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Post by Sorrel on Sept 10, 2023 19:54:27 GMT
My district is all about inclusion, except as per usual, it is an unfunded mandate. In addition, they can't find people who want to be SPED 1:1 paras, even if they deign to fund them. Our SPED team is overloaded dealing with these behavioral challenges, and then no one else gets their services. On average, takes us at least 1.5 years to be able to move a child into a self-contained program. I've been teaching in Texas since 2008 and have never seen an actual 1:1 para for any child. They're simply not funded. And there are definitely kids who would benefit. That is just tragic. Although, when we do get them, often they are not trained in special education at all. And the pay is terrible. They are a great help with the eloping though, and free up the SPED team to work on programming and seeing the other students.
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Post by monklady123 on Sept 10, 2023 20:47:34 GMT
In my district it was that "least restrictive" thing. But the problem is, at as it's been explained to me, that those who make these laws don't seem to really understand an actual classroom. "Least restrictive" doesn't necessarily mean "best for the child", as we all know. A child who can't control his/her behavior and resorts to throwing things needs some sort of "restriction" and needs adults who are trained in how to help that child learn control. Flinging the child into a larger class with one teacher who probably isn't SPED trained, and maybe pulling that child out for an hour or so per day, is not the best way to teach them. My opinion anyway. I spent yesterday (and today, sigh...) in a 4th grade class that thankfully is on the smaller side -- 18 -- because wow. There is one autistic boy in this class who isn't a big behavior problem. But, there was no one who came into the class to work with him, not once in the day. As a sub I have the luxury of being able to let things slide (for ex., I just ignored him when he refused to move on to Virginia Studies after math, and I let him continue with the math program on his iPad) since he wasn't a big behavior problem. But the regular teacher has to battle with that every day. Then there are at least five low language kids, one of whom is a native English speaker which means there is something else going on there. Parents don't want the kid evaluated for anything. The other four were pulled out for part of the language arts block. Otherwise the teacher has to do the differentiated lessons for everything else. I don't believe that ELL kids should be segregated in their own class (they used to do that in this district, years ago) because they'll learn more English from being with native speakers, but I mention it because it's just one more thing on the teacher's plate. Then there are two ordinary behavior issues. One kid just Cannot. Stop. Talking. omg. Another is just all over the place, can't stay in a chair, can't sit on the carpet in a circle, etc. So the teacher spends unending time trying to redirect the kid. I have no problem with kids choosing to sit on the floor when they're doing independent or small-group work, but if you choose to sit on the floor that does not mean you can roll across that floor from one side to the other. Anyway, sorry for the long rant... haha All that to say that if you add a kid or two into that mix who has even bigger issues...well, teachers are pulled in a million directions and certainly can't get everything done that they need to. 18=smaller side?! 😱 I'm a sub at our local elementary school and typically am in 4th grade. The class I regularly sub for usually has 30-35 kids. This year the got permission to undo the 4/5 combo and are at 28. I can't even imagine 18 in 4th grade. When I taught it was 20:1 in 1-3rd and my school had HUGE classrooms built in the 50s with a whole wall of windows. That was a dream. 30-35?? wow! That wouldn't be allowed here. I think the max we can have is 28. Maybe. And yes, 18 is "smaller side"... not sure I understand your comment. Compared to what you talked about 18 would be smaller. It just worked out that this particular class has always been small, since kindergarten. It shrunk a bit during the pandemic and has stayed pretty consistent since then. I LOVE subbing for them because it's just amazing how much individual attention you can give each kid when there are fewer of them in one room. Logic that seems to escape our county school people.
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caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,460
Location: So Cal
Jun 26, 2014 16:42:12 GMT
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Post by caangel on Sept 10, 2023 21:58:11 GMT
18 would be tiny here, by saying "smaller side" I assume you have even smaller classes.
Class sizes is one of the big things I don't like about CA public schools. But my kids have had a great experience. Surprisingly, to me, their class sizes in HS skew much smaller. My son has 15 in his zero period chem honors class.
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Post by Bobomommy on Sept 11, 2023 0:12:02 GMT
I’m in fifth grade this year. In the first two weeks I had two physical fights and one screaming match in the room.
My first two blocks are manageable, but third block is awful. They refuse to listen, talk all through lessons and independent work time and laugh when I tell them to listen/work silently.
Calling home does nothing. Parents simply don’t care and will tell me it’s my problem to solve.
I decided to have a talk with them again about expectations. After getting everyone to settle down I had a pep talk about how their behavior did not harm me in any way, but it would affect them. I said I WILL continue to teach because that’s my job. If they don’t want to be there, they need to ask their parents to check them out early every day so they miss my class. Then I asked for a show of hands if who thought their parent would be ok with that. Not a single hand went up. I ended with saying it appeared that they all had parents who wanted them in school, so they’d better settle down.
Things were better that day and the next. Who knows what tomorrow will be like.
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Post by smasonnc on Sept 11, 2023 0:31:42 GMT
These stories make me so sad and angry. Education is the way to a better life and it can't ever be taken away. Parents in other countries understand that. They treat teachers with respect and kids are expected to do the same. Good luck to all of you this year. I hope you at least get the support of your administration.
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Post by monklady123 on Sept 11, 2023 1:11:43 GMT
18 would be tiny here, by saying "smaller side" I assume you have even smaller classes. Class sizes is one of the big things I don't like about CA public schools. But my kids have had a great experience. Surprisingly, to me, their class sizes in HS skew much smaller. My son has 15 in his zero period chem honors class. No, 18 is the smallest we have at my school, except for the Pre-K which is limited to 15 anyway.
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dexter
Full Member
Posts: 233
Nov 28, 2016 15:57:15 GMT
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Post by dexter on Sept 11, 2023 1:35:59 GMT
Hugs to you! Been there, done that, several times! Document everything! Also, get a tracking system…like a behavior report card. It’s a pain to fill out, but it will give you so much DATA, which is what they want….right? If you want a copy of one I’ve used, message me. And I also have social stories and a picture schedule if you need it. Just message me! Good luck—hang in there! Sent you a message! I have a picture schedule but we can’t even get to use that - way too physical to even sit. I’d love to see your behavior report card and social stories. Do you have a particular resource you use? Thank you!!
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