Unpredictable. Explains my day......EVERYDAY. I spent the majority of Monday night working on a lesson plan for today's (Tuesday) science class. I was really excited about it because it was going to be my chance to regain myself from Monday's afternoon. But my afternoon was shot when behaviors led to me not teaching at all from about 1:40 until the end of the day :-/
Now this afternoon was good for me because I was the one who initial confronted the student about behaviors and then it progressed from there. It could have been a very simple break and I would have been able to teach my two classes. But because of how unpredictable some of my students are, I need to stay on my feet. I need to be able to always think on a dime. I am not used to such quick thinking in a classroom yet. But I have a feeling that I will get even more practice in the next 4 1/2 weeks :-)
The first week, all the behaviors I witnessed, actually surprised me. Now, nothing surprises me any more. And I am sure I haven't even see anything close to it all yet. In fact, I know I haven't even seen it all. Students are unpredictable. My day is unpredictable. And I love it.
My teacher today said to one of my students today something that I had wrote about last week or so. Patients is a virtue. I just had to laugh to myself because I know how right she was! Today when the behavior that I addressed started, it was 1:40, it lasted until that particular student left school; after 3:00. I stood in the classroom with three other staff members just writing, documenting and waiting. It was a long afternoon. But in every moment I am learning something new with every thing that comes across my path!!
xoxo
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Stress? What Stress??....
Sooo.....Today was the start of week four. Now, I know it is a Monday so I should be careful saying this, but is the week over yet?! If I have ever had a case-of-the-Mondays, it would be today. I told someone earlier that I think my students are out to end my teaching career before it has even started. Which, isn't good....at all. Again, very overwhelming day of teaching. I wanted to go out to my car and cry because again, (and I should learn by now!!) my lesson did not go how I pictured it in my head because of behaviors (and I know it probably never will). I'll be honest, because of that, it may look as though I'm not prepared for my lessons, but ask my Dad or Bradley, the two people that see my bust out my lessons, I work at them until I am 100% satisfied. That may be my problem.
I want the perfection from right off the bat. My teacher, who keep in mind has only known me for three weeks, said to me today as we were leaving for the day, "Don't beat yourself up over it. The way you are feeling right now is totally normal". This is my first EBD classroom, and on top of that, its a Day Treatment Program. So this is probably the most severe setting I will ever teach in. Hopefully. There are going to be struggles with behaviors that is going to change the dynamics of my lesson plans. I know that in my head but for some reason I can't help but want my students to learn as much as they can. I want them to have fun with their projects. But I have to keep telling myself over and over again, practice working on controlling the behaviors. I have taught a few times now where my teacher has totally pulled back and left me alone to deal with behaviors. I need to keep all of the advice she has given me in the front of my brain. I am wanting so badly for my lesson to go well I'm forgetting what is truly important for these particular students. Their behaviors.
As I was leaving school today, I kept thinking, "Oh man, why couldn't I have picked LD instead of EBD so I could just teach?". But I know why I chose EBD. Because these students can learn just as well as any other student out there. They may be learning at a different pace, but they are still learning. They just need that extra help controlling some of their behaviors. They are still great kids. I have heard countless times after being asked what I am going to school for, "Oh bless your heart, I could never do what you do". But I think anyone could, its just a matter of having the patients for it. Some times it may feel as though I am beating my head against the wall, but sooner or later something will click for a student and to see them finally connect with something is the greatest reward ever.
So as Dory would say, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming" :-)
xoxo
I want the perfection from right off the bat. My teacher, who keep in mind has only known me for three weeks, said to me today as we were leaving for the day, "Don't beat yourself up over it. The way you are feeling right now is totally normal". This is my first EBD classroom, and on top of that, its a Day Treatment Program. So this is probably the most severe setting I will ever teach in. Hopefully. There are going to be struggles with behaviors that is going to change the dynamics of my lesson plans. I know that in my head but for some reason I can't help but want my students to learn as much as they can. I want them to have fun with their projects. But I have to keep telling myself over and over again, practice working on controlling the behaviors. I have taught a few times now where my teacher has totally pulled back and left me alone to deal with behaviors. I need to keep all of the advice she has given me in the front of my brain. I am wanting so badly for my lesson to go well I'm forgetting what is truly important for these particular students. Their behaviors.
As I was leaving school today, I kept thinking, "Oh man, why couldn't I have picked LD instead of EBD so I could just teach?". But I know why I chose EBD. Because these students can learn just as well as any other student out there. They may be learning at a different pace, but they are still learning. They just need that extra help controlling some of their behaviors. They are still great kids. I have heard countless times after being asked what I am going to school for, "Oh bless your heart, I could never do what you do". But I think anyone could, its just a matter of having the patients for it. Some times it may feel as though I am beating my head against the wall, but sooner or later something will click for a student and to see them finally connect with something is the greatest reward ever.
So as Dory would say, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming" :-)
xoxo
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