Job Story: Lack of lesson plans, textbooks, collaboration, games, etc.....Special Education teacher

best of luck to you! I've learned something.

[janiepie]

lk

[Unregistered]

Hi
I want to thank and encourage you. I myself was a product of cheap Spec Ed. I have disabilities, like vision, hearing, and speech. I was a student in KY sense graduated with no education, but i was allways at the top of the class in those classes. I really did not belong in those classes. I know one time i scored very high on the end year test. The teachers in Kentucky though about taking me out of Special Ed, but decided to keep me in because the state was not going to put me back in. They felt that i was not going to be able to keep up. The classes were were too easy for me. I was kinda like a tutor, or an amswering machine answering the questions on asignments that were given in classes, which i had already got done, I can't say i may all As, because i did not even try, and did not study. I had a 3.6GPA. I found out when i took the ACT does not get counted with the regular classes. I did get a 19 on my ACT, which surprosed the teachers there. When i got out i went to community college where i live in KY: I had to learn grammer, beasue i really did not learn in Special Ed classes, a they did was read some books and you had to write about what you thought of the book. IT took me 5 years to get where i am now I had disabilities, but they can't keep me from learning. I am now in bible college making almost all As.
I want to say that they had about text books i had to use the same one in Junior high school to high school, talk about cheap. I had large print books. I dont know how bad it is in Texas, but i know KY is bad too.
Finally i want to say that I over came it all Through My Lord and Savior Jesus, with out Him i woulod not have over same my set back. I had struggles with rumors and all kinds of things in school, but HE was with me the whole way. there are not many Special Ed Teacheres that really care, I can only think of about 3 to 5. I want to thank you for careg and showing a desired to educate them. God Bless

[Unregistered]

I couldn't agree more, or sympathize more.

I taught English at a public middle school in West Palm Beach, Florida, and it was like a hell on earth! I had 40 kids to a class, with the classroom having no more than 30 chairs. The kids would not stop fighting for a second, and other teachers would complain to the administration about you not being in control before they would ever help.

The school administration did not care or respond when I repeatedly asked for help with more textbooks or teaching supplies. When I asked for help using their grading program, they told me that they would get to me eventually. When I explained that I need help figuring out how to grade so many papers from so many students, they suggested I "cook the books." When I called the teacher's union, they told me they could send an experienced teacher to help me - next month - and then that she could only help me for twenty minutes each time, and only once per month.

I'd be on my cell phone calling parents about their barbaric children constantly. I'd assign detentions, suspensions, none of it mattered or did any good; and the parents only cared because it was an inconvenience to them to have to pick up their little brats after work or later.

The pay was ok, but the conditions, staff, and the way the schools are run in Palm Beach County, FL, made teaching in the public school system a true nightmare on earth.

[Unregistered]

I had one great teacher in LA, she helped me, encouraged me and expected the best from me, as best as I can do. There were some nasty teachers though, one that made me break down in tears occassionally, I think she was more of an administrater. What was she doing in a resource class? Anyway, I took it upon myself to keep reading to become better, study smart and believe in yourself no matter what curriculum is given. I plan on becoming a teacher so that I can do what that one teacher did for me. It's good when you've been in that student's shoes and how to accommodate.

[Unregistered]

I was an aide in a special education school for several years so I know what you're talking about! Teachers had to wait such a long time just to get anything! I worked with a little boy who was autistic, and was working at a much higher level than the other children in his 1-2 grade class. I had to go into the "book room"... actually an old locker room that was infested with mice and cockroaches and who knows what else... and search through textbooks left over from the 80's just to find things challenging enough for this little boy. The other kids in the class were mostly learning from things the teacher made by hand or printed off the internet.

[Unregistered]

I have been teaching Sped for 15 years and I have been in the same shape many places. I have taught in 3 states and at all levels. If you ever get a chance contact the AGS publishing company and they have wonderful texts for Sped students and often do not mind sending you a classroom set to try. My situation did not change until the sped kids had to pass the state assessments or the schools lost funding or were put on probation--then everyone cares.

K.Rice