Journal for 12/11/09

We met with the mom today, and the special ed director was able to join us too. I was the first to see her - to take her into the conference room. I just tried to make her feel comfortable and talk about the shopping she did yesterday, etc. The special ed director was really able to help by suggesting a counselor in town that also uses horse therapy. So the mom is going to start with that and with talking to her allergy doctor to see if they can direct her (apparently he's allergic to a lot of things, and this might be one cause of his behavior). The mom is also moving to day shift, so that will hopefully bring more consistency with homework and behavior after school. We were able to suggest some activities to do with him at home after school to help develop some other interests besides computer games and also to give him some quality time with his mom - we also thought that maybe as one of the middle children (and as a quieter one) that maybe he is getting overlooked or "lost" (those were more his mom's thoughts, and then we fed off those). She cried and expressed her regrets as a mom, and they were quick to assure her that she had not failed as a mother.

I shared some encouraging, positive things about her son with her. I also told her that the fact that she had come in meant something HUGE! I hope things start to turn around. Our problem now is that we don't know what consequence to have for his disrespect in the class. Some consequences just make him more mad and angry and he gets into one of his "moods"; other consequences he just doesn't respond to - he ignores more. Obviously, we could send him down to the assisstant principal for discipline issues but his form of "punishment" is not what I believe this child needs or is appropriately considering we don't know the cause of his behavior. I just don't feel that's fair to him (if that makes sense). My teacher and I discussed it, and we are at a loss at this point. I am hoping that the change at home will help turn things around. We'll see. It just might take some time.

The principal was supposed to get back to me about a time that would work for an interview, but he hasn't. I have not bothered him about it again. Any suggestions? I feel like the couple times that I already talked to him about it, it was a "bother" just because he is busy; I could have been reading more into it, of couse. I just want to be respectful.

Also, I think Monday I am going to share my decline in the aide position. Is that the proper way to handle that? (I think so; I just want to make sure) I just want to be honest with him and tell him that for personal reasons, I just feel led down a different direction this semester and that as much as I appreciate the opportunity, the other options I had in mind are just going to fit my needs better. Should I also apologize for showing a lot of interest and not accepting? Just curious if you had any suggestions or words of wisdom.

My teacher also told me that she was proud of the way I handled the aide. We were discussing the sub that I will be working with on Tuesday and how controlling she is and that led to discussing the aide. I won't go into detail, but she just said I had done well. She also said something about the "things she had said when I wasn't looking or she didn't think I could hear"; again, some of the things she says makes me wonder WHY she says them to me. The other day too, the student we are trying to figure out would not go to library/talk to us about what was going on. He never did tell us what was wrong, but in the meeting today, she brought that up and definitely used the reason I had asked the student about which involved an activity I was doing with him...she may mean nothing by it, but almost every time, it has really surprised me.

I will miss her...we've developed a good relationship. I love that aspect of student teaching...so much!

Have a great weekend...any last weekend plans? :)