I Missed a minor detail

     I woke early to catch up on my blog and lo and behold I missed a minor detail. I can't add a post to my blog from our blogs listed on the site. I need to sign out, then sign in.  Live and learn, I hope to catch up tonight. Enjoy the day.

Despite my best plans, there was no hint of paradise in my class today. Two steps forward- one step back. Today was a giant step back.  I find that the five kids, yes, there are only five,  do not appear to have the skill set for learning. Four major problems continue to plague me and our two ed techs:
      1)  students are closed to instruction, they already know everything and have no tolerance for      
            teacher instruction (or is it they have no tolerance for the teacher's authority- power & control     
           or because they want their own way)
      2)  students have an incessant need for attention (love me, love me, love me do)
      3)  students do not work alone or in groups for more than ten minutes (feelings of inadequacy?)
      4)  students lack coping skills and demonstrate low frustration tolerance which culminates in
           physical violence, swearing,  name calling and/or yelling
 
   
     The day ended with Kyle (all names are pseudonyms) punching an ed tech because he didn't want to go upstairs. He went home, of course, but there's so much need. Tim topple over a divider and tore a wall poster because the photographer (it was picture day) asked him to sit with his legs off to the side for his photo. It was uncomfortable. Christine cried and cried, well, I'm not a hundred percent sure, but she cries most afternoons. Airel yelled, screeched really,  because she didn't want to sit next to Kyle and Jeb refused to count money from the school store because he didn't get his way about something.
   
     Tough day!

   


 

Welcome to my world and the opportunity to explore the challenges and rewards of running a day treatment program for children with emotional and behavioral disabilities. 
My Philosophy:

"Kids would be well if they can." I totally ascribe to Ross Greene’s Plan B which you will find on line at 

http://www.livesinthebalance.org

The attached video outlines his philosophy.

Hiam Gignot's poem hangs in my class:

The Teacher - An Instrument of Power
by Haim Ginott

I have come to a frightening conclusion.
I am the decisive element in the classroom.

It is my personal approach that creates the climate.
It is my daily mood that makes the weather.

As a teacher I possess tremendous power
to make a child's life miserable or joyous.
I can be a tool of torture
or an instrument of inspiration.

I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal.
In all situations, it is my response
that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated,
and a child humanized or de-humanized.