A Work Dilemna

[Veronica]

I think that model works better in a middle school setting. We've been trying something like that this year. It hasn't gone terribly well, but we're not giving it up. Remember our SPED team has to cover K -5. Not all of our LH kids have an aide. I think California's educational system is messed up in a lot of ways. We exited one of my resource kids today because he has no discrepancy. He's functioning at the level he's capable of -low average. It's a rare grade level assessment that he scores more than 50% on it. Our system has no place for kids like him. He's a nice boy, kind of lazy, well mannered and kind to his classmates. But our system is failing him. He's already been retained once. There needs to be a place for our "dumb" kids and there isn't. He needs a small group setting of ten or less and a much slower pace than what is expected in a regular ed room.

Veronica

[Crankin]

That's exactly what I meant by the "gray area" kids. They needed as much, or more help than some of the kids who were diagnosed. Some of them have talents in hands on things, which, in elementary and middle school, have no outlet.
The model I described does work well in middle schools because of the physical structure of the day and teams, but we used the same thing in the elementary school I worked in for 4 years. For 2 of those years, I was the special ed teacher and the other 2 years, I taught 5th grade. There were 2 special ed teachers for grades 1-5 and we used a lot of assistants. I went into 2nd and 4th grade classrooms and co-taught math and LA, and then did pull out for reading for the most severely impacted kids.
I still think that your colleague needs to get her medical situation in order, either by a leave or some new medication. Anxiety can be crippling, but it is the most common mental health problem that is treated in the US. It's not the same as stress. I have 2 former colleagues who were a real pain to work with and I was told now are on medication and in therapy. I saw one of them when I was doing an eval at my old school; what a positive change! She had a pretty severe mood disorder, which, while it was never aimed at me, and she did great work, always got her into trouble with parents, kids, and sometimes the principal. She would just say mean things and then I would have to mop it up. I am really happy for her, because she has 2 little girls now and she is really calm.

[Veronica]

I REALLY can't wait to be done. I'm going to miss my kids. You get attached after two years. But... the adults...

Fifth grade decided to do fun events for the students the last 4 days of school - a picnic, movie day, an ice cream social and a field day. Three of those days are half days. The job share team is useless for doing any of the planning. I don't dare ask the one with anxiety to do anything and her partner is so clueless about anything outside their classroom. The other teacher in the team, any time I see her, she's sighing heavily and saying, "Ai, ai, ai." I guess because her class is just driving her crazy. We asked our students to bring in money to help off set the cost of our picnic at a local water park - 10 bucks a kid to pay for admission, pizza, drinks, snacks, parking and craft supplies. I have 26 kids going. I have $260. The other two classes have $50 and $140. They each have about 25 kids going.

Our clientele is basically the same. I don't have more well off families. I did have two families donate more than what was asked for and a couple of kids who didn't bring in anything. One of the nice things about taking the combo class next year, is I will not be working so closely with these teachers anymore.

Veronica

[Crankin]

Try to enjoy those fun days, Veronica. Truly, that's what I remember! And looping is the best.
I had an aha teaching moment last week. I was at a meeting with a parent of one of my clients and her guidance counselor. This kid is in 8th grade, which is at the high school, in my old district. We were brainstorming ways to get her involved in after school and summer activities; she is severely depressed and sort of hanging out with other kids who support this. The guidance counselor suggested the drama club, for the stagecraft stuff, not the acting, because she is very quiet. The mom piped up and said, "No, she loves acting. She had a big part in "the" 7th grade play." I looked at her and asked, "Do you mean "A MIdsummer Night's Dream?" When the mom said yes, I realized that something I started as part of the ELA curriculum is now "institutionalized." It's "the" play. It was a validating feeling.