This has been a trying week and it's not over yet. I was sent the figures for next year's class size and I darn near had a stroke. My district wants to put 14 moderate/severe students in my room. Seven of those are Kindergartners. When I took this position, I was promised that 12 was the maximum. 12 is already too many in my opinion. My former district, had deemed a class like mine to have no more than 10 students maximum otherwise they'd have to open another class. The union actually had negotiated class size into the contract. Basically, they saw it as each special needs child being the equivalent of two to three gen ed students based on the serverity of the disability. So, a class of 10 SH students was the same as teaching 20 gen ed. Given that California has a classroom reduction act that follows grades K-3, 20 is the maximum for any classroom. In my interview for the district I work for at the moment, I was promised in the interview no more than 12 and that's part of the reason why I took the position. It was a huge issue for me. All of a sudden, some pencil-pushing administrator wants to save more money by overloading my classroom. As those of you who have come to know me through my blog probably have figured out that I did not take this news lying down. Oh no! I fired off an email which pretty much said in black-and-white that if my class wasn't down to 12, they would be looking for a new teacher next year. The lovely thing about being a highly qualified Special Ed teacher of the Moderate/Severe with an MA in the field is that I am in demand anywhere I go. I know this and so does my district.

               About an hour later, my boss shows up to tell me that the roster is just a draft and that she knows the class size is supposed to be 12. I tell her that quite frankly they have enough to field three classes of students. (K-2, 3-5 and 6-8) If they decide to go that way, I want the 3-5 class. However, I don't think they'll do that. I did make it very clear that I intended to hold them to their promise of 12 students max or I would not sign my contract for next year. I am not going to be worked to death, nor is my staff and my students are not going to be shortchanged by an administrator wanting to save a buck.  I'm here to teach not to warehouse my students. So, we'll see how this all plays out. I did find it a bit amusing that I have barely seen my boss all year long and suddenly she shows up an hour later after I said I would quit.

 

 

 

                        On a more cheerful note today, I need to update everyone on Old Tom's adventures. He first went from Cambridge, England to Hillsborough, New Jersey where he enjoyed putting his feet into the Atlantic Ocean, gambling a bit in Atantic City and going to see the Statue of Liberty. He then flew to Ottawa, Canada where he watched the Changing of the Guard in front of Parliment (which Miss B. thought was way cool) and was making maple syrup. He then flew back to New Mexico because he had such a good time there the first time and went hot air ballooning over Albuquerque. Old Tom is now currently hanging out at our embassy in Prague, Czech Republic taking in the sites of such a lovely city.

                        I wish I were small enough to fit into the suitcase with Old Tom because seeing his adventures is giving Miss. B. the travel bug again. By the way, with every postcard we are getting, the kids are actually remembering the places and geographical locations. Thanks everyone for your help!

 

 

 

                          With all the drama in my room, I'm thinking we could take the show on the road. Today during lunch recess Ricky and Isaiah were playing on some play equipment. Apparently, for whatever reason, Isaiah decided to grab Ricky by the ankle and he scratched him ever so slightly. Ricky, apparently taking his cue from all the football (soccer to those in the USA) players in the world, dove off the play equipment into the sand wailing as if Isaiah had cut off his ankle instead of scratching it. Mrs. Jackie ran over to see what had happened and got Ricky to calm down by suggesting that he take a walk. We have been working with him to go take a walk when he gets overly emotional in class. It helps to soothe him and allows him to collect himself so he can go on. Mrs. Jackie asked Ricky if he wanted anyone else to go on his walk with him and he asked for Janie and Gricelda. The two girls agreed to walk with Ricky and they started off across the playground. Mrs. Jackie watched them walk towards the drinking fountain and thought they were going to go get Ricky a drink of water. Instead they passed by the fountain and were heading towards the school office. Apparently they were on their way to register a complaint against Isaiah who spent the remainder of his recess in time out. Mrs. Jackie ran after Janie, Gri and Ricky and caught them before they made it to the office. Apparently the girls were outraged over Ricky's treatment. Mrs. Jackie kindly explained that she would tell Miss. B. what had happened and that I would take care of the situation. The trio started to walk back to the playground where they veered off towards the classroom to find me to lodge their complaint. Again, Mrs. Jackie had to intercept them and told them that she would tell me when we were inside and I would take care of things. She directed them back to the playground. 

 

              It was Miss. Carmen's turn to take over at recess and Mrs. Jackie came inside the classroom where she relayed the story of what happened to me. I, of course, found it very amusing and couldn't wait for the students to come in. I knew I was going to hear what happened plus be treated to a dramatic reinactment of the incident at hand. Sure enough, when recess was over, the kids all came into the classroom and melodrama began. Janie came up to me steamed that someone had injured her boyfriend. She whispered into my ear in her madeup gibberish the story and pointed her finger at Isaiah. Isaiah, meanwhile, was sitting in his chair with his shirt pulled over his face. I think he thought that if he did that, he would be invisible from the wrath of his classmates. It sort of reminded of my cats when they think they are invisible but their tail is hanging out from behind a chair. I then looked at Ricky and asked him if he was ok. He said he was. I asked him if he thought he was going to live and he said yes. I then asked if Isaiah had served his time out at recess to which everyone had said yes. I then said to my class that it the incident was over and they needed to drop it. Isaiah breathed a sigh of relief because he thought I was going to punish him more. I figured he already had enough punishment from his own classmates. The way they were going on though I didn't think they were going to let Isaiah live to see Spring Break.

 

 

                            In the past few days, I have quickly figured out why the new student is so frustrated. He's a third grader but is only reading on a first grade level. It took a reading coach doing an informal assessment on the kid to know this. This is what gets me. His teacher didn't bother to even assess him and he's been enrolled since Jan 17th. With the CA class reduction act, there are only 20 third graders to a class plus we have all kinds of speciality teachers and reading coaches that should have assessed this kid. It's evident from the level of work the teacher sent over that she has no clue what level he's functioning at as far as his skill are concerned. This is where my frustration sets in. I completely understand that most Gen Ed teachers are overwhelmed with all they have to do. However, I do think in this case, that what has happened is unacceptable. An informal inventory of reading skills and math skills can be done in a fairly quick manner. Why this wasn't done is beyond me. It wasn't until I asked for work to be sent for this child that things all of a sudden were done. It's no wonder this kid is acting out. He's frustrated because he doesn't have the skills to do the work the teacher is expecting of him. He needs to be put into the intervention class they have here for third grade to help him acquire the skills he needs. They say that class is full but I say they can add a chair if it keeps the kid from expulsion. We are letting this kid down if we'd rather kick him out of school for fighting than find a solution to keep him enrolled. We don't need another kid in the penal system. We have enough prisions in California brimming full of inmates that never learned how to read, write or do math. I shall continue my griping at my Prinicipal about this situation until I can get this kid into that class. We all talk about "No Child Left Behind". However, at this rate, this kid is already left behind in the dust.

 

                       On a more humorous note, Raymond has fallen for a girl in another classroom named Maritza and he's head over heels. He's kicked Gricelda to the curb. I guess he got tired of her not returning his affections and playing the field. Lorenzo and Raymond spent their recess chasing Maritza so you know this is serious. Lorenzo is Raymond's wingman. As I recall in grade school, when a guy chases you at recess , it's love.

 

 

                                  Today we received three postcards for Old Tom. His first journey took him to Hatch, New Mexico where he got to sample the fine cusine-especially the green chilies.  Old Tom then moved on  to Texas where he stayed in Dallas. He enjoyed seeing all the cattle, oil wells and an armadillo. Lorenzo surprised me in that he actually knew what an armadillo was and that it could roll into a ball when something attacked it. I think he's been watching the Discovery Channel. Old Tom then decided to go abroad to my favorite country of the United Kingdom. He is currently punting down the River Cam in Cambridge and hanging out at the famous university there. Lucky cat! I'm completely jealous of him at the moment. I hope to be joining him in the UK in late May or June. London is calling.

 

 

                         The kids have really been into this project now once the postcards have started to arrive. In the down time between activities, they all want to hang out at the map learning where various states are at and countries. They like to quiz me because I'm sort of a geography geek about finding various countries in the world. It's good see the enthusiasm they have picked up for geography and the immediate success they are having at recalling information and the location of various places. What is amazing is that they probably know now more than the average American about finding various states and countries. And here my boss (the school psychologist) keeps saying that my kids are "non-academic". Ouch....I think I just injured myself there rolling my eyes so hard.  If this is non-academic, then I wonder what she means by academic. Again, as I think I have said before, if you have expectations, they will rise to meet them.

 

 

* For those of you that have recently written to me giving me addresses, we mailed out Old Tom to you. He should be there to you shortly. Thanks again!

 

 

                         I'm so excited! Our first postcard for Old Tom arrived today. He's been in Sedona, Arizona playing among the stunningly beautiful red rocks there. Fortunately, I have been to Sedona and I have to say it ranks up there in my top ten favorite spots in the whole world. The kids were in complete awe of the postcard and now they will always remember where Arizona is on the map. That's one of the states we have been working on the last few days. Thanks Ruth!

 

 

        Day 1 passed with my newest addition. What an interesting case this child is. He sat and told me things today about his family and things he's witnessed that no nine year old should ever have to see. My Prinicipal is wrong when he thinks this child is not emotionally disturbed. It would be very hard not to be after some of the incidents he spoke of with me today. Of course, I'm ready to keep him the rest of the year if need be. I have such a soft spot sometimes. He and I had a chat today about why it's important to stay in school. He's had zero role models for that so I know I'm fighting an uphill battle. My students, bless them, took him in as if he had been their classmate all year. This is what I love so much about the population I teach. They accept everyone. I wish the reverse were the same for them.

          Now my new student is quite cute. Janie and Kim immediately did their best to flirt which I have to say appalled even me. Kim went so far as to claim the new student as her boyfriend and tried to muscle her way into the group where he and I were working. I said to her, "Sister, I know what you are up to. Go back to your own table and do your work. There will be time tomorrow to flirt". Kim knew I had her number because she got the biggest grin on her face after I said that to her.  

           My biggest challenge with my new student is to get him to try things and stick with them when they become a little difficult. He's looking for the easy way to do things and life very rarely presents those options. This is why his frustration level is high and it's a quick trigger to anger. I could see that in the few hours I spent with him. Why couldn't his own teacher figure that out? 

           I am very proud of my own students for learning to stick with something even when it is difficult to start off. They don't give up. They may cry, gripe, throw a tantrum, cuss me out in made up gibberish, or whatever else they can come up with. However, they know I'm not going to let them quit. Once they have a little success, then they see that all the work they have been doing is worth it. Their enthusiasm becomes contagious. The one thing I have learned from my mother who is an instructor of Early Chlidhood Education at our local community college here is that it is about the process and not the product. The product can come later. I truly believe that. Again, school has become so much about testing and assessment that the process gets ignored. To me that is sad because that is where real learning and education are.

 

 

                  My Prinicipal came to me this morning and asked me if I would take a student into my class that was about to be expelled. I could see he was really upset by the matter and that I was sort of the last resort before he had to do something that he did not want to do. The child is in third grade and is physically agressive. His way of dealing with things is to hit-especially teachers. I am not phased by this given the types of students I have had in the past. What I am concerned with is this kid going off on one of mine.  I do have extensive background training in behavior modification and I am trained to do a take-down and restraint if needed. The Prinicipal assures me that it won't come to that and that the child wouldn't touch one of mine.  I don't believe that but we shall see. If the child will go after an adult, he will go after a child. Somehow they think that putting him with me for a couple of hours a day will make him want to go back to his own class since he's in Gen Ed and the stigma of hanging out in here will be embarassing enough. Quite frankly, I think that approach sucks. For one, there shouldn't be stigma about my class anyway. Two, he might just learn how to be a peer tutor thus giving him the self-esteem he's lacking in his own classroom. Three, I might just save a kid that looks destined to be kicked out of school at the age of nine. I hope they ask me to sit in on the drafting of his functional behavioral plan when they write it. The child's background and home environment are already two strikes against this kid. I'd hate for the educational system to tell him he's not wanted either. Just when I thought everything was going fairly smooth, God has a way of sending me an new challenge.

 

 

        Today I have had my faith restored in the judical system. The couple in Ohio that had abused their 11 adopted special needs children has had their custody of their children revoked. How they were able to adopt eleven in the first place is beyond me but the mother did state in court that some of the information they put on the adoption papers was untrue. I hope now that they will find the parents guilty of neglect in the criminal case that is pending and they are barred from ever adopting another child whether they be special needs or not.

 

 

                     We celebrated St. Patrick's Day a little early here at my school because tomorrow is a 2 hour delayed start due to staff meetings which would leave us with not much time to do any projects. We joined the kindergarten classes rotating through various centers ranging from playing Bingo to graphing Lucky Charms. One of the highlights my kids were looking forward to was going on a leprechaun hunt. They honestly thought they were going to catch one. I tried to tell them that leprechauns are very fast and that they are very tricky. My students thought I was lying. So today one of our teachers had put up little green feet all over school and the kids had to go from foot to foot looking for the leprechaun. The kids were really into this. Once we got to the end of the building, the teacher had us wait as she looked around the corner pretending that the leprechaun was there. Now of course there is no leprechaun but the kids don't know that. Instead they find a rainbow with a pot of fake gold. Then there is a chair with a bottle of green koolaid sitting on it and a sign that says, "Do not drink. This is for the leprechaun". The kids are a bit puzzled by this. However, the teacher sits down and reads the sign to the students. Then she asks if she should drink the koolaid. The kids are all telling her no. She says , "Oh come on...just a little taste". The kids again say no. Then the teacher opens up the bottle and takes a little drink. She then pretends the juice had an affect on her by shaking in her chair. I did not realize she was going to do this. My poor student sitting there has a mother at home who is epileptic and has had a major seizure at school.  (In fact in my classroom) I could see his eyes get really big. Then the teacher stops thank god and acts like something is wrong with her foot. She takes off her shoe and sock to expose her foot which is painted green as if she is turning into a leprechaun. This totally catches me off guard and I burst into laughter. My kids, especially the one that is stressed out, laugh too and I breathe a sigh of relief. However, once we all got back to class, that is the only thing my kids can talk about. They see the teacher at lunch and say to me, "There she is Miss. B. . . .She's going to be a leprechaun". Now all my kids think green koolaid is evil.

 

 

 

                    Isaiah came into the classroom in a foul mood. He is the master of tantrums and attitude which I do not appreciate. Normally he knows I am not going to put up with his nonsense and so he's fairly good about not puling it in class anymore. Isaiah's father sheeplishly follows Isaiah into the classroom and says, " Isaiah may have a bit of an attitude this morning. He doesn't want to come to school anymore. He wants to go to work". I have to stiffle a laugh over this. I say to Isaiah, "Dude, if you are going to work, you have to know how to read and right now you don't. That's why you're here with me". Isaiah's dad laughed and quickly snuck out the door leaving me with his little monster. Isaiah pulls out his chair, flings himself in it and then loudly says to me in the best snotty voice I've heard in some time, "YOU DON"T TALK TO ME".  I stopped, raised my right eyebrow, looked intently at Isaiah and walked towards him. I then sat on the table next to him and calmly said, "You may speak to your mom that way and you may speak to your father that way. However, you are at school and when we are at school we have manners. That means we talk nice to each other, especially to Miss. B. who can make or break your day. Do we understand each other"? I feel like the Godfather at this point. Basically I just made Isaiah an offer he's not going to refuse. Isaiah says yes in sulky tone of voice but he knows he has crossed the line with me. Later on, I tell him I will employ him to go get the breakfast wagon if he needs a job. This brightens him up a little. I only hope he's not actually going to start expecting wages over this.

 

 

          I know I have been away for a bit due to outside things keeping me away from blogging. Let me see if I can catch everyone up on what has been going on....

 

* A nasty virus has invaded Room 1 and I've had kids out left and right for the past two weeks. Two of my students have had to go to the emergency room for treament for being so ill. This has not made for many good stories.

 

* It rained the entire week last week so we were all stuck inside together with no recess time for five days. Again..doesn't make for good stories. However, we did have an outside chance for snow and the kids were ticked off when it didn't happen.

 

* I have been helping my parents out with dealing with my overly dramatic Italian grandmother who decided that she is tired of doing things for herself (even though she's perfectly able) and just wants to be waited on hand and foot. (She actually said this to me) I've spent a good month going over after school and making her dinner and whatnot. I have come to the point now of treating her much I like I treat my students and making her do the things she can do for herself.

 

* It looked like for a minute that my cat Petey, who is 17, might have to be put to sleep due to kidney failure. Somehow once he got to the vet, he rallied and the vet has proclaimed him well. She said, "He's in good shape for a cat that age". Then I wanted to kill him..lol.

 

* I took care of a bloody nose and did minor surgery on a splinter yesterday. Now all my kids think I'm a doctor as well. We made ladybugs and worked on our dragonflies today.

 

*Ricky has been on a rant now for the past four days. It started last Thursday and has gone on through today. (I guess he took Saturday and Sunday off) He has not stopped talking. I've been hiding out in my classrom during lunch away from the other teachers because I just cannot take anyone else talking to me. Lunch is the only time for peace. Today, Ricky kept coming up to me and putting his hand on my forehead and saying, "Miss. B. has a headache and her brain is going to explode". I kindly said, "Yes, it is...I need 5 minutes of peace". That was good for 30 seconds. He must have put his hand on my head at least 30 times today. Finally he put his hand on my head again and said, "Miss. B's brain is going to explode....uh oh....too late". That of course made me laugh.

 

AND FINALLY.....We have had Two Old Tom sightings Today.......Old Tom arrived in Schenectady, New York where he is going snowboarding on Friday. My kids thought that was totally cool especially since they got to see snowboarding in the Olympics. Then we had a sighting of Old Tom in Blissfield, Michigan hanging out with 7th graders at Blissfield Middle School. That cat sure knows how to get around! I still have time to send out Old Tom to anyone who might want to have him come visit you. Just email me at theshortbusqueen@yahoo.com

 

Hopefully now I will be blogging on a more regular basis...sheesh....Life eh!

 

 

 

                            It was a quiet day at school given the fact that it rained from the moment we got there until the moment we left. Nothing like being trapped inside all day with the kids. They were pretty good for the most part I must admit. The weather here has been so crazy. This is the warmest winter I can ever remember and we finally have snow in the mountains which is visible.

                           The story I am blogging has nothing to do with school but the whole spider issue with me. As those of you who read me know I have a thing about spiders. I just don't like them. Tonight in the middle of the rainstorm I go to my mailbox to see if I have any mail. All of a sudden I see a spider. This is not just any old spider either. It's a freakin huge black widow spider making its way down the silk that is it spinning towards the ground. The spider is sort of swinging there back and forth in the breeze. I think to myself that if I had come to my mailbox a minute earlier, the spider would have been on me instead of the ground! This idea does not sit well with me at all. I wait very still until the spider has hit the ground. Then I decrease the spider population here by one and send the spider on to its next karmic incarnation. I'm sure the spider wanted to come in out of the rain but once again, I pay rent here and it doesn't. Argghhhhhhhhh!

 

 

                          End of the quarter here and I actually had to do some real work as far as three year testing, report writing, progress reports and things like that. That has kept me away from being able to blog. I am actually in shock over the fact that nearly every single one of my students have met their goals. It's unusual to see so much growth in a short amount of time in a moderate/severe setting. Usually it takes much longer if at all. I think this growth is due to the fact that I have pushed my kids to do things for themselves. Sometimes this makes me unpopular but it has made them expand their capabilities. My dream is for my students to leave me to go on someday and led independent or semi-independent lives. They can't do that if everyone is always doing things for them that they can do. One of my fantasties is that someday I'll walk into a store or a restaurant and there is one of my former students working and holding down a job ..... 

                        Mrs. Patty came in today and showed off her new baby. The kids loved the baby and so did I. I got a chance to hold her and I almost wanted one myself. Mrs.Patty is returning in two weeks and i can't wait to have her back.......

                      For everyone that send in Old Tom addresses, the mailings went out today so you should see something in the mail very soon. For anyone else that would like to help us out, please email me at : theshortbusqueen@yahoo.com

                     I'll be back to blogging the crazy stories next week once the administrative dust settles here.