man oh man

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Home : 2002 : February : 12

man oh man
By pjm

Hi
Well, that is the problem with the duel certification isn't it? I always thought if I became a regular ed teacher they'd stack my room with the high needs kids and you've certainly proven that that's the truth. Now
since you know that I'm coming at this with a special ed perspective you may see me as biased....and maybe I am, who knows? But I think that you can relax with your high kids a bit....they'll get along just fine. Teach them some of your educational games and let them play them for a bit of each day. They'll still be learning. That will allow you to give those lower kids extra help....because

you know that they have a long ways to go to ever catch up with even your middles. I'd also use some of those highs to buddy up with the lows for reading. Another thought....which you'll probably hate (I know I would) but does your school stagger recess? Our school has a 10:30 recess and a 10:45 recess. You could send the higher kids out for the first recess and work on the lowers and then send them out and work with the uppers.....not an ideal situation to be sure but I am hearing you say I'm not meeting all the kids needs....and that you want to...just a suggestion.

It also sounds like maybe you need to take a couple of days and reteach your discipline plan with the class. If you truely are spending most of your day with discipline then it need revisiting. You won't be wasting time doing that since you aren't covering the academics anyway.

I wish your school could/would give you at least a part time aide. that sure would make your life easier. Do you have any reputable parent volunteers that you could call upon? Maybe they could help you correct papers or organize projects or art work or make copies? Do you have a local college near by? I have a student aide from the college who comes every Monday morning and stays until lunch. Often times these education majors need to put in so many volunteer hours to graduate. If you could get one you could have them tutoring the more needy kids. or better still design a special project for the high kids and leave you time for the kids who really need more of your time.

Good luck...I know you'll find a solution