Life Skill Lessons

So Monday was our first day back and as I walked in the front door the nurse stopped me to tell me my student who wears pull-ups now needs to be catheterized each day.

Problem 1: He is 8^th grade

Problem 2: IQ in the 80s so he is socially aware

Problem 3: No male aides

Problem 4: We are not medical personnel

Problem 5: Nurse is only on campus twice a week, so after 2 days we need to do this on our own

I thought that my paraprofessionals would have to do this no matter what. I found out that they can choose to be in charge of this job. If they choose to do it they will get a 7.5% raise.

Problem 6: Neither of my paraprofessionals will do it

Next option is to ask other paraprofessionals on campus. I said that I would be trained to do it and asked if I would get paid a stipend (just curious). I was told no but then I realized that if I am the one to do this it would be during my prep period and then according to our union I would be working during that time. So I think I have a case to get paid for my prep.

Problem 7: I am very squeamish and don’t know if I can do it, plus I leave campus every day by noon to do my district level job and this has to be done no earlier than 11:30 (so I wont always be able to do this every day I have to leave to get to meetings by noon)

Problem 8: no paraprofessionals in the severely handicapped classroom was willing to do this either

Now we need to ask the Mild/Moderate paraprofessionals to do it. I asked my coordinator what will happen if no one on campus is willing to do it.

Problem 9: they will swap out one of my paraprofessionals (who have been with me for 4 years) with one from another campus who is willing to do it (i.e. I will loose my aide)

Hopefully Monday will bring some good news that one of the M/M paraprofessionals is willing to do this and/or my stomach can handle the job (although I still don’t think I should be the primary person in charge of this but more of the back up).

What a way to start back to school!

As of last Monday, I am now a ½ time teacher. I spend the morning in my classroom with my students (class discussion/calendar and Language Arts). I then have a prep period during which my partner teacher comes. She will spend the morning working with 2 home school students. I then move on to the District Office.

Since it’s only been a week, I can’t say that I’ve done much. I had a few meetings and send out a surveymonkey questionnaire. Unfortunately, I have only had 21 staff respond to the survey. I’m hoping more will respond soon as it really would be great information for me to know what they feel they need from our IEP program in the way of training.

The position still has not been defined. Which is good and bad. The good is that I get to design the position, the bad is that without definition people/departments can try to pull me in all different ways.

I really want to use this time to help teachers get better at IEP writing, no matter if it’s this program or a different one. I am meeting with the Coordinators this Monday to ask them some questions and propose my BIG 4. These BIG 4 are done differently all around the District and I want to get one consistent answer from the Coordinators so that when I go to each site they all get the same answer. What a novel idea, everyone with the same information.

Last year, I proposed a split contract to the Special education director and the Technology director. I am the trainer for the special education web based IEP program. I had found that there has been a need for more training, small group assistance and all around IEP writing needs. They both loved the idea but with the budget crunch there was no money.

It seems that the need is still there and the Tech department is pushing for the position this year. They changed my proposal in that I would be teaching ½ day (mornings) and my partner teacher would come in the afternoon to take over so that I could leave for my special assignment.

I really love the idea of the proposal but am concerned about the daily split. When I thought I would be teaching all day 2 days one week and 3 days the next, I was ok with this but now that I only see them for ½ the day each day, I’m concerned.

Even though I wasn’t supposed to, I spoke with my paraprofessionals about the special assignments. I felt that if they did not think it would work then I wouldn’t take the position. I wanted to make sure that I was still looking out for my student’s best interest. They both thought I should take the position but one thought I’d have issues with relinquishing control of the classroom. I take my student’s progress personally and she was afraid that since I would not longer be teaching 3 periods, it would be hard to not micro-manage the other teacher for those positions.

I think it will be a personal growing experience to share my classroom and that since I am aware that I want to control the situation, that I’ll be able to conscientiously be ok with releasing control to another teacher (who should be excellent).

I want to take the position but still am nervous about the change.

Here is my attempt at my first FRISK model letter:

This notice intended to inform you that your performance has not been satisfactory and the following action is being taken:  Disciplinary Warning

On 9-11-08, during 4^th period math instruction the teacher reported that you have engaged in the following conduct:

While working 1:1 with a student who had gotten an answer wrong, you told him what the answer was. The teacher approached your table when you asked what you are to do next as there was still 20-30 minutes left in the period and the student had complete all of his math assignments (6 activities). The teacher questioned that you could complete all the assignments for that period as it had taken her the entire hour the day before to work on 3 activities. When looking over the paperwork later that day, she noticed that he had no errors on the page and that his numbering was perfect. Having worked with him the day before, the teacher mentioned that he is not accurate in counting or focusing when counting nor is his number writing legible independently. It was obvious that he was given answers and/or told what to write.

Performing this duty in this manner has no educational value for the students as they are to become as independent in their work as possible through guidance of the instructional personal in the room.

On 9-17-08, following a team meeting of room 3 staff and the assistant principal, while on the community based instruction outing to Target, the teacher, reported that you have engaged in the following conduct:

After group instruction of the concept of the outing, for the students to learn how to find specific items on a list at a “bargain” price and one on one instruction inside the store that “we are a visitor on the student’s journey through Target” and that you are to help guide them through questions as to the best way to find their items with specifics on how to do this, The teacher approached your group through out the event to find that only one student was doing the writing, that you were tell the students were to go next and where to find the item, and approx. 30 minutes in to the activity, found that your group had completed the search for the 10 items although the rest of the groups had found only 5-7 items in the entire hour activity.

Performing this duty in this manner has no educational or life skill value for the students, which is the intent of the weekly Community Based Instruction.

Also, on 9-19-08, at approx. 10:00 am At the Middle School, Room 3 you were reported by the teacher to have engaged in the following conduct:

After the teacher had instructed a student to throw his cup in the outside, big trash can, you yelled at him from across the room “Student’s Name, NO!” as it seemed he was going to throw it in the inside, little trash can.

This conduct negatively impacts the atmosphere in the classroom and has no value of instruction toward student learning and personal growth.

Effective immediately you are directed to correct these concerns. Failure to do so will result in warning letter and conference with human resources and administration.

To assist in correct this issue, I offer the following suggestions:

The teacher will be assigned a substitute in order to shadow you for the day so that you have been given clear instruction on how to do each part of your daily job.

Schedule a meeting with the teacher and me to discuss improving your understand of your role in the instruction setting.

This warning memo will not be placed in your personnel file. However, if the conduct recurs, it will be placed in your personnel file along with a warning letter.

I am so disappointed with a student that has been with me for 2 years already. I can’t believe that he let his pants get wet (he wears pull-ups) and then tried to go about his day without letting anyone know. I guess he asked to go to the bathroom at lunch time and the nurse (for one of my other students) noticed that his pants were already wet.

I plan to have a talk with him to let him know that this is not expectable. He is an 8th grader and he must walk around with a clean pull-up. The doctor does not want him in soiled pull-ups. They are there for bladder control not as an alternative to the restroom.  

To my paraprofessionals: I need all of your assistance with reminders that he is now a teenager and that he must act like one by keeping his hygiene and appearance up to standard.

This summer I wrote my paraprofessionals about this exact issue in one of my “thoughts of the day”. We shall not accept baby behaviors from him. He shall grow up this year. He shall be responsible and we shall hold him to much higher expectations.

I will not let him slip between the cracks. We need to make a special effort to push him in the right direction next (this) year. I think I let him “quietly” sit by and watch things happen. I think he could have accomplished a lot more if I had paid attention. I think having the Mild Handicapped teachers as his LA teacher will help as he will keep me informed as to what he’s doing. He has the potential. Please help me get it out of him.

This students has the potential to be in the Mild class for so much more if he self advocated and took responsibility for himself and his actions.

“I’m all for uniforms! In the Transition sense, many of our students will be wearing uniforms on the job. We talk about keeping them cleaned and ironed so as to present a job ready look when they arrive to work.” My professor of Career & Transition Education.

I’d love to have uniforms