[MOSAIC] Student teacher question/immature students

[Deidra & Jim Chandler]

I want to jump in on this conversation because I've been the recipient of 
these classes on a regular basis for my entire career. Once other teachers 
and administration realized I could 'handle' kids with 'issues' then I 
became the first person they thought of for placement of that child. I've 
had so many children with behavioral, learning, physical, emotional 
disabilities that I could have worked in the Exceptional Children's program 
had my license not been something else. My last  class had an autistic 
child, three who were being raised by grandparents, six ADHA with only three 
medicated, one with severe temper tantrums that caused me to have to 
evacuate the room and call for administrative help (multiple times), one 
with Reactive Attachment Disorder, five with speech and hearing 
disabilities, five that qualified for Exceptional Children's (also known as 
Spec. Ed.) program, and one with a very low IQ who didn't qualify for EC. 
All this in a class of 24 where 16 were boys, and all but two of the above 
mentioned disabilities were boys. A stacked room? Yes, it was. It always 
amazes me that teachers who complain about the unfairness of their situation 
when they are placed in their classrooms get so much more help than I ever 
did.(I'm thinking about a former colleague here.) They really challenge your 
abilities and knowledge. I think there is value in working successfully with 
these kinds of children.

Deidra Chandler
Retired/NC
MA Early Childhood
MultiSensory Structured Language Intervention Tutor
MA Reading ( graduating in Dec. 07)





----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Renee" <phoenixone at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" 
<mosaic at literacyworkshop.org>; "lori.labrum" <lori.labrum at m.sesc.k12.ut.us>
Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2007 11:40 AM
Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Student teacher question/immature students


>
> On Jul 29, 2007, at 8:20 AM, lori.labrum wrote:
>
>> But at the same time is isn't fair to give all the challenges to an
>> experienced teacher.
>
> No, not really. NO teacher should have ALL the "challenging" students
> in a grade level.
>
>> ..... snip ......
>> But with the make-up of the class, 32 with so many challenges, we were
>> given another third grade teacher.  So to not
>> give that new teacher any challenges defeats the purpose of being
>> there. Yes, I understand that 16 with many challenges is easier than
>> 32 with many challenges, but why have 10 challenges in one class?
>> Which 6 students do you choose to put in there with them?  I'll take
>> my share of the challenges, but I am worn out after teaching such
>> large classes to meld together along with all the challenge students.
>
> I am always surprised and amazed and kind of intrigued that this even
> goes on anywhere. I have worked in three different districts and in
> every case much energy has been put into balancing classes by gender,
> by ability, by behavior issues. Dumping on new teachers is especially
> ridiculous.
>
> I don't get it.
> Renee
>
> "El fin de toda educacion debe ser seguramente el servicio a otros."
> ~ Cesar Chavez
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Mosaic mailing list
> Mosaic at literacyworkshop.org
> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to
> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org.
>
> Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
>
>