thatspookytrickster:

i went back to the elementary school today!

as i was walking up to the class, a boy from the class next door saw me and said

Boy: That’s really cute.
Me: What is?
Boy: Your shoes! What is it?
Me: Oh, it’s from YoGabbaGabba.
Boy: Foofa?!
Me: Yeah!

once i got to class, i saw at one of the tables in the back. tanya went up to me and said hi, then went back to her table. a few minutes later, she brough her bucket of books and supplies to my table and sat next to me. she showed me what she was working on and wrote some words on her little white board. interestingly, she writes from right to left instead of left to right. and it’s all just nonsense either way. it was cute that she was so excited to show off to me though.

I observed at an elementary school for the first time and WOW what a bunch of cuties!

There’s 12 students, 3rd-5th grade, all with disabilities. But to be honest, if you didn’t tell me that, with 90% of the kids, I’d have a hard time telling that they a disability or if they were just over active little kids.

A few of them stood out to me. Jason, a 5th grader seemed very opinionated. He helped some other students with their work. Iyone (pronounced ion), a 4th grader, is the class clown. William, a 4th grader, acted out the most. He did some of his work, then went to the corner which was furnished with a book shelf, rugs and a huge pillow. For most of the time I was there, he wrestled with the pillow. Bibiana (obviously a filipino name), a 4th grader, was working on the computer and got through a bunch of lessons. Probably the best behaved in the class.

Mrs. Oliver told me that (especially in the 4th graders) there’s a very wide spread of abilities. Tanya (who I think has autism, based on her tendency for toewalking and hand flapping) can only write her name correctly about 40% of the time. William however, (the trouble maker) is the closest to grade level out of the group.

Wow little kids are just great and I… well it’s too soon to say, but perhaps I’m considering teaching lower levels than high school?

I had TOTALLY given up on Bridgeway Elementary already, but the principal totally called me back yesterday! She emailed the special ed teachers, and one of the teachers emailed me back! 

I think I’ve secured my second setting.

Ms. Brian is younger than expected but very nice. Her students have intellectual disabilities and learning disabilities. I don’t know what I was expecting to see, but there’s no visible difference between these students and typically developing students.

When Ms. Brian left the room, the students shot a bunch of questions at me about who I am and why I’m here. One of the girls, Yazmin, reminds me of Nahomi

The vice principal that I met with just this morning, set me up with a teacher to observe! I’m going to start observation next thursday (since i have two tests this thursday)

I set up an appointment to see the assistant principal on Monday morning at River City High School. I turned in a form to set up an appointment to see the principal of Bridgeway Island Elementary School.

And I called Solano Middle School because I was getting desperate and no one picked up and the voicemail was full.

Seriously, the only good administration is ACHS.

I have dealt with other administrations at different schools. And by far, American Canyon High School is my favorite. They’re nice, helpful, reply in a timely fashion. 

They’re just great, great people over there! For example, I left a message at ACHS yesterday, asking if I could do some observation of students with disabilities and then  today, the head of the special education department called me back and said I can come in whenever I want!

It was a little slow in the morning, but I can always count on Morgan and Jennifer to ask me for help in 6th period.

I’ve found myself getting a little apathetic about going around to help the students. But that’s mostly because the only work these kids even have is extra credit. If you’re in a supplemental algebra 1 class in high school, you’re not doing extra credit. I just keep telling myself that it’ll be better when I’m the one deciding on the curriculum.

I said goodbye to Mac and Carrie (the secretary). Coach said good luck to me, and Carrie seemed like she was going to miss me.

I got over half of my hours here at ACHS. I should be able to easily finish off whatever’s left at whatever other high school I find in Sacramento.

26/45 hours

He’s not teaching his alg 2 classes for the rest of the year.

Smh

Don’t need to take the final if they don’t want to. If they like their grade, they can just take it.

Otherwise they can risk it to improve their grade.