Teaching? I wanna QUIT! - Page 2

deafbajagal · 02-17-2008, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vallee

I am late getting to this posting, guess what lesson plans. I understand how you feel. I teach special educations/regular education for the last 14 years. Every year I think it get easier, they add something else. I still love teaching just wish I could do my job. It just seems like too many chiefs not enough indians (too many people with ideas on how to raise test scores not enough people to do anything)

My problem is we are full inclusion, all children of all disabilities are mainstreamed into the regular education classroom. It is very stressfull for the children and teachers. Me - I am trying to teach a 5th grader how to read and he reads on 1st grade level. One of my students is 13 in 5th grade and he can't stop touching others and himself. I can go on and on but all of you get the point.

I don't know if I have any advice for you, since I am looking at my stacks of work - observations, lesson plans, powerpoints, and behavior contracts. I did ask for no committees or leadership team. I gave up everything that takes me out teaching. Didn't work - I am stuck with in-service representative, planning Reading fair, and I am incharge of all the inventory in the building. So that is my stressfree year out the window. Just realize that there is some else who is feeling the same as you are - frustrated. If you find the "solution" please pass it on.

Sorry you're going through this too...I guess I only can say do what I do...I keep a notebook. On the front it says 101 Reasons I Teach...and every day I will write down at least one thing that happened that day that makes me smile or enjoy being a teacher. There may be a day that I cannot write anything down...and days where I can't stop writing. But when I'm having a bad day...I read my notebook...and manage to go on

.

deafbajagal · 02-17-2008, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

I was on Ritalin when I was in elementary school. I don't remember when I started and ended. I think it was from the 3rd grade to the 5th grade, dunno.

As for where kids go, it was originally at least 10 cities attending one district. Pretty bad, eh? However, the community wasn't too big and students managed to get through fine. It did become a problem years later and they finally decided to split into two districts.

For instance, all kids from 10 surrounding cities attending the same elementary school... junior high... and high school. There was usually an average of 3 to 5 deaf kids per grade level. There was also usually 1 or 2 from each deaf group that could be involved in mainstream class.

A few years ago, they realized that there were more deaf students and felt the need to split. Now, the first district is one city below and supports deaf kids from surrounding cities towards the south. The second district is one city above and supports deaf kids from surrounding cities towards the north. The old district continues, but only if kids and/or parents choose to stay at those schools. If they decide to leave, they will be sent to their assigned districts. No going in, only out. Once all deaf kids are gone, there will be no more deaf programs in this district... just the two new north/south districts.

In a way, I think it's great. I've heard that a lot of those alumnus have returned and are now teaching at those districts. So, there are more teachers available for those deaf students.

Wow, it sounds like whoever was in charge knew what s/he was doing

. There is no reason for kids to be riding buses for more than an hour just to get to school...some do though. Closer to home is better, in most cases. As long as the educational programming meets their needs...

***VamPyroX*** · 02-17-2008, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafbajagal

Wow, it sounds like whoever was in charge knew what s/he was doing

. There is no reason for kids to be riding buses for more than an hour just to get to school...some do though. Closer to home is better, in most cases. As long as the educational programming meets their needs...

While those long bus rides may sound bad, it wasn't really so bad after all. I got to meet a lot of other deaf people along the way. I made more friends that way.

deafbajagal · 02-17-2008, 09:56 PM

That's really cool that you got to do that

. Good point. Some of my favorite times as a student at the deaf school was chatting with my bus friends, too...some of them lived over 4 hours away (yikes).

vallee · 02-17-2008, 10:03 PM

I keep pictures and letters from former students, that reminds me of why I teach. It helps.

About dangerous, I had a student that was MR attack me in the hallway two years ago. He turned violent on a group of students and I put myself in the way of the students. I figured it would be better if he attacked me instead of other students. Teaching can be very dangerous, but rewarding.

deafdyke · 02-17-2008, 11:15 PM

Quote:

for the numbers, I have 10 (!!!!) preschoolers (!!!) most have additional disabilities. The reason I don't have another aide is because my principal (who has NO background in special education much less deaf education) said, "But...there's only 10 kids in there." She gave me a book on classroom management, which totally pissed me off. And was it for managing a classroom for preschool? No. For deaf children? No. For children in special education programs? No. (rolling eyes here)

Let's see................Wow........ten preschoolers! But at least you're getting them early on! I am so surprised that since they have additional issues, your program doesn't have a ton of support.Or do they just have mild additional issues?
What state are you in? Maybe a good idea might be to contact your state's School for the Deaf, and see if they have any advice or help for you.
Your princepal sounds VERY out of it. I totally would contact the School for the Deaf and maybe some disabilty rights lawyers..............Also, try the American Society for Deaf Children, and Hands and Voices.

deafbajagal · 02-17-2008, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vallee

I keep pictures and letters from former students, that reminds me of why I teach. It helps.

About dangerous, I had a student that was MR attack me in the hallway two years ago. He turned violent on a group of students and I put myself in the way of the students. I figured it would be better if he attacked me instead of other students. Teaching can be very dangerous, but rewarding.

Hope you didn't get hurt :/.

deafbajagal · 02-17-2008, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafdyke

Let's see................Wow........ten preschoolers! But at least you're getting them early on! I am so surprised that since they have additional issues, your program doesn't have a ton of support.Or do they just have mild additional issues?
What state are you in? Maybe a good idea might be to contact your state's School for the Deaf, and see if they have any advice or help for you.
Your princepal sounds VERY out of it. I totally would contact the School for the Deaf and maybe some disabilty rights lawyers..............Also, try the American Society for Deaf Children, and Hands and Voices.

I'm working on it

. Got a few connections here and there...it's just a frustrating and pain-in-the-butt process. I'm not the kind of person to just sit around and gripe...I like to take action to try to resolve things. I usually do resolve them, too.

.

***VamPyroX*** · 02-17-2008, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafbajagal

I'm working on it

. Got a few connections here and there...it's just a frustrating and pain-in-the-butt process. I'm not the kind of person to just sit around and gripe...I like to take action to try to resolve things. I usually do resolve them, too.

.

What grade level are you teaching?

deafbajagal · 02-17-2008, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

What grade level are you teaching?

Preschool - ages 3- 5. Practically babies.

Cheri · 02-18-2008, 08:35 AM

Not every teacher is gonna like specify approach options in their classrooms that they're teaching, maybe this job isn't the right one for this teacher while it is for another teacher.

As with every approach even in oral/bi bi/ total communication/cued speech to educating children who are deaf or hard of hearing, not all children will be successful in that area of approach it all depends on the particular needs of the deaf child. If the parents are unable to commit to the child's language then the child would be a failure because two languages cannot be mix.

I prefer Total Communication because it's a language that both the parents and child can use in their home environment, better than oral approach or ASL approach without speech skills.

Cheri · 02-18-2008, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafbajagal

Preschool - ages 3- 5. Practically babies.

If you are teaching preschoolers, are their parents using signs and speech skills with their child, it helps when parents are involved in their child's language approach.

shel90 · 02-18-2008, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafbajagal

Preschool - ages 3- 5. Practically babies.

10 is a lot if you are the only teacher without aides. The pre-school class at my work has 10 too but there are 2 teachers with 3 aides.

jillio · 02-18-2008, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VamPyroX

While those long bus rides may sound bad, it wasn't really so bad after all. I got to meet a lot of other deaf people along the way. I made more friends that way.

Yeah, my son rode a bus with several students from his deaf school, as well as some hearing students that were busing out of district to a Christian school located nearby. It was one big social hour before and after school!

jillio · 02-18-2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafbajagal

I'm working on it

. Got a few connections here and there...it's just a frustrating and pain-in-the-butt process. I'm not the kind of person to just sit around and gripe...I like to take action to try to resolve things. I usually do resolve them, too.

.

That's what I like! A woman of action! Change in your area will spill over into change in other areas. Keep it up!

Doug5 · 02-18-2008, 11:04 AM

deafbajagal u got some balls staring down a crazed kid with a power tool

deafbajagal · 02-18-2008, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug5

deafbajagal u got some balls staring down a crazed kid with a power tool

LOL. Didn't really have a choice in that situation...let's just say that I learned on that day that there is more than one way to resolve my constipation problems than using laxatives

.

jillio · 02-18-2008, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafbajagal

LOL. Didn't really have a choice in that situation...let's just say that I learned on that day that there is more than one way to resolve my constipation problems than using laxatives

.

That sense of humor is no doubt what keeps you sane on those stressful days!

SxyPorkie · 02-18-2008, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafbajagal

Yep, I know what you mean. I taught in a behavior modification school for two years...we had lots of teachers who got hurt...broken back and ribs, black eyes, stabbed, etc. Dangerous job.

One of my kids came after me with a power drill that the custodian left in my room - plugged in (talk about STUPID! I will refrain from telling you the names I called him when he came back) - so the kid is telling me how he's gonna kill me (he actually axed his parents to death and blew up his cat with firecrackers, so when he said he was gonna kill me...) - I stayed calm (again, Zoloft, thank you!!!) and kept a straight face when I told him (had to use my voice because my interpreter ran off, scared to death) "Who's gonna be here on Friday for the Halloween Festival if I'm dead?" He had this expression on his face and then said, "Oh, shit. You're right!" and dropped it. Then he walked off. WHEWWWW!

Teaching as a job can suck. Yes I can do all the Hallmark comments about how wonderful it is and all that...but that's for another thread. This one is my venting thread

.

Wow... you are a wonderful teacher... also you are very brave...you did right things by talking to him in the calm way....youre awesome...

deafdyke · 02-18-2008, 09:33 PM

Deafbajagirl, again what state are you in? I'm sure there are people here who could really help you, or maybe there are people here who know people.
It's good that you've got some nibbles. Even if you don't think it would help, definitly contact the Deaf School. Maybe it might just be a matter of reassigning various and sundry kids to different programs. The reason why your job is so hard, might be that they weren't assigned to the correct school.
Maybe you could contact the Deaf School to have evaluations done.
Since you've got a lot of Spanish speakers, I would definitly contact Lexington in
NYC. They have a formal foriegn language transiston program for kids from other countries. They may be able to help you.

deafbajagal · 02-18-2008, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deafdyke

Deafbajagirl, again what state are you in? I'm sure there are people here who could really help you, or maybe there are people here who know people.
It's good that you've got some nibbles. Even if you don't think it would help, definitly contact the Deaf School. Maybe it might just be a matter of reassigning various and sundry kids to different programs. The reason why your job is so hard, might be that they weren't assigned to the correct school.
Maybe you could contact the Deaf School to have evaluations done.
Since you've got a lot of Spanish speakers, I would definitly contact Lexington in
NYC. They have a formal foriegn language transiston program for kids from other countries. They may be able to help you.

Thank you for your suggestions - I will check Lexington out this week. I'm not quite comfortable revealing what state to everyone since I'm kind of conservative about personal information being revealed on the internet (yeah, I do read Dean Koontz' novels). But I will give you a hint...there is NO deaf school in this state at this time. My problem is that what I described is the job description of the typical special education teacher...I pretty sure most, if not all, teachers feel the pressure and stress that I do. Special education is not an easy field (neither is regular education for that matter). I've worked in a deaf school before - and will most likely return to work at a deaf school again. It's easier to say - hey! I'm gonna to individualized educational programming for every child that comes - and I'm going to meet his communication modes and language needs. But doing that - when there are other children in the same class whose needs are not the same (nor should they be) - whew. HARD. Not impossible...but it takes a lot of creative management skills to pull it off. Plus most of the children are delayed in the area of language - which pretty much adversely impacts everything else. My gripe is mostly about the extras that I'm doing, which takes away my focus on just being able to teach. Bullentin boards. Blah! Perhaps interactive learning boards would be fine...but what a pain to maintain it. Useless paperwork that can often be concised into one or two forms instead of ...20. Being on stupid committees such as yearbook and staff birthdays. Sponsoring events or clubs. Dealing with fundraising...that stuff. I think that there are a lot of unrealistic and unfair expectations of teachers.

deafbajagal · 02-18-2008, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

That sense of humor is no doubt what keeps you sane on those stressful days!

Might as well laugh, if nothing else

.

deafbajagal · 02-18-2008, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shel90

10 is a lot if you are the only teacher without aides. The pre-school class at my work has 10 too but there are 2 teachers with 3 aides.

And my program should too. Honestly - if they would just look at the kids (instead of numbers), they will see the need for another teacher. One teacher and one aide - isn't enough to make sure the kids are getting what they are needing.

The other day someone was trying to pull my aide out to do some kind of task - I was like, "Hell, no!"

02-17-2008, 10:03 PM	#35 (permalink)
vallee Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tennessee Posts: 891	I keep pictures and letters from former students, that reminds me of why I teach. It helps. About dangerous, I had a student that was MR attack me in the hallway two years ago. He turned violent on a group of students and I put myself in the way of the students. I figured it would be better if he attacked me instead of other students. Teaching can be very dangerous, but rewarding. __________________ Right and Left Implanted July 19, 2007 Activated August 9, 2007 Both Advanced Bionics Harmony http://talesfromacigal.blogspot.com/

02-18-2008, 08:35 AM	#41 (permalink)
Cheri Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: All I wanted was a white knight with a good heart, soft touch, fast horse, ride me off into the sunset Posts: 20,160	Not every teacher is gonna like specify approach options in their classrooms that they're teaching, maybe this job isn't the right one for this teacher while it is for another teacher. As with every approach even in oral/bi bi/ total communication/cued speech to educating children who are deaf or hard of hearing, not all children will be successful in that area of approach it all depends on the particular needs of the deaf child. If the parents are unable to commit to the child's language then the child would be a failure because two languages cannot be mix. I prefer Total Communication because it's a language that both the parents and child can use in their home environment, better than oral approach or ASL approach without speech skills. __________________

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02-17-2008, 09:56 PM	#34 (permalink)
deafbajagal Jasmine's Tiger "Lilly" Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,491	That's really cool that you got to do that . Good point. Some of my favorite times as a student at the deaf school was chatting with my bus friends, too...some of them lived over 4 hours away (yikes).

02-18-2008, 11:04 AM	#46 (permalink)
Doug5 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 161	deafbajagal u got some balls staring down a crazed kid with a power tool

02-18-2008, 09:33 PM	#50 (permalink)
deafdyke So NOT a Princess! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Trebekistan Posts: 6,326	Deafbajagirl, again what state are you in? I'm sure there are people here who could really help you, or maybe there are people here who know people. It's good that you've got some nibbles. Even if you don't think it would help, definitly contact the Deaf School. Maybe it might just be a matter of reassigning various and sundry kids to different programs. The reason why your job is so hard, might be that they weren't assigned to the correct school. Maybe you could contact the Deaf School to have evaluations done. Since you've got a lot of Spanish speakers, I would definitly contact Lexington in NYC. They have a formal foriegn language transiston program for kids from other countries. They may be able to help you.