the various celebrations. They are kinda kewl but VERY time consuming.
      We have a real struggle this year with one of our 5th graders and I have to admit he has gotten the better
of us once or twice. Unfortunately, we get no help from home, only excuses and denial. Oh well....such is the life in SPED,  The other kids are doing great..we have a new third grader who is a real pistol. Smart as a whip, but severely lacking in social skills. So I am hoping to fix that this year and put him in a gen.ed. class next year.
     I did the neatest thing this weekend! I scanned the book "The Night Before Christmas" then created a presentation for my Smartboard. Then we are going to listen to a radio reading of it this week while I show the visuals on the Smartboard.  I am soooo excited. I will let you know how the kids like it.
     I also have set a new goal for myself and the class.....I want to get 10 of the XO laptops. I hear that they are designed for kids so I am going to start looking into them. If you want to help or donate or you work for a company that may, please let me know.

Have a wonderful holiday and remember how truely blessed you are!