The level of need and type of student has changed. However last year I had several students move on and I have two in the process of moving on right now. I don't know about all the other intensive special needs teachers out there but I tend to have the same students year after year, after year, after year. On top of all that is a constantly changing student census. Today was the first day of the school year I ate lunch without taking one or two students with me, granted I was writing the daily notes home to all of the parents like I do every day at lunch, but I did not have any students with me (I admit that I sort of/kind of missed them). To top it all off I have had eight Donors Choose grants funded and the school has lost six (SIX!!!) of them so far! (I now have at least double the number of gray hairs I had in August of 2007, when we moved in.)Īnother part of it is that I did not have a full staff until January 8th. The averages daily temperature in the classroom is 82 degrees, however we have IEPs calling for temperatures no higher than 70 degrees, but if we run the air conditioners we cannot use the computers, APH book on tape machine or CD player because we will blow a fuse and if we open the windows the close to zero degree wind makes it impossible for us to have students on one entire side of the classroom. I spend hours and hours using crazy, improvised techniques to be able to give my students access to technology only to have those techniques fail at the last minutes do to things like blown fuses. We are on the third floor and 2 out of 3 elevators do not work.
We haven't a sink big enough to do dishes in with out going up two floors. We do not have a wall phone that works, only a cell phone. We don't have a access fax or a copier without begging on our hands and knees. We have two switch interfaces, but only one working switch. We have two three touch screen but only one works. We do not have internet or even enough outlets to plug in all our computers. Part of it is that we are in a building that is not particularly desirable. However right now I can't seem to find my balance in the classroom. I am an eleven year veteran teacher in a field where most people don't make it five years. I consider myself to be a good teacher I care deeply for my students, I am knowledgeable and creative, I love what I do and all that stuff that makes learning happen.
I seem to be having minor difficulties locating my teacher "mojo". I try to keep the personal posts rare on this blog, in fact I actually count the number of times I use the word "I" and nix any post that goes overboard, but in this post I am throwing that to the wind.
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