dumb question

How awkward. It’s certainly an oversight on the classroom teacher’s part.

Why not go with the same explanation as was offered last year and say you’re there to help everybody but some maybe a little bit more than others.

Hey that’s not a dumb question!!! I work with about 5 reg. ed. teachers in the junior high. Most do not say who I am. They just know me as Miss Warner. That really bothers me. After a few weeks, the students understand who I am. I just hate that my job is such a secret. I had one student call me the student “assistant”. I corrected him right away. I am proud to be a special ed. teacher that helps all students. It is only courtesy for the teacher to introduce you. Just my thoughts.

How’s this strike you as even ‘dumber’? We have 6 special education teachers in our high school. About 50% of our time is spent in collaborative classes where we co-teach with the general education teachers in English, Social Studies, the sciences, and Algebra and Geometry. The other 50% of our time is spent in pull-out resource classes. Last year when the school year book was published, the year book sponsor had placed all the special education teachers in with the classified employees (the teacher assistants, the custodians, and the food service workers). When one of the sp.ed. teachers voiced mild annoyance with this, she replied, “I thought you were just assistants or helpers.” She has taught at this school for 20+ years.

Actually, I regret that I titled this as a dumb question. Some teachers handle this so well and others just don’t know what to do. Obviously, the ones that address it dispel any kind of weird secretive feelings and bring it out in the open where it needs to be. The truth is that we are learning specialist, and what we see and do benefits all students in the classroom.

I asked the teacher if I could introduce myself to the students and explain why I was in the room. It went very well. I also pointed out to the students that I was the one who created most of the visuals used in the classroom during math. I brought a Franklin Speller and other A.T. with me to concretely demonstrate how some of the materials I will be using with them can help all students to learn better.

Thanks for your comments. It’s nice to hear that happens to others.

KY Teacher,

Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beth

Ohhhh beth, I love that… Learning Specialist…. that is the perfect title. I know declare I am a learning specialist. yessssss I am so excited………..I usually tell kids I am the spec. ed. teacher. But the learning specialist, sounds so cool!!!

I second that! That is such a better title for us. I work in an elemenatary school and constantly feel like a paraprofessional when I work in the classrooms!! Thanks for the new name!!! Cynthia

How awkward. It’s certainly an oversight on the classroom teacher’s part.

Why not go with the same explanation as was offered last year and say you’re there to help everybody but some maybe a little bit more than others.

Hey that’s not a dumb question!!! I work with about 5 reg. ed. teachers in the junior high. Most do not say who I am. They just know me as Miss Warner. That really bothers me. After a few weeks, the students understand who I am. I just hate that my job is such a secret. I had one student call me the student “assistant”. I corrected him right away. I am proud to be a special ed. teacher that helps all students. It is only courtesy for the teacher to introduce you. Just my thoughts.

How’s this strike you as even ‘dumber’? We have 6 special education teachers in our high school. About 50% of our time is spent in collaborative classes where we co-teach with the general education teachers in English, Social Studies, the sciences, and Algebra and Geometry. The other 50% of our time is spent in pull-out resource classes. Last year when the school year book was published, the year book sponsor had placed all the special education teachers in with the classified employees (the teacher assistants, the custodians, and the food service workers). When one of the sp.ed. teachers voiced mild annoyance with this, she replied, “I thought you were just assistants or helpers.” She has taught at this school for 20+ years.

Actually, I regret that I titled this as a dumb question. Some teachers handle this so well and others just don’t know what to do. Obviously, the ones that address it dispel any kind of weird secretive feelings and bring it out in the open where it needs to be. The truth is that we are learning specialist, and what we see and do benefits all students in the classroom.

I asked the teacher if I could introduce myself to the students and explain why I was in the room. It went very well. I also pointed out to the students that I was the one who created most of the visuals used in the classroom during math. I brought a Franklin Speller and other A.T. with me to concretely demonstrate how some of the materials I will be using with them can help all students to learn better.

Thanks for your comments. It’s nice to hear that happens to others.

KY Teacher,

Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beth

Ohhhh beth, I love that… Learning Specialist…. that is the perfect title. I know declare I am a learning specialist. yessssss I am so excited………..I usually tell kids I am the spec. ed. teacher. But the learning specialist, sounds so cool!!!

I second that! That is such a better title for us. I work in an elemenatary school and constantly feel like a paraprofessional when I work in the classrooms!! Thanks for the new name!!! Cynthia