When working with special education teachers, I find it difficult. I do not get to discuss things with her much, as we have different schedules. While I could discuss students with her at certain times, the school does not give us a prep period, and wants us to coach the seniors to graduation. However, with coaching, we are not given certain requirements. We are supposed to coach seniors, and it's not a clear process. Basically, we (the school) want them to graduate, so we coach students that we do not necessarily even have for our own classes. So, the school definitely keeps the teachers busy.
It is difficult to figure out how we should help the students, as some students talk about how their IEPs allow them to have help for tests and quizzes and even pre-tests. Then other students ask for help, and they cannot receive help for those. Also, since it is an online program, each teacher has a different policy for what they do for things such as unlocking tests. It is also difficult to talk to her (the resource teacher), because she also teaches Spanish and is also constantly busy, just like everyone else. I have difficulties knowing all of the students IEP's, especially since I help in the computer lab, when all of those students are not even my students. I definitely can work more closely with the Resource (Special Ed) teacher.
However, on a side note, I helped some of the student in the PRIDE program, which is the special education students who had behavioral problems due to their mental disabilities. That has been a good and enlightening experience. Despite the "behavioral problems," these students were really nice students, and very well behaved in my opinion. It was good to tutor them on a Friday, and in the future, hopefully I will tutor them some more.
in a small program like this you are wearing a lot of hats. I know that it is exhausting. But, you are learning so much that will help you down the road.
ReplyDelete