MEAP......

A fellow teacher (thanks April!) posted this gem today and it really made me smile.  This is so true for the MEAP test... not only is it an unfair assessment of GENERAL ED kids, it is absolutely absurd to make students with Special Needs take it, as well.  My kids are like the fish; flopping around, gasping for breath, never really making it to the tree. The dog could at least walk up to the tree, and so could the seal.  The elephant could just flatten it and stand on it. The penguin could wobble up to it and hop around a bit ;), the bird could fly to the top, and the monkey would have an easy go, no question.

MEAP rant over.

Now on to how I was Specially Educated today.  This week has been particularly challenging behaviorally for my kiddos.  I'm really starting to think that this phase of the moon has grabbed a hold of two of them and just won't let go.

Today was my worst day with L.  He was just so absolutely out of control that by the time we got to OT (Occupational Therapy) group after lunch, he was through the three steps of the behavior plan (Warning, Take 2, Take 3 which is a Time Out in the seclusion room) more than three times in a 30 minute period.  After constant screaming, spitting, fake farting, potty words, and punching a Gen Ed kid in class, I wound up calling his mom to come get him from school, because the other kiddos had spent the rest of the day NOT learning because nobody could hear me/maintain my attention long enough.  When he came out of Time Out for the last time before going home, I asked him to put his shoes back on (he often takes them off for sensory issues... his feet tend to get really hot really quick!) and put his folder in his bag.  At this point, he said in a very serious voice, "WHAT DID YOU DO..." realizing that I had called his mom.  When the light bulb lit up above his head, so to speak, he picked up his tiny tennis shoe and chucked it at me, hitting me square in the chest.  When I addressed the shoe with a "L, that's not appropriate..." he picked up the second shoe and chucked IT at me, hitting me in the hip. This is not typical of L, so I didn't take it personally. Still... Frustration. I was terrified to speak to his mom when she got there for fear of her being angry about the situation.  Fortunately, she's an amazing woman who only wants what is best for her little boy.  She thanked me for being so consistent with his behavior(s) and ensured me she would be contacting his doctor to explain that he has absolutely no impulse control.  Let's hope the doctor has some ideas on how to help!

Another boy, R, is usually in Gen Ed at least 90% of the day (YAAAAAAAY!! That's the goal :)) but has been with me a lot more this week because of MEAP testing.  He's my only MEAPer this year, thank goodness.  This week he has had the WORST attitude I have seen from him; blatantly refusing to do his work in both my room AND in Gen Ed, as well as flat out refusing to come back to my room when the Gen Ed teacher requested he leave.This is also very a-typical behavior.

Now on to the point of the blog... I realized how I was Specially Educated today when venting with my Social Worker (who is phenomenal!) after school.  While voicing my concerns (and ideas) to her, I stated out loud that times like these are when these boys need me the most!  Time to put my game face on and remain consistent.  We're going to get through this challenging week and come out looking better than we came in :)

I already have an idea (thanks to influence from L's mom) on how to HOPEFULLY put a damper on the potty words: instead of a Swear Jar, we will have an Oops Jar or a Potty Mouth Jar (the latter may be too "silly" to have the correct effect) for the students to place tickets in from the new token economy when they say a "potty word".  Yeah, I like this :) They will have the opportunity to earn tickets back if they can refrain from the behavior for a chosen period of time.

Here's to hoping this works!