When students hurt their teacher

It's no secret. I work in special education and, at times, it involves working with non-verbal students. Non-verbal students are a challenge when they become frustrated or mad. They can't speak for what they want. They can't just tell me how they feel. They can't use the voice they don't have. So, sometimes, they act out or pinch until the pinch breaks skin.

Yesterday, I worked with a non-verbal high school student. Actually, I worked with six. Only one broke my skin though. The teachers and I were trying to get him to lunch and he sat in the middle of the hall. I tried to help him up and he grabbed my fingers, dug his fingernails in, and broke my skin a few times. Ow, ow, and more ow. 

I bled and got the message that he wasn't moving.

It was hard, though, as he should have been able to speak but he can't. While he knew that it wasn't okay to hurt me, this was his way of communicating and it just broke my heart.

My students all have their issues but it's hard to watch them struggle and hurt me to get their point across. I'm not defending his actions, however, I am understanding that voice can be more than spoken words. Those without a speaking voice can use actions to get their point across. 

A student's loss with tears

It breaks your heart. Seeing a student struggle this week broke my heart. My student's mother died over Spring break and I have no words to describe how heartbreaking that is. He came back to school on Monday and the week got worse and worse as time went on. He did okay on Monday and Tuesday but reality set in Wednesday and his behavior went down hill the rest of the week.

Who can blame him?

A first grader losing his mom unexpectedly sucks. Pure and simple. My heart aches for him, his siblings, and his family. He is so sad and I just want to cry with him.

While I don't condone his acting out, I do know that it's normal. Comforting him with a hug and embracing him is the only way I know how. Praying, by myself, is the only other resort I can give right now.

I don't know the details.

All I know is a first grader lost his mother last week and he is devastated.

Student Teaching: week 15

This week, I'm doing a high & low of each day. It had been crazy and I have not had that much spare time. 

Monday: High-working with a student & seeing her get how to use a 100s chart to add/subtract. Low-Watching a student become so angry, so fast, and him throwing anything he could get his hands on. He was suspended later that day for another issue. 

Tuesday: High-No chairs thrown. ;) Just kidding! Being able to take over a lesson without notice & my second graders telling me I did a great job. Low-Sitting through a 3 hour class after a fun yet difficult day. I survived. :)

Wednesday: High-having a student read their first book to me. It was amazing! Low-having to walk a student down to the office since he stole from the teacher. 

Thursday: High-Teaching a lesson on Hawaii and having the students respond to it. They were excited so i was excited. Low-Sitting through a meeting, with a parent, who tells me their student is stupid. It took me a lot of effort to bite my tongue. 

Friday: High-working 2:1 with students and how to remember the months of the year. It was precious how they could say a event per month. Made me smile. :) Low-Having a student drip the F-bomb more than five times also with tearing up his assignment. He's in a week of RAC (alt school). He has so much anger. It's quite scary. He is the same child from Monday. 

What a week! My last week of student teaching is next week & it's bitter sweet! 

The excuse department is closed...

I don't know about you, but I do not accept excuses very well at all. Good excuses are one thing...like a kiddo being sick, a family event you must attend, or your sick.

BUT bad excuses or the majority of what I hear in college is pathetic and I do not deal with them well. For instance, when you say you don't have time to come to a meeting since you want to sleep...I have NO sympathy! So get over it! I am taking WAY more hrs than you, tutoring, am in a service organization, the Managing Ed for our paper, am in Student Congress, and trying to have a wee bit of a life...all you can do is come to one meeting per week. It is the SAME time EVERY week and you know that.

Secondly...please do not try to tell me that your deathly ill with a virus when I saw you TWO HOURS AGO. It ain't gonna fly sweet guy!

Thirdly...get a darn planner or write your assignments down or put them in your phone or something. Sure the occasional slip up may be considered, but one every other day drives me up the wall and one day someone will hear about it!

So...if you don't already know...the excuse department is CLOSED for the evening!

That lightbulb that goes off

If you don't know...I tutor kiddos/college students on a weekly basis. Sometimes I ask myself why I tutor and usually answer my own question. Well tonight, I saw that light bulb go off in TWO students today and I could not be prouder. The first light bulb went off in a student who I have been working with for two years and it was amazing. The second was unexpected and taught me a valuable lesson. Take what you can get. Seriously. I never knew that someone would be so grateful and appreciative for my help. Now I know I am on the right career track and deserve to become a teacher. I love watching the light bulbs go off and seeing that "ah-ha" moment every time.

Sweet Dreams