Bring in the New Year

This week is the first week of school for our Year-Round schools.  Since I am on D track I don't start until August 15, however, I am looking at my new class list and preparing to meet my new Gang.  I find myself evaluating my teaching practices, planning for the first day as well as the first few weeks, being very intentional with the tone I set in the classroom. I'm rethinking procedures I need to teach. I know I need to allow students plenty of time to practice those procedures.

I already have the paper work for the four resource students in my class.  I'll meet with the Special Education teacher next week in order to discuss schedules and special accommodations.  I don't want to have too many preconceived ideas about any student, but I don't want to be unprepared, either.  I already have plans in place to be 'buddies' with the autistic classes again this year.

I'm looking forward to a great year ahead.

What do YOU do?

Are you a regular education teacher, special education teacher, principal or GT teacher?  No matter what your position, how do you interact with special needs students at your school?  How can educators help these students grow and learn?  What bothers you about having special education students at your school or in your class?  What changes would you like to see?

End of the Year

Students with disabilities need extra attention at the end of the year.  I made recommendations to the principal for the type of teacher these students will need next year.  One student cannot have her classroom in the portable buildings, she must stay in the building.  The principal selected a teacher who was currently in a portable classroom, so she had to move all of her teaching supplies to a different room in the building.  I wrote individual memos on each SWD student in my class and passed it along to the new teacher, the special ed. teacher and the principal.  I shared instructional methods and behavior interventions that were helpful in the classroom this year.  I understand these students are no longer under my care, but I did want to pass along helpful information to the next teacher.  We are all in this together-every child is a learner.