Rome Wasn't Built in a Day

Long weekends are amazing....until the alarm sounds, signaling it's time to put the pedal the the metal again.

The day started out with a meeting before school with a concerned parent, resident expert psychologist, and multiple teachers and administrators.  Whenever a child with an IEP is involved, there is never a shortage of meeting participants.  The meeting ran over into first period.  As I hurried back to class, I found one of my students sitting at the front of the school looking lost and confused.  I as walked toward the modular with her, I realized that in the rush of the morning, I had not unlocked my classroom door for my students.  Back at the classroom, another student sat at the foot of the door, awaiting my arrival. My heart sank as I realized the confusion that a little mistake had created in these students. 

Anything outside of the norm rocks the world of my students, confusing them and demolishing their hopes for consistency.  I have realized though, that change is unavoidable, especially when I am slowly reworking the entire framework that the special education program has been based upon for nearly 30 years.  I have to continue to remind myself, however, that Rome wasn't built in a day, and that this is my first year.  By gradually instilling change, I hope not only to ease the students into a level of independence and self-advocacy, but also to keep a level of sanity for myself. 

I'm giving my first big quiz tomorrow in two of my English classes.  I have officially decided that I am way more nervous than my students must be;  which makes sense since they are probably at home, busy forgetting the fact that they will be quizzed bright and early in the morning.  Every day I have at least an in cling of a anxiety that what I say to my students goes in one ear and out the other.  Especially in working with students that struggle to process, retain, and reproduce information that is presented to them. I want to know that somehow, what I say and do gets through to them.  Ultimately, at the end of the day, I try my hardest and then to some extent, am living on a prayer for the rest. 

Little victory of the day: Rumor has it that A told another teacher that I "get her", I understand her.  I'm not sure if A shared this information before or after I told her that I couldn't bail her out of her Spanish quiz...but either way, it was exciting to know that it isn't just me that feels that I might have made a connection that has paved the way for a successful year. 

Tomorrow is my first picture day as a teacher....so many firsts these days! It is also the first day that I will help tutor someone in Spanish....clearly a misunderstanding on some one's part to mistake me for a Spanish speaker, but we shall see!  If nothing else, I relate the the student's confusion and frustration at times!

Practicing my teacher smile,
Ms. Phillips