Inclusion is still not a “thing”?

Posted on May 29, 2014 by simpleijustdo

While reading the recent NPR article about inclusion, I realized that it’s still a subject of controversy, which puzzles me. Because to me, the issue of inclusion is about basic human rights. In America, every kid has the right to a free education, and the notion that some kids who “hinder” or “distract” kids who will actually make a “net contribution to society” and should therefore be stuck in a room somewhere sounds like something out of the 50s and 60s. Have we really not traveled so far as to realize the “worth” of every human being, and their basic human rights, even in this country?

Wow.

I have to say I’m gobsmacked. Many commenters were concerned about gifted kids being placed centrally in a classroom so they could help their peers during lessons, as if that were a disservice to that gifted child. What? We want to discourage helping others, now? Because not being placed centrally in the classroom would help her achieve higher levels of giftedness? Help me understand…

The Boy in his ASD room with compression blankets, sitting atop a pilates ball

I am not necessarily a proponent of full inclusion, except when a student with disabilities is best served with full inclusion. I prefer for my kid to have a safe space and some downtime in his school day, so that he doesn’t have to be “on” all day long. I love that he has a space where he can be his true self, at least during lunch, and his social skills class. If he didn’t, he would be ready to blow every day when he got home, and that ain’t good for anybody. So I appreciate the sort of inclusion he gets – “Inclusion lite”, if you will.

But as I wrote in my recent post, I want him to be able to socialize with his neuro-typical peers, because that’s a thing. He will need that in his lifetime, in order to succeed to the best of his abilities. And in my humble opinion, he will need that more than knowledge about the Pharoahs of Egypt. I want him to belong to his school community, and that just won’t happen if he is stuck in a separate room all day.

I shouldn’t let the trolls get to me, but every human being has worth, and my kid has more than most. He deserves the same respect as every other kid on the block. And he does have a very basic right to the same education every other 6th grader gets.

A Peek Into Their World

Posted on February 7, 2014 by simpleijustdo

Yesterday, we had an informal parent meeting with the teacher of The Boy’s program and the county autism specialist to check in, and give some feedback about the program so they can satisfy their grant requirements. Everyone was very pleased, and remarked at what a haven they have created for our boys, and how thankful we were for the program’s existence. The teacher then told us we could look at our kids’ binders where they keep their journal writing related to their social skills class. The Boy hasn’t done much of this because he is the only 6th grader in the program, and therefore doesn’t have much of a social skills class, but the other parents were like little children on Christmas, “Can we really look in their binders??” I watched as they read the entries, pointing out certain phrases to their spouses, all the while reading like they wanted to get to the end of the book before lights out. For parents who don’t often get verbal communication from our kiddos, this opportunity was an incredibly valuable peek into their world.

I’m so thankful for special education teachers who know what their doing, programs that provide what our kiddos need, and opportunities to connect with our boys, even indirectly.

Am I Less for Leaving?

Posted on January 23, 2014 by simpleijustdo

Many of my old teacher friends are scared and weary. They see what is happening to teaching and education and they don’t like it, but they are trapped. They have mortgages to pay and resumes that will not allow them to do anything else. They post links to blog posts and articles on facebook about how education has changed, how people don’t want to become teachers anymore, and how teachers don’t want to even remain teachers anymore.

Yesterday, one posted a link to an article on Monster – “5 Most Regretted Jobs,” and you guessed it – teaching was on the list. The article ended the lament about teaching with the quip, “It takes a remarkable human being to become a teacher but it takes a golden human being to stay one.”

Which leaves me to ask, “Am I less for leaving?”

Am I somehow not “golden” because I had an opportunity to leave that many others do not? Am I somehow selfish for taking the opportunity that many, many of my old friends would have taken in a heartbeat? Am I unremarkable because I took a stand and left a profession that I daresay would have killed me for all of the lying, cheating, disrespect, and injustice I endured and watched others endure, and if it had not killed me, would have most definitely killed my soul? Am I tarnished for taking a chance at a less stressful existence that would ultimately benefit my family?

I think you see where I’m headed with this. Teachers are phenomenal people, especially those who don’t get the monetary compensation necessary to support their own families. But no one has the right to look down on a person leaving teaching in these days and times. Many of us have left because we are taking a stand against the very dark underbelly of the system, and refuse to be the face of it, refuse to be a part of the machine, refuse to actually do harm to children by proxy.

I think all of my old teacher friends, both those who feel trapped and those who continue to fight the good fight (even if they’re not sure from day to day what that even means) are golden. I think those that have left the profession with souls beaten and bruised are no less golden. In a system that creates too many victims (if you think my word-choice is histrionic, you should hear some of my “war” stories), teachers and former teachers may indeed be the only people of value left.

Last Day: Looking Back

Posted on December 31, 2013 by simpleijustdo

I think it’s only normal for people to look back before starting something new, and New Year’s Eve is a logical opportunity to do so. It’s also important. One of the things teachers benefit most from but rarely have time to do is reflect on their daily teaching to analyze what worked and what needs to be tweaked. True in non-teacher lives, as well, I know. At the end of the day, thinking back on what was positive, and what we could have handled better helps us learn from our mistakes, and decreases the likelihood that we will repeat them.

This year, I moved house in a major way, got married, left my career, battled for better schooling for my son, wrote a novel, and got a new job which I love. I’ve left old friends behind (but never forgotten), and made new friends. My life has improved, sometimes by sheer will. I compromise more (a new husband and a blended family make this absolutely necessary), I don’t get nearly as many headaches, I relax (fully) more.

At the beginning of this year, I couldn’t see past June. It was a complete unknown – What would I be doing? What would my son be doing? How would our lives change? Now that I am six months past that point of all that was unknown, I am proud of us for taking this leap, trusting ourselves to get re-married, trusting that we could find a good school situation for The Boy, and trusting that I would land on my feet with a job I didn’t hate, making enough to pay the bills. I am very proud of us. It was a big leap of faith, and it has turned out beautifully.

2013 has been a year of great change, of great opportunity, of great hope, and of great reward for me (and us). I hope it treated you just as well. I look forward to 2014 with great anticipation for continued growth for all of us.

Happy Old Year, Friends. And Happy New Year.

First Day Report

Posted on November 26, 2013 by simpleijustdo

The Boy had a great first day. I received a note in his planner reporting on it, and an email from his new band teacher saying he did very well, and pointing out that we could work on the rests (and listen to recordings of the tunes on the band’s website).

Just like The Boy’s but his would never, ever be found on the ground like that!

This, THIS is what I’ve been looking for. The Boy had a communication log in elementary, and while I know that middle school is different, this communication about his day is essential to me if I want to know what’s going on. He did struggle in social studies today (of course!), and I’m not sure what that means yet, but we’ll figure it out and get him there.He was super excited to be at his new school, and to ride the van that is his transportation to and from school. He gets to go directly to Grammy and Poppy’s house after school, and everything in that arena worked just as it should. Longer rides, but he isn’t the only kid in the van, and The Boy seemed happy.

I’m happy.

I think this just might work.

My Bright Spot

Posted on November 22, 2013 by simpleijustdo

I mentioned I have a new tutoring student. She is in kindergarten and has developmental delays, both physical and otherwise. A petite little thing, I need to hold her hand to climb the stairs to the tutoring room where I work. She doesn’t often look me in the eyes unless I’ve told her she made a mistake or has a wrong answer, when she looks at me with eyebrow cocked, as if annoyed with me for not complying with her view of the way things are. She often repeats nursery rhymes and facts she’s heard about random things, word-for-word, in that way I know so well from my own son.

She has a tube of some sort – I haven’t asked – and doesn’t take much food orally, so I brought stickers today for working hard for me. She is whip smart, knows all of her letters, and their sounds, as well as many, many numbers. We’ve been working a bit on adding (up to 5), and clapping syllables. At some point today, she chose a sticker of a rhinoceros. “The rhinoceros, ‘rhino’ for short, has a horn on his nose,” she recites. “Rhinoceros!” I say, “How many syllables?”

“Rhi-no-cer-os!” she says with a clap for each syllable, as I toss a foam block onto the table for each clap. She smiles broadly as she sees the blocks splay out in front of her. She taps each block as she repeats each syllable, “Rhi-no-cer-os!” she says, victorious. “How many?” I ask. “One-two-three-four!” she replies, tapping each block again. “Four!” she exclaims, triumphant.

I am just as excited, happy that I am able to help her make a connection, giving her something concrete to hold on to while she tackles these abstract concepts. She makes my day. 🙂

New School Visit

Posted on November 18, 2013 by simpleijustdo

Today, The Boy and I go to visit his new school in the afternoon. I am picking him up for lunch so that he doesn’t have to go to social studies. We’ll have a special McDonald’s lunch and then head to the new school to see where his classes will be and meet some of his new teachers.

The Boy is extremely excited, and asks for a daily report about how long it will be before he goes to his new school. We got the phone call today from the company providing his transportation, as they thought he was starting tomorrow. I told them they could wait another week, but The Boy was excited to learn that he will be transported to and from school in a gold-colored Town and Country van. It will be a long trip for him, but he has missed riding this bus all these years, and was always so envious of his buddies who were “bussed” in from other districts at his old school, often in charter company cars like he will now be using. I think he will love it.

I hope he can contain himself at his current school for one more week. We got a note home from his social studies teacher on Thursday that he was “jumping out of his seat” during class, and I immediately thought, “because he’s happy he only has one more week in your class, lady!” I didn’t bother to respond.

My excitement is tempered with a bit of anxiety, as any mother’s would be. But I take heart in the fact that those who know him best on this planet agree with me that this will be a good switch for him, and that he can handle it. Judging by his excitement, I’m fairly certain he will prove us correct.

Thankful for a “Me” Day

Posted on November 13, 2013 by simpleijustdo

I’ve been busy lately. I’d like to say I’ve been busy working, and I have, but not busy making a paycheck. I’ve been busy making sure my son gets a decent education. I’ve been busy writing a novel for NaNoWriMo. I’ve been busy helping The Man on a couple of big jobs he’s lined up, because I can help him when he’s painting. I’m not a pro, but I can get the job done. I’ve been busy filling out applications, taking timed typing tests, and preparing for my tutoring students.

But at the end of the day, I’m still only making about $36 a week.

And, I’m neglecting to do what I’d really like and need to do. Yes, NaNoWriMo is a “me” thing, but it is demanding, squeezing every ounce of originality out of you, and even more so that sometimes what ends up on the page is a big messy mess. And it’s work. And I really need a new pair of shoes. No, I’m serious…

See? I told you. Not just a craving for some sassy pumps. A desperate plea for decent-looking foot apparel.

Today, I get a day for me. A “me” day, that I can actually spend as I choose. Of course, there are a few things I need to do, like call about a possible new tutoring student, and some laundry. And then there’s that big meeting this afternoon, leftover from last week that has a major impact on my son’s future… There’s that.

But until about 2:30, it’s all me, baby. 😉

Have You Tried Quizlet?

Posted on November 8, 2013 by simpleijustdo

Ever searching for ways to make homework easier on The Boy, slow processor that he is, a couple of years ago I came across Quizlet. Some general ed teacher-friends of mine swore by it as a way for their students to study whatever they wanted without wasting endless index cards on flashcards.

I first used it with The Boy for spelling. Computers naturally engage his interest, and in fourth grade, he would come home with 4 page spelling packets to complete. Overwhelming for any kid, an assignment like this would take my kid an entire week (and lots of wheeling and dealing on my part to bribe him to get it done). After using Quizlet to help him study the spelling words, I realized that he could test on those words right on the site. I contacted his special ed teacher who agreed that he could do that in place of those four-page packets, which were redundant for my little ace speller anyway. Why inflict multiple pages of work on a kid that could spell the words correctly after a session or two pf practice on this website? He would quiz on the words, and I would take a screenshot of his results and email it to his teachers.

It saved all of us a lot of unnecessary headache.

We are back to using Quizlet to study, but nor for spelling this time. For big bad social studies tests, with thirty-five or so facts to learn on the study guide. Last night, I searched the site for a set of cards about Egypt and Kush that had already been created by some other user, and I found quite a few sets (there are bound to be hundreds if not thousands of other schools using the very same textbook, right?). I kept the cards I wanted, deleted the ones that didn’t pertain to The Boy’s particular study guide, and typed in anything that was missing.

The Boy and I went through the flashcards, while I let him look at the study guide to answer the questions. He got three wrong, so we went back and corrected those three. Then we played a game where he had to match the correct phrases and terms, all laid out on the screen in a random format, and it was timed. We played five times so that he could try to beat his best time.

I bet The Boy didn’t even realize he was studying. It’s simple memorization, but that’s our goal with testing, right? And using a site like this that is web-based (and has an app!) and fun is one way to get my kid from point A to point B. If you haven’t tried it with your own children (or something you have to memorize!), you should. It’s another resource for those of us trying to handle the tide of homework.

Still Looking

Posted on October 30, 2013 by simpleijustdo

I usually post every weekday, but there was no post yesterday. I was in the middle of launching an etsy shop as well as attending an orientation for substitute teaching in a neighboring county. You see, I am still in need of a job.

Not a part-time, minimum wage job which doesn’t even pay for the gas to get there and back.

Not even a job that comes close to the salary and benefits I had as a teacher.

I need a job at which I can use some of the skills that I have, and have enough left in my paycheck to pay my bills. And one that isn’t 52 miles away (like the one for which I was offered an interview this week that I had to turn down).

Unfortunately, I haven’t found that job yet. And to be honest, it is wearing on me. It is unspeakably frustrating to have skills for hundreds of jobs, and not even get an email or phone call. So I have broken down, and enlisted in the “sub corps,” so called because the kids tend to treat you as sub-human. But I can’t make that kind of money in one day anywhere else, apparently. And my family has to eat.

Now I just have to see if I can get the health form filled out, which could be a challenge for a girl with no doctor and no health care… *sigh*