Social Skills

Wow!  It sure has been a LONG time since I have blogged.  I apologize for my absence, but I must say this move has been more difficult than I anticipated it being.  I thought it would be a walk in the park since I spoke the language.  Boy was I wrong!  It has taken me months to just figure out the grocery stores!  Anyway, now that I feel more comfortable, I am going to get better about blogging.

So...

I know that I posted this fall about my new job, but I haven't posted anything about what I have actually been doing. I am working with 3 students who have been identified as Aspergers and are all in a mainstreamed classroom.  One of the students I am working with is in middle school & has been working on effectively working in cooperative groups.  Another student & I are working on social interaction.  He has the skills to interact with his peers, but as he says, "I just don't see why I have to play with other kids.  I like myself."  My third student is working on task completion and classroom participation.

I have been doing a wide variety of things with the kids I have been working with because they are all at different points in their AU lives.  I am working in much more of a therapist role, although if I am being honest, I still don't really feel as comfortable in this role as in my previous role.  I am hoping that blogging about my new job will help me sort myself out and help me become just as comfortable in this role.

First things first...

I have been using fewer picture cues and more lists & flow charts than ever before.  For my one child who likes himself, we had to develop a plan for how to approach people on the playground.  Recess at my school is very different than in the States.  Everyone, K-8, has recess at the same time two times a day.  It is wonderful, in that there are so many opportunities to interact with a variety of kids and to engage in a wider range of activities.  On the downside, it is a bit overwhelming when you don't know what to do.  This particular student didn't know how to join into a group or even how to approach someone to play. We were able to create a flow-chart to help him know what to do.  He was so funny when we were creating it, because he was very particular about how he wanted it to be color coded because the colors all had a significant meaning for him.  When he first began using the script, he was very rigid and couldn't vary the script at all; but eventually, he was able to deal with the fluctuations in responses and adapt his questions and statements. (The statements on this chart are in his own words.)

When we started to work on other ways to approach someone, he suggested that we make another flow-chart.  At one point, I think we had 5 different flow-charts on approaching people and asking to join and/or play a game!  I was so flow-charted out it was crazy, but he was so gung-ho for them I had to giggle.  Gotta love AU kiddos!

Collecting data digitally

So in my goal to go digital, I have been struggling with making things work. One of the things I have done to try to help my digital data collection, is to buy Notebinder. It is an app for my iPad. So far, I am liking this app because I can have virtual binders with tabs that resemble the binders I used previously. I like the virtual binder over the bound binder, because it takes up significantly less space and I can still separate things with tabs. I am able to write using my different color pens & everything. If there are notes that I take, I can directly email to anyone from the app itself. So I am more punctual about sending stuff to parents and peers.

My one problem has been actual data collection. I have found 2 apps to help me, one of which I threw out immediately. It was more of a way to track antecedents (which is not something I need right now). The other being BehaviorTrackerPro.

I used Behavior Tracker some last year on my phone and was able to get fabulous customer service switching the app from my Android phone to my iPad. So I am really keen on using it since they were so helpful. However, as I am not yet fluent with it, my data collection has been all over the board.
With my paper/pen data sheets, I was able to easily see how I collected data differently for each task. The electronic app only collects data in reserved ways. Has anyone else found an electronic way to track data that works for them. At this point, I am seriously considering downloading excell for my iPad so I can use my old sheets!

So I feel that I have been out of touch with the blogging world for too long & it is time to get back into the swing of things.  I haven't even read any of my favorite blogs lately, I feel like I have forsaken my friends!!

What's new in the world of me?  I have a J-O-B!!  Yeah me!!!!!  I am only working part time right now, with the potential for full-time down the road, but it is better than nothing.  I am no longer a classroom teacher (boo-hoo), but I am with my personal kids and I am still working with autistic spectrum kiddos.  I am doing more therapy in my current role.  It's different, but I have some great kiddos and I'm enjoying it.

This new job has really made me miss my classroom days though.  That being said, I am enjoying doing things I haven't been able to do in YEARS!  I never thought I would miss having to always wear sneakers everyday, and although I like cute shoes, they aren't entirely comfortable.  I have actually been able to wear jewelry to work.  I don't think I have done that in at least 12 years!  I was toying with the idea of wearing a skirt to work next week, but it has been so long, I don't know if I have one that fits.  I am enjoying these "perks", but I do miss the classroom.  As challenging as everything was, and all of the angst it caused me, I truly miss it!

More to come on my adventures in England!

The Big Move

WOW!  Things have been quite insane in my family for the last few weeks.  We are finally in our new  house (minus our stuff).  We lived with relatives for a little over 1 week, because the movers came to pack all of our stuff up in early August.  We landed in the UK about 2 weeks ago, but didn't have reliable internet access until today.  My family is living out of suitcases and sleeping on rental furniture until our container arrives.  I got word yesterday that it was here & had cleared customs, now we are just waiting for the movers to bring it to us this coming Monday.  It should be interesting for the remainder of the week, because my kids start school tomorrow!  No lunch boxes or "school" clothes.  Oh well, we will make due.

I have been offered a position, but I am still not 100% sure of my role.  Everyone here is much more laid back about everything & as such, I still don't have a start date.  All that I do know is that I won't have a classroom, but I will be working with students on the spectrum.

I have no idea what this new role means for my blog, not that I have gotten very far into it.  We shall see.  Hopefully I will get a better understanding of my new role in the coming days.  In the meantime, I am going to practice driving on the left side of the road & try not to get honked at in roundabouts!

The Versatile Blogger

Karlie, over at We are ALL Special! has nominated me for The Versatile Blogger award.  Thank you Karlie!  I am very new to the whole blog thing, so I still find it surprising that anyone reads my blog!  Thanks for being one of my followers Karlie!


One of the rules for receiving this award, is to give 7 random facts about myself, so here goes...


1.  Wonder Woman is my hero!  During rough weeks, I pack my lunch in a Wonder Woman lunch box.  It always makes me feel better!
2.  I prefer the mountains to the beach.
3.  I wish I could wear a dress to work; not every day, just once in a while.          
4.  I constantly quote movies, even when I'm teaching.
5.  I love teaching Science.
6.  My favorite color is green.
7.  I love Vietnamese food.  My family goes just about every Friday to our favorite vietnamese restaurant for dinner.


I have nominated others for this award based on a few things.  First, if I was able to improve my teaching because I something I learned while reading their blog.  Second, if I was able to "steal" an idea for an organizational method or task.  Third, if I was inspired or uplifted by reading their blog.  Here are the people I nominate for The Versatile Blogger award:


Busy Bee Andrea

Adapting Creatively

Keeping it True in K-1-2


Special Ed Pre-k: Early Intervention Special Education

Adventures in Tutoring & Special Education

A Special Kind of Class



Creating and Teaching




I am supposed to nominate 15 people for this award, but I don't have 15 blogs to nominate so instead, I am nominating these 8 people for their blogs.


Thank you for helping me become a better teacher!



Here are the seven rules to follow when receiving this award:
1. Thank the blogger who nominated you.  
2. Include a link to their blog.  
3. Include the award image in your post.  
4. Give 7 random facts about yourself.  
5. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award.  
6. When nominating, include a link to their blog.  
7. Let other bloggers know they've been nominated. 

Data Collection...continued

Ok, so I got a bit sidetracked by my well-deserved and much needed vacation.  But I'm back now, still working, even though I have offically resigned my position.  A Special Ed teacher's job is NEVER finished! 

I have spent the last few hours trying to clean off my laptop so I can return it to the MOST awesome media tech person I have ever worked with! In the process of doing that, I came across the pictures I "lost" in my pictures folder.  Now that I have found them, I can continue my post on data. 

The Process...

of collecting data is always easier when you have the right tools.  One of my favorites...

my colored pens!  Colored pens save my eyes when it comes time to write progress reports and new IEPs.
I end up with tons in my car by the end of the week. 


This is one of my data collection sheets I keep at my Morning Meeting table.  One of my kids got carried away with the BENQ & spilled my coffee all over the table. 
 This is the type of clipboard I use.  Mine has stuff taped all over it, but I couldn't find it.  It's packed up somewhere!

This is a file folder task that is in a center basket for 3 of my kids. Some times, I have to add keys to the bottom of my data sheets, but most of them are there in the key.  I tape a lot of stuff to the back of my tasks (or to the bottom of work baskets).

This is an old data sheet that I used for a while to document the behavior of one of my kids, but it only had one behavior to track and I was constantly flipping back & forth to the pages..

so I created this one instead.

This one tracks multiple behaviors in the same 15 min increments and I can keep 2 days worth of data on the same page.

This is a data sheet that I got from someone else.  I was using it to try and determine an antecedent for behavior.  It certainly helped me narrow it down to 2 antecedents.  Too bad my kid is moving on, but so is his data, so hopefully his teacher next year will be able to tease it out even further.  I kept these in a folder near the timeout area, because it was the most convienent.  I have a folder for each of my kids that I keep in a standing file on a shelf with at least 3 pens (just in case one runs out).  The colored pens especially helped on these pages, because I would write in a different color for each day.  It helped with teasing out antecedents.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Last Day

Last Day...

I had intended for my next post to be a continuation of my previous post on data collection, but I just couldn't let today be over-looked.

Today was my last day at school, both with students and in general.  My resignation was effective today, so I have no workdays, no professional development, nothing left.  It has been a really difficult day for me.  Not only did I graduate 3 of my students who have been with me since our school opened, but it was also the last day I will work in NC!

Don't get me wrong, I am really excited about my family's move "across the pond", but I am really going to miss my life here.  I have taught in my county for 12 years.  I have made many friends and I have some incredible colleagues.

I always get emotional on the last day, because in Special Ed., you usually have kids for multiple years and they become almost like your family.  I refer to my class as "my kids".  They aren't my students, they are my kids.  I have personal kids and I have school kids.  I teach so much more than reading, writing, math, science and social studies.  I teach manners; I potty train; I teach independence; I teach self-expression.  Today I got to look back on how we have grown as a class and it amazes me.  It amazed and overwhelmed me.

Three times this week, a new staff member commented to me about how well behaved and vocal one of my students was.  It has been a gradual progression with this student, so people who have been at our school for a while don't see the change like a new comer does.  I have been feeling nostalgic this week, so it really took me aback, because if you knew this student 3 years ago, you never would have thought we would be where we are today.  Three years ago, I had bruises ALL over my arms & legs from where she would hit & kick me or from when I would trip over furniture when I attempted to hurdle an object to catch her before she bolted out of the door.  She didn't talk and you couldn't get within 5 feet of her without her hissing and lashing out at you.  I had to call 911 once when she escaped.  She ran so often, the Sheriff's Department provided her with a GPS bracelet!   Today, she greeted everyone as they came into class.  And today, she also sat in close proximity to others during our Talent Show.  I have not only been able to teach with the door open, but we don't have to keep our door alarm set!

Another of my kids who has been with me since the beginning, not only walked down our "aisle" to Pomp & Circumstance, but he wore his cap for the entire ceremony and even let me put 2 medals around his neck.  This is a kid, who 3 years ago when we went to Special Olympics, it took 3 of us just to get him from the competition area to the awards podium.  When I tried to pin the ribbon on him, he punched me.

One of my students even sang in the Talent Show today!  The kid has always been a ham, but he was the kind of kid who was constantly moving, even when he was sitting still.  And goodness gracious, if he touched anything, it would bounce on the floor 800 times because he would fumble so bad trying to pick it up and there were times when he would fall down in the process.  Today, he stood on stage, swaying to the music (very appropriately) and didn't fumble with the microphone at all!  His song was beautiful and I wasn't the only one who cried when he sang!

I have watched this group of kids go from a rag-tag group, to a polite, well-behaved class.  Don't get me wrong, we certainly still have our moments, but today was wonderful.  Compared to other days this year, it wasn't much different, but compared to days that first year...WOW!  We sure have come a long way!

I am mentally and physically drained from the emotional roller coaster I have been on this week, but especially from today.  When I was finally ready to leave today and my room was bare, I must have stood in the doorway for 5 minutes having one of those movie moments.  The one, where the past flashes before your eyes and you remember exactly where a certain person was at a certain moment in time.  I won't even teach in room 1407 again and I cried for a little while.  I could go on crying, but I know that I have left my kids with great skills that will help them in the future.  Although, that gets me crying for a whole other reason...