Parent Teacher Conference

Every year as a special educator I hear from one of my parents, "I hate parent teacher conferences. Every time I come the teacher tells me how bad my child is and never says anything positive. I don't even know why I come." This disturbs me greatly. Now I am not saying special education students aren't hard because I know they are but I am saying don't they deserve positive feedback in their education? Imagine going somewhere everyday that you HATE and spending countless hours of the day being put down, yelled at or given work that is too difficult. Would you want to go back the next day? Well, some of these kids don't either.

Now I am not saying this is the majority because it's not, there are MANY teachers out there who get special education students and help them succeed but the minority that don't can make a student's and parent's life miserable. During this time of year as we begin to have parent teacher conferences please take a minute to come up with one positive thing for your special education student. Not only for them but for the parents that have to deal with having a disabled child 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

"Quote of the day"

One thing is for certain, when you work with children, you can always count on a good laugh. Today, I had two hilarious moments in class...

(1)
"Theo, how was the field trip yesterday?

"It was awesome! Have you ever seen the penguins at the aquarium?"

"No, are they cool?"

"I love them, when I get out of childhood I am going to get one as a pet."

(2)
"Here Bailey, would you like a Mike and Ike's"

"What is that?"

"Just a candy. They are good. Try one"

"...mmm. It is like a Party in my mouth"

The "Lightbulb"

During the day of teaching students with disabilities a teacher may not see the "lightbulb" go on. Today was an exception for me. I was teaching my 3rd graders different strategies they can use and a student told me he can't use his classmates strategy because that would be stealing. Of course I used this time to teach him it is not stealling but learning. Later during the class I hear the student tell another student, "That is called a strategy and you can use it if you want. It is not stealing it is LEARNING" I loved it. Sometimes you need these small "lightbulb" moments to make it as a teacher!

iPad for Learning

A couple of months ago I decided to buy an ipad hoping to get all my textbooks through the ibook application. (That way I wouldn't feel guilty spending the money.) Unfortunately, most textbooks are not availalbe, not even the technology textbook!

After a few weeks of depression and thinking it was a waste of money I decided to get it out and look at the applications available for education. WOW! I feel like I have discovered a small treasure. There are so many applications that correlate with my instruction in the classroom. I have been using it in my classroom and my students love it. Not only is it helping them to learn but they think it is the coolest thing ever which only helps engage them even more.

"Quote of the day"

One of the best parts of being a special educator is the funny quotes kids say. Today I had a student tell me that he was going on a cruise on the thirty oneth! I loved it.  Aren't kids so dang cute?

An Educational Blog?

So today I was instructed to begin an educational blog.  My question is what is an educational blog? A blog that gives strategies? A blog that reports the data collected each year? Or maybe just a blog about education in general? After hours of pondering? Okay, maybe only an hour or so I knew what kind of educational blog I wanted to create. I want to create an educational blog about special education. Now I don't mean a blog that is all heart-warming and will make you cry, well maybe on occasion, but I mean a blog that truly celebrates special education. Special education is NEVER dull and I intend to create this blog as a resource and inspiration to many. Let the blogging begin!