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Sep 9th, 2008
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I
worked as a substitute teacher in public schools for two years and it was quite frustrating at times. I came to find that I enjoyed my days more when I subbed in special ed classes. The general ed classes had lots of kids who were ready to take advantage of a subsitute teacher that doesn't know the rules of the class. I found that in Lifeskills classes the kids were actually happy to see you and not anxious to take advantage.
Before I knew it I was only subbing in lifeskills and eventually was hired on at a local high school. I now love my job for the first time in my life. I've always dreaded work until now. It certainly still has it's own unique stresses but I love the kids that I work with.
I am in a "one-to-one" position where I work with one individual student. He has a condition called Fragile X and also is autistic. He's also hilarious. He sings a lot, knows some sign language, says the most random and funny things you can imagine, blows lots of kisses, makes tons of funny sounds. And he's great with geography. I was so amazed when I heard him identifying countries on a map. He was able to find Peru, Venezuela, Iraq, Russia, France, and several other countries. I am amazed that someone with such severe disorders is able to have that kind of mental capacity. It's so hard to get him to just focus on one thing at a time but when you can get him to do it he has great retention. It's just a matter of getting him to focus.
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 Feeling mellow  | Posted Sep 9th, 2008 at 1:12PM I'm NOT surprised by his mental capasity with geography. I have personally seen autistic and Down's children EXCEL in one or two subjects. I know one that excels in electronics and math. Another in music. It's almost like they fine-tune a genious capacity in a subject! :O   |
 | Posted Sep 9th, 2008 at 2:09PM My son has a one-on-one as well. I really feel like she loves my son and I feel good sending him to school everyday. We are lucky parents to to have people like you working with our kids! |
 | Posted Sep 9th, 2008 at 2:17PM Your work is so important, I'm sure you make that child's life more fulfilling than it would be without someone who looks forward to seeing and working with him each day. |
 | Posted Sep 9th, 2008 at 2:18PM My son doesn't have a one-on-one, but he is in an environment where it's available if it becomes necessary. It's people like you who have helped him to come as far as he has. Thank you. |
 | Posted Sep 9th, 2008 at 2:59PM Thanks to all of you...some kids really need a one-to-one and others are more borderline. My kid definitely needs one because he wanders so much, looks in everything he can, cabinets, doors, etc. He's a disaster waiting to happen if he's not constantly supervised. I'm having trouble with him hitting today so he's getting lots of "breaks" which is the only reason why I'm able to be typing on here today. He's right next to me working on the computer. He doesn't hit hard and not in the face....it's more like slapping or pushing away cause he doesn't want to do what I'm asking. It's also the beginning of the year and he's new to high school and just now getting into a routine. Routines are so important to these kids. |
 Feeling grateful | Posted Sep 9th, 2008 at 6:35PM Excellent work, ReformedAutomation! I have also worked with many of these kids, one with FragileX. They certainly can be quite physical and need the supervision, as you say. My student was only 7 yrs. old, so it's hard for me to imagine that same energy in dealing with a teenager. Nothing can compare to making a difference in the life of a child. |
 | Posted Sep 11th, 2008 at 2:20PM Congrats on finding a job that makes you so happy! You are really lucky and I am totally excited for you :) |
| Posted Sep 11th, 2008 at 2:53PM Thanks Sarah! |
 | Posted Sep 11th, 2008 at 3:04PM I think that's really true, RA. Mainstreamed kids hated teachers for some reason, but in all the special classes I went to kids got excited when they learned things. I think its because a lot of them (including me) were told by the school system that there were just certain things that we'd never be able to do, so most of the teachers just stopped trying. But certain teachers never gave up, were never told (or never BELIEVED) that we "couldn't" learn this or that, so they kept at it. And a lot of us learned more than we (or anyone else) ever thought we could. |
| Posted Sep 11th, 2008 at 6:04PM A little encouragement and belief can go a long way for sure. I don't understand those people who feel they must pigeonhole a kid by telling them what they can and cannot achieve. I'm probably especially sensitive to that b/c I had a father who always made sure to remind me of what he perceived to be my shortcomings. So I really try my best to put my beliefs into practice and not limit the kids by telling them what they can't do. And also constantly supporting them in even the most small or seemingly trivial "victories" (sometimes these victories are things like being able to identify an ob |
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