Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Random Conversations RE: My Face
"Ms. Vinson I'm really glad that zit on your chin finally cleared up. It was really bothering me." -Desmond
Monday, March 14, 2011
Something Else That Makes No Damn Sense
There's a student named Asia.
She's super smart and has a severe emotional disorder. Before this school year, nothing was done to address her emotional problems. Her brother is in the Emotional Disorders program at our school. (Those classrooms have like 8-10 kids, they have one-on-one aides, and the teachers and staff have permission to physically restrain students who are a danger to themselves or others. They also have a "time-out" room.)
Our team referred Asia for this program earlier in the school year. She was able to maintain in the classroom about 60% of the time, but that other 40% she was running around tearing down bulletin boards or stealing people's work and ripping it up. Apparently she ran outside one day and tried to get into someone's car (someone who was sitting outside waiting to pick up a child.)
In November, she had an altercation with Ms. P (the one who's out on administrative leave...because of this incident.) After that, she started spiraling downhill. She stopped doing work, she was skipping class and getting in fights with other students. At one point, I saw her running down the hallway and banging her own head against the wall.
At the meeting we had to begin the process of getting her the help she needs, I turned in 20 pages of notes on her behavior. Two days before the meeting, she--completely unprovoked--attacked a teacher (who she didn't even know) in the hallway and followed that teacher down the hall and into the office and attacked her again in the office, hitting her with the notebook the teacher had been carrying earlier.
Asia was given a 45 day suspension for that incident. During her suspension, she has attempted suicide, she has run away from home more than once, she has broken her leg trying to jump out of her bedroom window to run away and she has been institutionalized for about 10 days. Her father has basically given up on her to the point that when she runs away he waits a few days to start looking for her. (She's 11 years old, by the way.)
Asia's 45 day suspension is over this Friday. She is expected to return to our school on Monday March 21.
Here's where the no sense making part starts. Asia will not be placed into the E.D. program yet. She has to be placed into the Special Education classes first. (Special Education is for those who have disabilities keeping them from working on the grade level of their peers; Asia's abilities are far above her peers.) She has to be observed by teachers, staff members and someone from Central Office in the Special Education classroom before she will be allowed to move to E.D.
At her meeting today (which she and her father were invited to, but did not attend) we pleaded with the Special Ed Office to immediately place her in the E.D. program. The Special Education classes are only TWO DOORS away from all of her former classmates and friends. She will see them in the hallway, and she will be embarrassed. I think Asia knows that she needs help, but let's face it, no one wants their friends to think badly of them and I'm worried she will act out just because they are there.
The Special Education teacher put it best when he said that the whole situation is a Catch-22. If Asia acts crazy and hurts herself or someone else, she will be allowed to get the help she needs. But if she acts fine while she's being observed, then she will be stuck in a Special Education class that she does not belong in.
This is my main problem with the whole thing. If Asia went to the mental hospital and has been DIAGNOSED WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS, she has PHYSICALLY ATTACKED two teachers and numerous classmates, WHY WHY WHY does there have to be one more week of pointless observation before she can be placed in a classroom for children with emotional problems? Why wasn't all that other stuff enough?!
This is the kind of stuff I can't handle. Blatantly ruining kids lives for no damn reason.
She's super smart and has a severe emotional disorder. Before this school year, nothing was done to address her emotional problems. Her brother is in the Emotional Disorders program at our school. (Those classrooms have like 8-10 kids, they have one-on-one aides, and the teachers and staff have permission to physically restrain students who are a danger to themselves or others. They also have a "time-out" room.)
Our team referred Asia for this program earlier in the school year. She was able to maintain in the classroom about 60% of the time, but that other 40% she was running around tearing down bulletin boards or stealing people's work and ripping it up. Apparently she ran outside one day and tried to get into someone's car (someone who was sitting outside waiting to pick up a child.)
In November, she had an altercation with Ms. P (the one who's out on administrative leave...because of this incident.) After that, she started spiraling downhill. She stopped doing work, she was skipping class and getting in fights with other students. At one point, I saw her running down the hallway and banging her own head against the wall.
At the meeting we had to begin the process of getting her the help she needs, I turned in 20 pages of notes on her behavior. Two days before the meeting, she--completely unprovoked--attacked a teacher (who she didn't even know) in the hallway and followed that teacher down the hall and into the office and attacked her again in the office, hitting her with the notebook the teacher had been carrying earlier.
Asia was given a 45 day suspension for that incident. During her suspension, she has attempted suicide, she has run away from home more than once, she has broken her leg trying to jump out of her bedroom window to run away and she has been institutionalized for about 10 days. Her father has basically given up on her to the point that when she runs away he waits a few days to start looking for her. (She's 11 years old, by the way.)
Asia's 45 day suspension is over this Friday. She is expected to return to our school on Monday March 21.
Here's where the no sense making part starts. Asia will not be placed into the E.D. program yet. She has to be placed into the Special Education classes first. (Special Education is for those who have disabilities keeping them from working on the grade level of their peers; Asia's abilities are far above her peers.) She has to be observed by teachers, staff members and someone from Central Office in the Special Education classroom before she will be allowed to move to E.D.
At her meeting today (which she and her father were invited to, but did not attend) we pleaded with the Special Ed Office to immediately place her in the E.D. program. The Special Education classes are only TWO DOORS away from all of her former classmates and friends. She will see them in the hallway, and she will be embarrassed. I think Asia knows that she needs help, but let's face it, no one wants their friends to think badly of them and I'm worried she will act out just because they are there.
The Special Education teacher put it best when he said that the whole situation is a Catch-22. If Asia acts crazy and hurts herself or someone else, she will be allowed to get the help she needs. But if she acts fine while she's being observed, then she will be stuck in a Special Education class that she does not belong in.
This is my main problem with the whole thing. If Asia went to the mental hospital and has been DIAGNOSED WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS, she has PHYSICALLY ATTACKED two teachers and numerous classmates, WHY WHY WHY does there have to be one more week of pointless observation before she can be placed in a classroom for children with emotional problems? Why wasn't all that other stuff enough?!
This is the kind of stuff I can't handle. Blatantly ruining kids lives for no damn reason.
Friday, March 11, 2011
I'm Just Special
Last week, this kid named Corey decided he wanted to be in a different class. So he just started showing up to this new class. Apparently, I'm the only teacher who was not okay with this.
Administrator brings him to me last period because Corey said that was his class. I tell administrator that Corey is NOT in that class, he is in my second period...and I had written at cut slip for him during 2nd period.
This happens Wednesday AND Thursday.
On Friday, Administrator tries to bring Corey to me AGAIN during last period. "Miss Vinson, just take him, he's already been to all his other classes."
NO. NO I WILL NOT TAKE HIM. An 11 year old does not get to make my decisions for me. He is in my 2nd period. I will teach him during 2nd period unless you change his schedule.
He leaves and take Corey to the computer lab for the remainder of the period.
I'm sorry, but I just don't get letting a kid do whatever they want just because you don't feel like arguing with them. And I don't pick every battle with a child (Good Lord, there aren't enough hours in the day) but the battles I do pick, I AM GOING TO WIN THEM.
This past Monday, Administrator says we need to talk. He takes me into the conference room and says, "In all my years of teaching, I would have NEVER thought to raise my voice to an administrator and I cannot BELIEVE you did such a thing."
I told him that I was sorry he was upset, but I would not apologize and I would do it again if it came down to it. He said we should be able to talk about things out of range of the kids and without raising our voice.
Which, I agree with...HOWEVER. This was the THIRD day we'd had the exact same conversation ("Miss Vinson you can't expect me to remember everything.") And he's the one who forced his hand by standing in the doorway of the classroom and announcing that I needed to take Corey into my room.
I told him that I have to show up in this building and survive everyday and the only thing I have is my authority. And if he tries to strip that away, we are going to have some problems.
We decided to agree to disagree. And since then, he has come into my room and told me that he needs a copy of my curriculum to make sure I'm teaching what I'm supposed to be teaching. Apparently, they are suspiciously well-behaved for me and he thinks I'm just making shit up to keep them entertained.
Administrator brings him to me last period because Corey said that was his class. I tell administrator that Corey is NOT in that class, he is in my second period...and I had written at cut slip for him during 2nd period.
This happens Wednesday AND Thursday.
On Friday, Administrator tries to bring Corey to me AGAIN during last period. "Miss Vinson, just take him, he's already been to all his other classes."
NO. NO I WILL NOT TAKE HIM. An 11 year old does not get to make my decisions for me. He is in my 2nd period. I will teach him during 2nd period unless you change his schedule.
He leaves and take Corey to the computer lab for the remainder of the period.
I'm sorry, but I just don't get letting a kid do whatever they want just because you don't feel like arguing with them. And I don't pick every battle with a child (Good Lord, there aren't enough hours in the day) but the battles I do pick, I AM GOING TO WIN THEM.
This past Monday, Administrator says we need to talk. He takes me into the conference room and says, "In all my years of teaching, I would have NEVER thought to raise my voice to an administrator and I cannot BELIEVE you did such a thing."
I told him that I was sorry he was upset, but I would not apologize and I would do it again if it came down to it. He said we should be able to talk about things out of range of the kids and without raising our voice.
Which, I agree with...HOWEVER. This was the THIRD day we'd had the exact same conversation ("Miss Vinson you can't expect me to remember everything.") And he's the one who forced his hand by standing in the doorway of the classroom and announcing that I needed to take Corey into my room.
I told him that I have to show up in this building and survive everyday and the only thing I have is my authority. And if he tries to strip that away, we are going to have some problems.
We decided to agree to disagree. And since then, he has come into my room and told me that he needs a copy of my curriculum to make sure I'm teaching what I'm supposed to be teaching. Apparently, they are suspiciously well-behaved for me and he thinks I'm just making shit up to keep them entertained.
Idaho Started It.
Me: What two states touch ZERO other states?
Latifah: What?! They all touch each other!
Damon: EEEEEWWWWWWWWW
Latifah: What?! They all touch each other!
Damon: EEEEEWWWWWWWWW
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Funny or Sad?
Pretty sure most of the kids at my school don't know what at least 4 of those words are.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Miss Vinson and Damontae Go On Vacation
This kid, Damontae came into my room the other day. He thinks he's getting expelled because someone threw a book at their Language Arts teacher and the class said he did it.
I have lots of pictures of former students on the wall, and he came to tell me that I needed a picture of him before he left. So I opened up PhotoBooth on my computer and ended up laughing for like half an hour.
First,we took a regular picture:
Then, we rode a rollercoaster:
THEN, we went to the beach. Be jealous!
We stopped by a waterfall...
Finally, I THOUGHT we were going to an aquarium...
"Why are we holding our noses, does it stink here?"
"NO WE ARE UNDERWATER, DUH!!!!"
At this point, Dashawn comes in and is super upset that we went on vacation without him. So we took him to the ocean. And Damontae became a shark.
I have lots of pictures of former students on the wall, and he came to tell me that I needed a picture of him before he left. So I opened up PhotoBooth on my computer and ended up laughing for like half an hour.
First,we took a regular picture:
Then, we rode a rollercoaster:
THEN, we went to the beach. Be jealous!
We stopped by a waterfall...
Finally, I THOUGHT we were going to an aquarium...
"Why are we holding our noses, does it stink here?"
"NO WE ARE UNDERWATER, DUH!!!!"
At this point, Dashawn comes in and is super upset that we went on vacation without him. So we took him to the ocean. And Damontae became a shark.
The Most Depressing Conversation I Had All Week
"Ugh, Miss Vinson, just because you say he can't read doesn't mean he automatically gets put back in special ed."
"Well, then what am I supposed to do?"
"You need to document all the ways you tried to accomodate his needs to prove that you were doing your job."
"His accomodations say: 'extended time, frequent breaks and reduced distractions.' Even if he gets all those, he still only reads 3 letter words. I don't know how to teach someone to read, and I don't know how to assess someone who can't read or write. Isn't it insulting that to you, a special educator, who has a degree in special education, that everyone just expects me to wake up one day, with no training, and know how to teach special education students?"
"Miss Vinson, I agree that he should be back in special ed, but it can't just happen all of a sudden."
"He was taken OUT of special ed 'all of a sudden.'"
"I don't have time for this."
"Well, then what am I supposed to do?"
"You need to document all the ways you tried to accomodate his needs to prove that you were doing your job."
"His accomodations say: 'extended time, frequent breaks and reduced distractions.' Even if he gets all those, he still only reads 3 letter words. I don't know how to teach someone to read, and I don't know how to assess someone who can't read or write. Isn't it insulting that to you, a special educator, who has a degree in special education, that everyone just expects me to wake up one day, with no training, and know how to teach special education students?"
"Miss Vinson, I agree that he should be back in special ed, but it can't just happen all of a sudden."
"He was taken OUT of special ed 'all of a sudden.'"
"I don't have time for this."
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Things That Are Stupid
Hey kids.
Sorry I've been such a horrible blogger lately. It's not because that woman in wherever got in trouble for blogging about her lazy, whiny students being "lazy whiners." I just always think of good things to blog when I'm not around the computer and then when I sit down at the computer, I end up drowning in facebook or looking up dream apartments in NYC.
Things are weird at school right now. I haven't gotten frustrated with children in almost 6 weeks. Of course, sometimes I have to raise my voice and I've threatened to TEAR OFF YOUR EARS AND STORE THEM A JAR THAT I WILL KEEP ON A SHELF AT MY HOUSE but I'm not actually having bad days.
On Friday, at 8:50a.m., the two hall monitors come into my room. (First period is over at 9:05.) They say that because yesterday some kids broke into the cafeteria and ruined all the science fair projects the whole first floor is on "lockdown" for the entire day. What does lockdown mean? Lockdown apparently means that I have to load all my shit on a cart and roll it from classroom to classroom and teach each class in their homeroom.
Obviously, it was not important to inform teachers of this BEFORE five minutes before we were supposed to do it. And also, apparently less obviously, THAT PUNISHES NO ONE BUT THE TEACHERS. So, of course, I had to spend the next 15 minutes threatening the lives of anybody who was going to decide to trash my room.
See, I'm living in a twilight zone right now where I'm not stressed about work and the kids are the best behaved I've had in years, but the whole rest of my team is having Worst Year Ever. The Math teacher cried the other day and said they make her feel like it's her first year (she's been teaching for 14 years), the new Language Arts teacher has been around for a week, she came from a high school and so far has had a textbook AND a desk thrown at her. So, I had to go into these out of control rooms and "teach" while they went into my room. It ended up being not so bad...but still. I was annoyed.
Also, the 6th grade administrator keeps telling me I need to "help my colleagues get it together." I'm sorry, what? How am I supposed to tell people who've been teaching longer than me what to do? Also, pretty sure that is YOUR JOB, MR. ADMINISTRATOR. I'm glad they are paying you six figures to walk around and look exasperated all the time.
Sorry I've been such a horrible blogger lately. It's not because that woman in wherever got in trouble for blogging about her lazy, whiny students being "lazy whiners." I just always think of good things to blog when I'm not around the computer and then when I sit down at the computer, I end up drowning in facebook or looking up dream apartments in NYC.
Things are weird at school right now. I haven't gotten frustrated with children in almost 6 weeks. Of course, sometimes I have to raise my voice and I've threatened to TEAR OFF YOUR EARS AND STORE THEM A JAR THAT I WILL KEEP ON A SHELF AT MY HOUSE but I'm not actually having bad days.
On Friday, at 8:50a.m., the two hall monitors come into my room. (First period is over at 9:05.) They say that because yesterday some kids broke into the cafeteria and ruined all the science fair projects the whole first floor is on "lockdown" for the entire day. What does lockdown mean? Lockdown apparently means that I have to load all my shit on a cart and roll it from classroom to classroom and teach each class in their homeroom.
Obviously, it was not important to inform teachers of this BEFORE five minutes before we were supposed to do it. And also, apparently less obviously, THAT PUNISHES NO ONE BUT THE TEACHERS. So, of course, I had to spend the next 15 minutes threatening the lives of anybody who was going to decide to trash my room.
See, I'm living in a twilight zone right now where I'm not stressed about work and the kids are the best behaved I've had in years, but the whole rest of my team is having Worst Year Ever. The Math teacher cried the other day and said they make her feel like it's her first year (she's been teaching for 14 years), the new Language Arts teacher has been around for a week, she came from a high school and so far has had a textbook AND a desk thrown at her. So, I had to go into these out of control rooms and "teach" while they went into my room. It ended up being not so bad...but still. I was annoyed.
Also, the 6th grade administrator keeps telling me I need to "help my colleagues get it together." I'm sorry, what? How am I supposed to tell people who've been teaching longer than me what to do? Also, pretty sure that is YOUR JOB, MR. ADMINISTRATOR. I'm glad they are paying you six figures to walk around and look exasperated all the time.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Things That Piss Me Off, Part 2,332,768,956,567
When a kid comes back from a 5 day suspension with brand new shoes, khakis and an $80 Ralph Lauren Polo shirt.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Climate Surveys
I got yelled at by administrators. To be fair, I started it...but it was weird. It has been awhile since I've stood in the hallway yelling at an adult.
Every year, the school system asks us to complete Climate Surveys. The teachers, parents and students all fill them out. All the information gets reported to the central office. It's one of those Strongly Agree/Strongly Disagree surveys with questions like, "I feel safe at my school" and "Misbehaving students get away with it."
These things used to just get passed out and returned to the school for the school to turn in...which is clearly asking for inaccurate results. So, now, teachers can complete theirs online and parents can send theirs directly to the central office. The student one, however, still is filled out at school and returned to the main office.
Last period is from 1:30-2:35. At 2:10, a student showed up to my room with a stack of surveys and said the students had to complete them before the end of the day. Being right by the office, I walked over and told an Assistant Principal that we would have to complete ours tomorrow...as we were already in the middle of a lesson and it wouldn't really work out to stop right then.
JUST DO WHAT I SAY. MAKE THEM TAKE THE SURVEY. THEY HAVE TO BE AT CENTRAL OFFICE RIGHT NOW.
I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF TEACHING MY STUDENTS.
Just do it really fast.
It's a 55 question survey. That could take a 6th grader more than half an hour.
JUST DO WHAT I SAY.
NO.
OHMYGOD WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU.
I JUST REALLY WISH TEACHING WAS IMPORTANT HERE.
Every year, the school system asks us to complete Climate Surveys. The teachers, parents and students all fill them out. All the information gets reported to the central office. It's one of those Strongly Agree/Strongly Disagree surveys with questions like, "I feel safe at my school" and "Misbehaving students get away with it."
These things used to just get passed out and returned to the school for the school to turn in...which is clearly asking for inaccurate results. So, now, teachers can complete theirs online and parents can send theirs directly to the central office. The student one, however, still is filled out at school and returned to the main office.
Last period is from 1:30-2:35. At 2:10, a student showed up to my room with a stack of surveys and said the students had to complete them before the end of the day. Being right by the office, I walked over and told an Assistant Principal that we would have to complete ours tomorrow...as we were already in the middle of a lesson and it wouldn't really work out to stop right then.
JUST DO WHAT I SAY. MAKE THEM TAKE THE SURVEY. THEY HAVE TO BE AT CENTRAL OFFICE RIGHT NOW.
I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF TEACHING MY STUDENTS.
Just do it really fast.
It's a 55 question survey. That could take a 6th grader more than half an hour.
JUST DO WHAT I SAY.
NO.
OHMYGOD WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU.
I JUST REALLY WISH TEACHING WAS IMPORTANT HERE.
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