gsquaredmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,092
Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Aug 28, 2014 20:41:12 GMT
Not a para, but I suggest you speak with the case manager to find out what you can do to support the student. Is there a behavior plan? Perhaps one needs to be created. As a para in my district, you would not be figuring this out on your own.
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Post by tanyab on Aug 28, 2014 20:50:39 GMT
Oh yes we definitely have a plan in place for the student (an entire team). I work alone with the student for a good part of the day, though, and a plan in place still doesn't take away the stress of working with a student with such high needs, if that makes sense. I just really am looking to hear from other paras who may be in a similar position for some mental support, or something!  |
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gsquaredmom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,092
Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Aug 28, 2014 20:54:45 GMT
In my district, we make every effort to have high-stress students have a few assistants so one person does not have the stress for the whole day. It also helps students get used to working with several people and not relying on just one who may be ill or get burned out. Can you be switched out for awhile each day?
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Post by tanyab on Aug 28, 2014 20:57:22 GMT
I somehow deleted my post while trying to edit. They are working on incorporating another aide into her day, because I requested it. I do love my job and have been to many trainings and feel very confident that I work well with the students, but I still get quite stressed out. Managing it is something I need to get better at!
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Post by keknj on Aug 28, 2014 22:46:37 GMT
I'm only a substitute para, but I can so see how you can get stressed out. We had an autistic child last year that did well with her para until the para went out on maternity leave. After that she was hitting, biting, kicking, pulling hair for the subs. There were three of us that worked with her and it was very stressful. Doing that everyday can't NOT stress you out. I think asking for breaks is a great idea.
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scrappinmama
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,026
Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Aug 28, 2014 22:58:27 GMT
I am not a pars, but a mom to special needs children. Thank you for all that you do. I know how challenging your jobs are. Fortunately, my boys do not get aggressive, but I realize that you are all probably punched, kicked, pinched , etc. I am blown away by the compassion of people who work in special ed.
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Jili
Pearl Clutcher
SLPea
Posts: 4,366
Jun 26, 2014 1:26:48 GMT
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Post by Jili on Aug 29, 2014 0:41:53 GMT
In my district, we make every effort to have high-stress students have a few assistants so one person does not have the stress for the whole day. It also helps students get used to working with several people and not relying on just one who may be ill or get burned out. Can you be switched out for awhile each day? This is how it works in our district, too. We don't want our students to get too dependent upon one person, nor do we want to lose talented staff. It can be incredibly stressful and it is important that you feel supported. |
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Post by smokey2471 on Aug 29, 2014 1:56:44 GMT
My mom was and it was hard. She loved her students and that helped but I remember her saying it was nice being in the special needs classroom because you had help and could take a few min to regroup by asking someone to step in. The worst part of her job was not being able to reason with them. We take for granted being able to reason with our kids. It's like having an 80lb toddler hitting you or pushing you out of frustration. Most of her students were Down syndrome. She wanted to adopt of of them that was in foster care and said if she had been 20 years younger she would have. She was almost 60 at the time. You fall in love with them. She still keeps in touch with that little girls mom on Facebook after she was adopted and moved away.
I applaud those that work with kids with special needs. It really takes a special kind of person.
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Post by freecharlie on Aug 29, 2014 3:15:49 GMT
Not a para, but a sped teacher. Is the teacher also working with the student? My para last year really worked 1:1 with a highly spirited boy. He was exhausting for me and I just watched her work with him most of the day. I do agree with switching paras in and out, but I also believe that a schedule on when that happens should be adhered to. Many kids with ED or Autism or whatnot, thrive on schedule and melt down when the schedule is interrupted. It is typically in their IEP and it seems silly to make the one thing in the child's day that isn't predictable is the person that is working with him. If there will be more than one person doing things with him, then the paras and teacher need to be on the same page with the same expectations and the same consequences.
With the boy we had, he joined the group and knew I was his teacher. He responded to my request, but did work better with my para. They just had a good relationship.
It took us both weeks to start to figure him out, but it was worth it and he was an awesome, interesting kid.
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