Hay any of you out here teachers?

Most certainly. This is my 14th year in the trenches.

David Pershing

Hi, I teach secondary math. I have lots of problems at work and don't want to identify who I am.

I'm hoping to talk to others about lesson plans, keeping up with papers, grading, etc.

Thanks, Fresh

Wrapping up my twelve year of teaching exceptional education students in public schools. I was diagnoised this past Feb of having add and take adderall twice a day. So far I've told noone in my school that I am add...worried about what their reaction might be.

Spec Ed teacher here too with probable ADHD inattentive subtype and I would also guess an LD.

Scuro
Hi, what disability of special education kids do you teach? I seem to gravite to the kids with add/adhd and behavioral disorders.....Can't understand why :)

I do little teaching, typically no more then one class in a year. It's more paper work, communicating with parents and school board officials, and working on assignments/ reteaching concepts with kids. I work in the High School and we work with all "exceptional kids' which would include gifted to Depression. The kids who use the Resource room are typically Behaviour kids, LD kids, mild intellect, and kids with mood issues. I tend to gravitate to the "lost sheep", and yes some of those kids have ADHD.:)

I'm ADD and a teacher too -- my whole career in one way or the other I was teaching. Twelve years as an elementary school teacher, then I got a counseling degree and went into schools and taught workshops and groups on grief recovery and worked as an educational consultant dx learning disabilities including ADHD referrals, I taught adult personal growth classes, and now I'm homeschooling my little ADDer. I love teaching. You get to talk while others have to listen :p , get to learn about all kinds of cool stuff:cool: , get to walk around on the job and change direction a lot:D , no day is ever quite like the one before -- boredom isn't a real big issue here (or if it is you can usually do something to change it;) ), plus the school day gets out early and you get summer and vacations off!:) Grading certainly can be a buggaboo and get out of hand pretty quickly if you're not careful!

I expect ADDer's make especially good special ed teachers because we can relate to alternative ways of thinking and learning,plus we as a rule usually are quite sensitive and insightful into what are students are going through, especially in settings where thre is more opportunity for one on one or small group interaction.

Scattered

This is what i always wanted to do.....I envy all of u.

In case you missed it, also check out this thread by a former teacher: http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18105

I'm not one, but I've often thought of making a career change into that field (that and 100 others!). At this point I'm thinking more of going into counseling and being a guidance or adjustment counselor.

Wrapping up my twelve year of teaching exceptional education students in public schools. I was diagnoised this past Feb of having add and take adderall twice a day. So far I've told noone in my school that I am add...worried about what their reaction might be.

Why bother telling them. Your in your 12th year obviously you function quite well at your job why do they need to know?

OOOOh I am glad I found you all, I have my teaching degree in Special Ed-actually my specialization is EMH-Educable Mentally Handicapped-and haven't had a formal diagnosis but need to get one before I try to get a job, we are moving to Missouri-how does it work with the adderal, do you function better, that is what I think I need to be on, I have such a scatterbrained mind and get into overload so easily, but I think I would like to teach again, it has been about 14 years. Just curious. I think on some level that is why I wanted to be a spec ed teacher cause I think I can relate to them on a real level. My brother was LD, and struggled in school, I just want to help them succeed, any tips or hints? thanks.

Takemeaway

Go for it!!!!!!!!! Have you put in an application to teach in Missouri? Are you teaching now? I am probably a better teacher now that I am on Adderall. I can focus on what needs to be done and I don't jump around topics when I am teaching.
I 've finished 12 years but only 3 in the system I am in right now :) I moved from NM to VA a few years back..different world out here.
Good Luck

Thanks Johna,

I am older now and hopefully wiser-knowing what I need to juggle my life is medication-but you say it can be done? Right now I am in the process of moving, and no, I don't have my application in, but there is a special education center who hires the teachers and then places them in the area they are qualified for in the district where we are moving-I can put my application in on line-but haven't as yet-I hesitate, b/c I have sort of some bad history with bosses, etc...so I don't know what to do, I know that I want to teach, but just so distractable right now, it is more of a dream that is out there, I have my cert. in IL up to date, so I guess I could.....

Are you special ed-WHat is it like where you are-a big district, or small? Just curious. thanks.......................LORI

Lori
Hi, since you have a IL license check into what you'll need to get a Mo license. I was lucky I moved from NM to VA, and VA accepted my teaching licenses. I teach EMR, SLD, and ED in the inner city of Richmond. I transfered from the middle school setting to the elementary school, I was just tired of being called a white b and other things. Once you get settle give yourself time and see what's out there. I taught for 11 years without meds and trying to keep up with the paper was a nightmare. I still fight to get organized. Getting the year evaluation next week, I know I am going to get sighted for organizaitonal skills. Wonder if I should just tell them I have add? Good Luck and keep us posted...you can do just belive in yourself

Johna,

Thanks I will look into it, do you have your own classroom or a resource room or what? Do you have kids of your own? I have 2 kids 13, and 15, when they get registered at the new high school I will have a chance to check things out. The school they are going to has won awards in the academic field, and it is the best school in the area-so we are told. I just have a good feeling about the whole area-just a little more upper class thinking there than here. Thanks, I will have confidence I have something to give, and just want to give it. I appreciate your posts b/c I don't know where to start-and to know I am not the only one is soooo comforting. thanks again LORI

Lori,
I am in a self contained-resource classroom. I have four students that stay with me for all core subjects. About five others come in for language arts. I like teaching but hate the political game involved in it. My sons are 14, and 16. The oldest lives with his father in St. Louis :(. The kiddo didn't like Virginia and wanted to stay with his dad. Have you thought about subbing? It would allow you time and still earn money. Good Luck don't be afraid to take a chance..you'll be ok
Take care,
Johna

Thanks again for your post, Johna,

Just testing the waters here, what is the political game, you mean sandwiched between school board policy and parents/ and administration, or just the frustration of not being able to really help them-I just want to know what I will be up against, I haven't been in the system for so long, things have changed and it is different when you are on the outside looking in.

So what levels (grade) are you teaching, and also, LD and EH, aren't those wildly different? What kinds of adaptations do you make? Are they on medications, for the most part? Do you have regular contact with the parents, what is your feedback on what you are trying to do, are they for you or against you, do you have friends-teacher support? I am sorry, one question leads to another with me-I need desperately a friend on the inside. Don't feel you have to answer all of these, I know it is easy to get overwhelmed, and that you want to feel prepared for the meetings, etc... just know I am in your corner.

Thanks.....so MUCH>>>>>LORI

Thanks Johna,

I am older now and hopefully wiser-knowing what I need to juggle my life is medication-but you say it can be done?

I can put my application in on line-but haven't as yet-I hesitate, b/c I have sort of some bad history with bosses, etc...so I don't know what to do, I know that I want to teach, but just so distractable right now, it is more of a dream that is out thereLORI
Medication can make an amazing difference. My relationship with my husband improved from the first pill -- I was better at listening and less reactive/defensive. I expect the same would hold true in work settings. Also medication can really help you pick up on things you're missing out on and help you stay on task. I'm betting you can make that dream a reality with the right treatment (that ideally includes some counseling or an ADD support group or coaching as well as medication - those support systems can really help solidify your gains, teach you relaxation tools, help you challenge your negative thoughts about yourself, etc. They're not a luxury - they're an important part of reaching your optimal functioning).

Good luck!
Scattered

i am going back to school to earn my degree in teaching. i would not dream of doing anything else. i will be majoring in special education

Hi Everyone, sorry not to have been back, my attention shifted a little.

I also found that medication helped to de-stress me a lot during class. I could almost multi task.

I'm going to work on writing down procedures and making forms which state steps, as well as all my info on a web page. If you can change names on here, I'm going to.

see you later, Fresh

Takemeaway,
The only way to learn things is to ask questions....and this forum is fanastic place to have questions asked and answered. The "No child left behind law" requires all students to be given a end of the year test and it needs to show annual progress. So I have to teach exceptional education students on their grade level, with their grade textbooks even though they can't read at that level. The worse part is dealing with general education teachers who have no clue what exceptional education teachers do. But it's all worth while when a child greets you a hug and smile in the morning.
I have noticed that the teachers on the East Coast are very different than the ones in the Southwest. Southwest was very laid back...here everyone is out for themselves. Midwest should be a great place to teach...
I have friends in school, but I don't bring my personal life into the school area. I don't really have friends in the county I live in, but I don't really need them. Wonder if other add/adhd people are like that..I've been Va for 6 years now. Do you make friends easily? Do you know people in MO? How are your kids handling the move? See I can ask questions toooooooooooo :)

Johna,

ahhhhh, I see, this is the frustrating part, huh?

I tend to be a little sensitive so friends are important to me-I have a hard time separating work from social-always have-maybe part of the disorder-I don't know. My husband's boss's wife is a teacher, and she seems really eager to have us move out there, she also has her spec ed degree, but is teaching elementary at the present time. Kids are mixed, my daughter is having a harder time than my son with the whole idea, she wants to be a veterinarian, so the opportunities for her are better in an area like this one. I really don't like social situations, they make me uncomfortable-so I have reservations-so it will be hard since we don't know anyone down there, except a few distant family members-but I think time will tell,

thanks for answering my questions, I think you have a lot on your plate and you are doing well.-what is your weather like? It is nice here, around 80's.

Can't think of anything else, I think the school system there is a good one (St. Louis) they seem real consistent with discipline issues- It's late I am tired, thanks again,
LORI

I am a state trainer and have been for several years. There is time that I know the material but I have to re-learn it before class. My other issue is that if I am under any stress my mind goes blank in the middle of sentences which really helps the confidence level if you know what I mean. When I'm learning new material I have a hard time with the concept or overall meaning. At times I am overfocused and do very well, I'm so inconsistent. I'm sure my supervisor recognizes the polarity of my training capability. Sometimes I am great and other times it's horrible. Any suggestions? The primary content of my training is behavior theory, go figure.

scattered,

Thank you so much for your advice about medication, I will get that as soon as we move, I found that I am pretty sure I have inattentive add, sort of like space out at times, I also realized I have been medicating myself with very strong coffee-2 pots a day to compensate as well as ephedra, whenever I can-it really helps me focus, and I almost feel like a normal person, why is it when you have add everything is extreme, it seems I am either hyper or like listless-no in between, and inconsistent also-weird, that is why I think to get on with it I need the meds to keep me balanced, you know? With meds do you have trouble getting to sleep? I will ask the dr when I get there, but thanks, you are ever so helpful. My family are all teachers, and I just thought I would fit in so well there, but life has complicated that too.
all of your help is vastly appreciated...................Lori

Heather99-

I am so sorry to but in your post like that, i feel that I am in the same boat as you basically so I cannot give advice but I will be curious to see what others will say to you, I had sort of a position kind of like that, not exactly where I was in charge of people it was VERY difficult relationship wise-because these people had been there for like 20 years, and all of a sudden I walk in and am supposed to be in charge of them, I cannot do that, I hated it for that very reason-it was a facility for Developmentally disabled-my teaching degree sort of put me on a higher plane than them, and I just felt out of place there, but what is your training job all about? sorry so long.>...and good luck by the way, I understand the polar thing-perfectly and consistency is hard when you can't get your act together all the time. so sorry I can't be of more help.....LORI

I'm a teacher too. I think the adhd helps in some area's and is horrible in others. I constantly mislay things, can't remember what I just said, can't remember names, forget what have said to the class last lesson, mess everything up. When someone fires a question at me I go blank, I probably wouldn't remember my own name. It is a constant struggle, but on the other hand, there are good things aswell, like not having to sit still, being in control etc.

Does anyone else here constantly get distracted by their own thoughts and lose the plot of their own lessons?

NoisyParot,

What kind of a teacher are you? A big school district? I fear I would be just like you if I had a teaching job, but the kids suffer when you don't have your act together, are you on meds of any kind? I think I would want to be on adderall to teach, it just sounds like a needful thing, to listen and follow through, and move quickly from one thing to the next, and you are dealing with verbal instructions, etc....I am the same way with my kids at home, I tell my daughter I will make her a sandwich, I look up and I have done a hundred other things, forgot totally what I said I would do...maybe I ought not to seek out the teaching thing? Just sounds like it might be the verbal thing, cause after I hear something I forget it immediately...LORI

What kind of a teacher are you? I teach languages, mainly English.

A big school district? No, I teach adults, thank goodness!! I tried ritalin, but somehow I felt it made me drop things even more (on the rebound?), and upset mugs in the teachers' room. I also feel more unsafe when crossing the roads under ritalin, without I look hundred times and get to the other side safely, but with ritalin somehow I don't seem to check as often, dunno (but I can concetrate on tasks like 1000x better).

I feel really stupid all of the time, and I am surprised they haven't fired me yet. I feel awful about messing up all the time. I can't seem to judge how long people need to make excercises and so.

Takemeaway, what subject would you enjoy teaching? You might want to give it a try. You never know. I always swore I would NEVER teach, because I hated school that much, but somehow it seems the only job I am capable of, besides really mindless jobs, which I mess up all the same. Must say I am already itching to change jobs already, but I must stay put this time, I can't afford to be unemployed for years again...

This thread makes me happy, as much that it exists and is more than two posts long than anything else.

Because I'm going to teacher's college next year, and was diagnosed last year with ADHD. It was that or going after a PhD, but what I have found I enjoy the most is teaching; in almost every job I've been in, I've ended up being placed into a position to train new employees or giving tours or some such, and those were the parts of the job I enjoyed the most.

A PhD would still let me teach, and at the university level, but it would also require me to be a participating member of my field doing heavy research, and that might add just enough complication to my life that I'd have a hard time.

Not that I'm trying to say that teaching high school is easy. But there's more of a single-focus on the classwork and students, so there's less to distract me from that focus. For others, the university style is probably a lot easier.

From where I stand, teaching looks ideal to an ADHD sufferer in many ways. There's the summers; if you're not leaving all your job development training till then, you can do something entirely different and "recharge" your head for a few months. There's the many days off through the year, and while many of those will be working days on training, they're at least different than the usual. Even the actual teaching; every class, and student, is different, and so it's a constantly changing atmosphere, keeping you on your toes. For me, that's what I need, constant low-grade pressure. I'm sure others of you are the same.

Not that I expect it to be all roses and sugarplums. I'm sure there'll be problems associated with the ADHD too. But I can see the draw that teaching could provide, and am hopeful for my future based on everyone's responses.

Hey good luck, Alex!!!

I think burnout is a thing to look out for as a teacher, because sometimes you can put too much energy into it, and take it all too seriously and lots of strain gets put on you etc... And not everyone gets those long holidays too. Stress management is undoubtedly something to get a grip on, before stress gets a grip on you.

I was getting burned out teaching at the high and middle school level. Got lucky and found a teaching position at the elementary level it's great. Think I can handle another 13 years :)

I am seriously thinking about teaching - so serious that I've applied and been accepted at teacher's college but can't quite swing the $$$ thing this year. I want to teach High school in the small town - or neighbouring towns - where I live - definately NOT a city high school, as the sound of gun fire makes me anxious. Any school that needs a metal detector I'm not interested in, as I plan to teach math and physics and figure that a "disgruntaled youth" is most likely to pop the math or science teacher first if he brings a gun to school and starts shooting.

Hey I am glad to be back, been distracted with life and moving, lately-but great conversation, yes, I got burned out big time when I taught because of trying to put my focus in one place, when it needed to be in many-how do you stay on task? I couldn't, something had to go-it just served to confuse me-I could do one-teach and all that went with it, or the other-laundry, suppers for family, and all that went with that, I think it is a balance problem for me, and also I would need exercise time (if I did it again) and relaxation techniques and probably most of all-know and acknowledge when I did something well, something worked, the light went on, and another thing I would do different is make contact with parents from the very beginning, not wait until a problem came up, just get off on the right foot to start. okay-this helps, thanks,_LORI

I amdefinately NOT a city high school, as the sound of gun fire makes me anxious. Any school that needs a metal detector I'm not interested in, as I plan to teach math and physics and figure that a "disgruntaled youth" is most likely to pop the math or science teacher first if he brings a gun to school and starts shooting.Are you joking, or is gun crime really that bad over where you live? Scary stuff.

Hello. I am new to the board and ADD rx treatment. I have been teaching preschool for 5 years and have 3 children under 8 myself....work comes home with me. The only way I could describe my job is ....overwhelming. I was getting so frustrated with work reviews or my director sitting me down to work on an issue only to improve in that area and be talked to about yet another one. I felt and still ,feel since I haven't had time to see how the meds are doing,that I was/am a failure :( . Nothing I did seemed good enough even though I was putting much energy into addressing the issues. Not until my director's last concern was that I seemed "distracted and not receptive to my co-workers comments during class meetings based on my body language and impulsive talking" did I decide to mention it to my phsychiatrist (for depression) of 15 years and start meds. I always feel that there is too much work to be done and not enough time ( even when I think I'm going full speed) although co-workers seem to consider it "normal" work. I haven't told my bosses about the ADD fearing that they will think it's an "excuse." I just get to the point where I say to myself "If you have so many issues with me just fire me so I can stop stressing about it." I believe I am a great teacher and my students really enjoy me. What is going on? Glad to meet other teachers....Jacaboon

Hello. I am new to the board and ADD rx treatment. I have been teaching preschool for 5 years and have 3 children under 8 myself....work comes home with me. The only way I could describe my job is ....overwhelming. I was getting so frustrated with work reviews or my director sitting me down to work on an issue only to improve in that area and be talked to about yet another one. I felt and still ,feel since I haven't had time to see how the meds are doing,that I was/am a failure :( . Nothing I did seemed good enough even though I was putting much energy into addressing the issues. Not until my director's last concern was that I seemed "distracted and not receptive to my co-workers comments during class meetings based on my body language and impulsive talking" did I decide to mention it to my phsychiatrist (for depression) of 15 years and start meds. I always feel that there is too much work to be done and not enough time ( even when I think I'm going full speed) although co-workers seem to consider it "normal" work. I haven't told my bosses about the ADD fearing that they will think it's an "excuse." I just get to the point where I say to myself "If you have so many issues with me just fire me so I can stop stressing about it." I believe I am a great teacher and my students really enjoy me. What is going on? Glad to meet other teachers....Jacaboon
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I AM kidding about the gun fire - I live in Canada afterall, and there is not a big problem with guns. But I still wouldn't want to teach in an inner-city school - way more problems there.

Gregster, why are you so afraid of teaching in an inner-city school besides the fear of gun fire? Do you realize that even in the best areas gun fire could be heard at anytime of day? Example: Columbine Gun fire and drugs aren't limited to inner city schools.
I teach in the inner city and I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish you luck in where ever you may teach.

Johna- Very very true. Columbine was a sleepy little town that no one had heard of before the shooting. It truly can happen anywhere at anytime! Really makes u think.

I want to teach, and I dont care if its the inner city, or would be good experience, plus if u can handle that u can handle anything!

Hi, I teach secondary math. I have lots of problems at work and don't want to identify who I am.

I'm hoping to talk to others about lesson plans, keeping up with papers, grading, etc.

Thanks, FreshHey fresh,
I would love to talk with someone about those things. I am a special education teacher. I teach grades 3-5 resource. I know that I am an excellent teacher, my kids make huge gains! But dealing with my principals, evaluations, etc. is always causing problems.

I feel like I don't communicate with the administrators very well. Like Friday, we were directed to put our emercency sub plans in our "supervisory folder". Well, when I asked about what this was, my principal and vice principal proceeded to explain to me what sub plans are. I just wnated to know what the "supervisory folder" was so I could puit my plans in it! Turns out it is our portfolio, they just changed the name this year. Little things like this always get me in trouble with them. I know that my evaluation this year is going to say "Ms. so and so didn't know what sub plans were and it had to be explained to her. They are never in my classsroom, so they don't even know what a great teacher I am. I just need clarification sometimes, but I know that if I bring up my ADD that it will look like I'm using that as an excuse.

This is my fourth year of teaching. So far 2 out of my 3 evaluations have been negative. But the negativity is always based on conversations like this one. I am at the point where I'm just trying to communicate with them through email so I can plan my wording out ahead of time, but I still need to talk face to face.

Is anyone else having these problems?
Andrea

High guys I's also a Spec ed teacher. I teach Resource math, a block of lifeskills and Vocational ed. Yes they spread us out a bit too thin at our district and adding the VAC program this year has been tremedously stressful. I get everything from LD, PDD, MR, to ED students fresh from theraputic and of course quite a few have comorbid ADHD. Some of these students spend half of their day in my room before moving to the other resource room or electives. I have a fruit bowl mixture which is sometimes good and sometimes a nightmare. The ED students make for a peculiar mix with the other groups since thier behavior is usually the problem, not their intellectual ability.

Hi fellow teachers
I am having a tough year and it just started. For two hours I have in my classroom (it's the size of a bathroom) 10 SLD, 1 ED, and 3 MR students trying to teach them language arts. To make it worse 11 are third grade, one is fourth and one is fifth grade. The other day my prinicipal told me she was worried about my classroom management style and suggested I take a behavior management class. I don't know what to do to control these kids. I am trying the reward system and assertive disc. I'll let them be on the computer for a few but than they act up. So now the computer is off limits.
I am busting my !!! and in return all I get is circumsime....
Today I was standing in front of the classroom door with the door closed. One of the MR student wanted to walk out of the classroom. I wouldn't move so he pushed me several times. Do you all block the door to prevent a student from leaving? Now my back is hurting..........

14 high needs kids, no EA?

Scuro no instructional assistance. Last year these kids had an EA with them at all times and I asked today why that EA didn't follow the students up to 3rd grade. I was told the budget for the school only allowed for an EA in lower grades.
Today I was ripped a new !!!hole by the prinicpal. I tried to explain that the MR are setting off the SLD but I think that went in one ear and out the other. I was told that if I couldn't do the job that I was hired that maybe I should get off the ship. Apparently she has said, that statement to other teachers when she's upset with them. When she was reading me the riot act I didn't react and that did not make her happy.
I am going through the right channels to try to work this out but how do I get a child to listen to me when he won't even listen to the principal? It was really weird at the end of the conversation she apologized for coming down on me so hard but that we needed to get this undercontrol than she shook my hand. Why did she shake my hand?
Wish me luck :)

I wish you luck. If you want some sympathy...take a couple days off work. Then the prinicipal will sing a different tune. In our school board there is a maximum size for certain types of classes. That one sounds too big for the kids that you are dealing with. Really, sooner or later something will happen. Contact your teacher's union. Document your concerns and give a letter to the prinicipal.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!! I am checking into the number of students Iam legally able to serve at one time. Also a rep from the special ed came in and saw the size of classroom. I was told a request for an ee would be asked for before Oct 1.
If not I am going to raise some .....because you're right something is going to happen....Thank you for listening :)

Now this is scarry. I've been stuck between a rock and hard place for a while now. Ever since I started working with the Autistic boys in their education programs I've been considering switching my goal from RN to Spec. Ed. maybe I should think this thru more thoroughly.

....If not I am going to raise some .....because you're right something is going to happen....Thank you for listening :)

I mean something bad could happen. When you have over crowding with your kids, the behaviours get worse and the odds of a fight or something increase dramatically.

Nucking it's funny always thought if I hadn't been a teacher I would have liked to become a nurse. However, with the lack of depth perception can you imagen where I might give someone a shot :)
Nurse: Get more money than I'll probably ever see after 20 or more years of teaching. Can pick the time and place you want to work because of the shortages of nurses.
Teachers: Vacations are great! The privlege of working with some great kids and some that will make you alittle nuts.
Bad thing no child left behind law and politics
:)

i'm in my 2nd year (almost finished 2nd year now) of my teaching degree. primary (elementary...) school.

I'm in the thick of my B.Ed. as well. One year degree, thank goodness. Intermediate Senior Physics/Math - so maybe I'll be able to find a job in September - maybe.

Nice Avatar Gregster! :D You'll have a job in not time with that sense of humour!

I predict that Gregster's students will love him for that sense of humor. :)

i am in my 8th year of teaching=) teaching is like fine wine-- the longer you are at it-- the better you become.. i started teaching in the inner city-- and now am teaching the wealthy 'burbs.. i've learned to take constructive criticism from principals and not to put up with student's crap.. i teach 4th grade which in my opinion is the best grade=) i've not told anyone that i work with that I have ADD.. don't think it would entice them to give me tenure.. good to know that there are other teachers out there=)

This is probably a new thread but O' what the heck I'm feeling lazy tonight.

I'm in my first year of nursing school (I'm an oldie but a goody :p ).

And in one of the biggest binds of my life.

I changed to a more flexible job within the nursing industry to accomodate school the problem is that I work with institutionalized mentally handicapped and autistic children. In the mornings I'm a CNA/MA I can basically perform any task a LPN can perform as long as I've been properly trained and certified and I like this job.

But, during the afternoon I assist with training and IEP's dealing not only in education but vocational training and I absolutely love it. I think I get more excited then the student when they finally get a new task or skill.

The more I work with the Autistic boys the more I want to be Spec Ed teacher. I don't care how tired I am, if my boss calls me and states that particular home is short I'm instantly ready and willing to go to work.

Next week I will be taking classes on how to Matt control violent behaviours and am so excited.

My problem is--is this excitement something that will pass because this is all new or is it real? I have an appt. to speak with my advisor to see if there is a way we can manipulate my classes for a double major--who knows maybe I can have the best of both worlds. ;)

if someone could guarantee that only had to work with LD, autistic, mentally retarded students or any of the other low functioning kids I get in my classes I'd be in the trenched until the day I died. All of the Emotionally Disturbed kids that I have on top and with the others are going to make me seriously crazy before retirement. today was a great day...all of my volatile students have somehow made their way into ISS this week.

LOL I feel your pain, Jaycee. Yesterday, the office called for a particular student. They asked for him to bring his agenda planner--never a good sign for a student. He was being so disruptive by then, that I practically danced with joy. "THANK YOU, he'll be RIGHT there."

He was back about 20 minutes later, only to be called back a few minutes after this. This time, I whispered into the phone that there was no need to rush sending him back, and could they please rethink my idea to put ritalin in the cookies at lunch. (ha ha)

Two days ago, one of the autistic students walked by me upset with her classroom (she has a habit of bolting) and she slapped me in the face. Over the years, I have learned to roll with this, and never skipped a beat. After two plus years of working with several of the ED students, I noticed with one particular group (two students in particular) I developed a tic whenever I was there. They were expelled eventually (unrelated reasons) and the tic was gone, too. No matter how many times I hear that I can't save them all...I still really want to try.

Sometimes, a week of students kept in ISS is necessary. I refer to them as "mental health holidays." Nap, and regroup! :)

Could we please get ISS in Elementary School? Please!! I am in a 10 by 25 room and the worse part of the day is when the specific learning disability, emotional disturbed and mental retared all come together for two hours!!!!!!!!!! The funny thing I love my job. I have tried acc discipline but that allows movement in the class and other suggestions for discipline?

Hi I am Special Ed Teacher with severe ADHD, I am on meds treatment and in Therapy 2 o 3 tiemes a months with a psychi. I have being working in this area for about 28 years, but allways with small groups of kids, I uncapable to manage the whole classroom and the administrative part drive me crazy. At school I work with group of 5 at the same time and cause my hyperactivity and can be very creative and use many learning games that are fun for them and for me. Also the first thing I do it is to write down the rules and it's consecuences, but the in a place where all of them can see then and everyday make one of them to read it, also have of graffyties with nice thougths as "you can make it" "your work is terryfic" "your a very importat person".....Last month I put on practice a proyect along with the 1, 2 and3 grade teachers that I called Dory (Nemo friend that have short memories problems), i make a tag with Dory's pic and the name of the teachear, I went to each room and explain to the childrens how this proyect works..at the begginig the teachers use the tag for a short period of time, in any moment of their class rutine, they give a simple and an atractive activity that the kids have to do alone cause theachers become Dory during that time, they can not remember any questions that a child can ask...they don't have shor memory...childrens that achived the objetive for the number of time that the teacher decided, gets a reward....Two months after the Dory's time have became longer and the theachers feel a little bit relife...I don't know if I explain the idea clearly :confused: Hope it would help you....