I just had to vent, and see if anyone else has had the same experience.
The regular ed teachers on my campus (okay, just a few) do not seem to understand the dynamics and pressure in special education.
For example, on our campus, if the 3rd grade teachers are giving a Reading Benchmark, we (special ed.) teachers, “babysit” resource students until the 3rd grade teachers are finished giving the test. So, I set up centers and provide reading activities all day for ADHD, ADD, LD, and ED students, 10 to a class. THe testing takes all day long and sometimes the teachers do not let us know when they are finished.
What really got me was Valentine’s Day. The students had a half day due to inservice for teachers in the afternoon. In the past, due to scheduling nightmares, the students stayed with their regular ed teachers during this time and special ed teachers caught up on special ed paperwork. Well, I had students coming to my room anyway. I walked them back to their class reminding the regular ed teachers that I was not holding class that day, as usual on a half day of school. I had 2 teachers that asked “Why are you not having classes? Everyone else is.” I explained that this was the day that the principal gave to special ed teachers to catch up on paperwork. ARD scheduling, IEP preparation, IEP evaluating, modification distribution, invitation to ARD distribution, filing paperwork etc.
The regular ed teachers that I’m speaking of got really mad when I brought the resource students back.
I WANT the students to enjoy the homeroom atmosphere, especially when they are doing something fun together (ie Valentine party)
I have shown Rick Lavoie’s “FAT City” to the staff. A real eye opener for some teachers, and others couldn’t care less.
Like I said, this is only a handful of teachers that don’t understand special ed teachers or students.
But because of the pressure of paperwork and the attitude of regular ed teachers and that my classes get bigger and bigger (there is no cap on how many students can be in a resource room in TX) I am trying to transfer to a regular ed position. I will NEVER treat special ed students or teachers the way some of our teachers treat us and these students.
Thank you for letting me vent,
AMY
Re: regular ed teachers
I can relate. Just today I posted a sign up in the lounge asking if any teachers needed a tutor or room organizer for a kiddo with low self esteem. I overheard her say, “oh my gosh, what the heck is she thinking, shouldn’t she be teaching academics?, oh special ed….”
Well, this child just got out of a one month intensive program out of the home. Her parents call her ugly and stupid, dad is a jerk, 3rd generation sped. This girl hates herself and constantly puts herself down. She has done great in my room all morning on academics. She loves to help in any way and enjoys the attention. She organized my room beautifully and when she went into treatment wrote to me asking what my room looked like without her there to help.. She feels so important to be my helper.I make sure I have a mess for her.
She has run away from home yada yada yada. SHe is getting straight F’s in general ed. She needs a purpose. She was so excited when I told her another teacher “needed” her asiistance. She beams when I brag about how great she can organize. Believe me…she may have missed 30 minutes of social studies that she can not read and barely pays attention to in reg. ed. The fact that someone valued her today speaks volumes. I work my kids hard to stay on task…..but sometimes there’s more to education than just work.
People shouldn’t be so judgmental. So I understand and thanks for letting me vent too.
Michelle
Sorry to hear it. I have to say this is a very typical elementary school environment. At upper levels the teachers seem a bit more mature too! My most vivid memories of elem staff lounge lunches are hearing “Its not fair….” over and over.
If they treat identified sped students this way -imagine how they treat the unidentified spec needs kids!!
Vent on