tired of reg. ed. teaching not helping my kids

I sounds like that teacher may be out of compliance with those children’s IEP modifications. If so, I’d contact my special ed. director for help.

Janis

I get tired of it too but I get motivated again by the thought that I’m doing the right things for the kids. Without you to do this, where would they be?

I love the smile I see on a student’s face when they’re successful and appreciate the look of relief when I read the chapter out loud or tape it. How many times in a day do these kids get told to do something they cannot do on their own? What kind of anxiety do they live with?

Your wonderful work supports these kids despite the lack of support they get from this regular teacher. And the success you help them to can be built on in their future when you and I aren’t there any more. Success breeds success. Your help can help them in more ways than school.

Not every student who needs it has a resource room teacher like you. Your kids are lucky.

That is why I get so frustrated. I care so much about my kids and I feel that I have let them down. That is why I get so upset. I love my kids. I guess I just wish others would feel the same way. These kids depend on me. I don’t like to let them feel too discouraged. Thanks for helping me put things into perspective.
P.S. The spec. ed. supervisor (who is also our principal) knows about the whole situation and is going to send a memo to all the teachers. That is why I like to handle things on my own, but the reg. ed. teacher is very angry with me now, because she “doesn’t have time” to let me know what my students are doing for the week. You see, I should “know” what she is doing as well as the other 3 teachers I keep track of for my kids!!!!

As a mom, I want to second what Sara said. My NLD son would be having a very tough time this year if it weren’t for a wonderful SPED teacher who runs interference for him, modifies his tests and homework, and does re-teaches to pick up the stuff that falls through the cracks, he would be lost this year.

Thank you for the work you are doing for your kids. They need you all the more with teachers like this!

Karen

I really know how you feel. Been there. And I am glad that your principal is aware that there are uncooperative teachers. The good thing about that is next year, that teacher should have NO special ed. students in her class! (Remond your principal!). We very carefully choose the classes for our students when possible. Now granted, one teacher can’t have them all. But really, teachers with that kind of attitude either need to be taken out of the classroom altogether (which is unlikely with tenure), or else children with special needs should not be placed in those classes to suffer. You can really tell a teacher who loves her students vs. one who just goes to collect a paycheck. There are a few of the latter in most schools. And it is just delightful to have a regular teacher who goes out of her way to meet the needs of ALL her students! I have a few of those this year and it really is encouraging!

And one more thing, I think there is no greater service that we can offer a child than to love and value them as people. I am surely not a perfect teacher, but my “kids” know I love them just as I’ll bet yours do! And that is all the more important when people like that inflexible, uncaring teacher are around.

Janis

I just have to comment. I am a former sp. ed. teacher, and am currently in a regular classroom. I have seen both sides. Currently I have 5 students out of 20 on IEP’s. It is wearing me out trying to prepare the right things for everybody. I am fortunate to have 15 regular ed. students who are very independent workers. There is only so much time in the day. I don’t know the teacher’s load you are referring to so I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she is getting worn out too.

I am sure that there are reg. ed. teachers who don’t get enough support too. But I would HOPE that in those cases, the reg. ed. teachers are screaming to their superiors about the situation, with the SPED teachers right at their sides. The ones who truly suffer the most in these situations are the children who desperately need the help they don’t get.

Karen

Hmmm…. anything you could do to give her more time? Or some diplomatic token of acknowledging her efforts? Or you can up the ante in the power game and let your principal know that her response to being asked for more cooperation is to give less, and it’s the kids who are paying hte price — is there a way you could get a volunteer parent (or student from a higher grade?) to do the reading, copy the lesson plans?

I can understand the reg. ed. teacher being frustrated and being busy. We all are, right? I am more than willing to modify work, I usually do it anyways, I just ask that I am informed ahead of time. I don’t think that is asking too much. This is the middle school and I know what it is like to have different levels of kids, but if I am willing to do the modifying what’s the deal? I know that having students with varying levels make it more challenging, but I think teachers need to realize that students are not cut from the same cookie cutter. Some (not all) teachers think they are. I guess I just feel dumped on and there is no one to talk to about this around my school. I don’t mind doing the work, I just need to know about it, since I follow 3 lesson plans. Thanks again,

Unfortunately, Janis, she is the only middle school history teacher. She will always have my students. Nothing I can do about that.

Sorry to hear that!!! We’ll just have to hope that she gets a new heart like the Grinch then won’t we? :-) (Can you tell I have a 6 year old?!)

Janis

You wrote:

>>I am more than willing to modify work, I usually do it anyways, I just ask that I am informed ahead of time. I don’t think that is asking too much.<<

I don’t think it’s too much to ask at all. If I were the parents of those kids and the classroom teacher wasn’t giving you the information you needed to do the modifications my child needed, I’d be all over whoever was in charge to make SURE it got done. Again, thank you for caring enough to be concerned about it!

Karen

I have been following this discussion with some interest. I believe that part of the issue here is that the admin teams from schools need to acknowledge the work that all parties working with the child do.

It is “a big ask” that all collaboration between interested parties takes place after school, in the hallways or over the stafroom tables. If work and planning are to be valued then I believe that money needs to be set aside to allow for this sharing of information to happen.

In my school I have allocated some of the money allocated to each special needs student to be used as replacement for a relief teacher to supervise the class while I set and plan with the teacher. Once this happens then you will find that often the majority of teachers are willing to be involved in part of the team working for the child.

It does not seem fair that because a teacher is good with these students that they over loaded, which then leads to burnout and a reluctance to have special needs students in subsequent years.

I have a heard of one teacher who said ” If I stuff up with this child and don’t co-operate they will never give me another one” A SAD STATE OF AffAIRS.
However I do not believe that the majority of teachers are like this and I have found the teachers on myh staff willing to always go that extra mile.

H from Oz

I have been following this discussion with some interest. I believe that part of the issue here is that the admin teams from schools need to acknowledge the work that all parties working with the child do.

It is “a big ask” that all collaboration between interested parties takes place after school, in the hallways or over the stafroom tables. If work and planning are to be valued then I believe that money needs to be set aside to allow for this sharing of information to happen.

In my school I have allocated some of the money allocated to each special needs student to be used as replacement for a relief teacher to supervise the class while I set and plan with the teacher. Once this happens then you will find that often the majority of teachers are willing to be involved in part of the team working for the child.

It does not seem fair that because a teacher is good with these students that they over loaded, which then leads to burnout and a reluctance to have special needs students in subsequent years.

I have a heard of one teacher who said ” If I stuff up with this child and don’t co-operate they will never give me another one” A SAD STATE OF AffAIRS.
However I do not believe that the majority of teachers are like this and I have found the teachers on myh staff willing to always go that extra mile.

H from Oz

I guess my biggest worry is that I will become burned out and not want to teach spec. ed. anymore. I tend to do too much and worry too much. As my second year of teaching, I feel less stress in general. I am so thankful I can come here and vent. Most of the teachers are really great with my kids. Just once in awhile I feel we have taken a step back.

I love the idea of setting aside some time to work together (and get paid for it), like what hcooper suggested. I like to feel I am on top of things and can take care of it all. I will suggest this to my principal, not sure if it would happen. This school district is fairly poor. Thanks…