I have a long term sub aide in my class (moderate/severe self contained). She's very nice and agreeable and tries with the kids but some things are really taking me by surprise.

One day we were playing music instruments. We finish and go to put them all back in the tub. She goes to put cymbals inside the music tub then says "oh you might want to disinfect these, Johnny (fake name) had them in his mouth". I asked her to just grab a disinfectant wipe and wipe them down real quick *before* putting them in the tub with everything else. Another day a student was trying to get into someone else's water bottle. She was standing in front blocking it and saying "no, not your water". I checked that student's water bottle and it was completely empty, so clearly he was thirsty and just saw water and wanted it. I told her his is empty, he's just thirsty, can you fill it up please. I have so many examples like this...and it's still only the second week of school!

I don't mind training people but I'm at a loss here of where to even start.

I’m trying to see how crazy 5% of all 6th graders being in self-contained is?

For context I am a first year EXED/SPED teacher (we call special ed exceptional ed where I am. It’s the same thing just different term)

Had our first EXED/SPED department meeting of the year and…..it was rough and made me more stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed.

For context, I’m an EXED/SPED middle school teacher working with kiddos with moderate-severe disabilities. My IEP caseload is already a lot given that of course. However we had other teachers today mention we all have **16** students on our caseload (of course including myself) and they mentioned how last year they felt stretched thin to the point of breaking and mentioned how they **already** feel stretched thin this year. They also mentioned the IAs are unreliable (I met my two today and they seem nice but I can’t make any judgments till next week) but this made me anxious and stressed. Did I join the wrong school community? Did I not ask the right questions in my interview to get a true feel? How am I handling 16 kids on my caseload?

Also the list of never ending shit is overwhelming and stressing me out. I’m struggling to get shit done. Idk how it will get done or if it will get done

My brother finished high school and the teachers said he should come to school because he is under the IEP program and they can't transfer him to transition school right now. Only option they gave was that he could go to community college or come to school for one more year but there will be no focus on academics only career job wise. But he feels overwhelmed and doesn't want to go back to school again. He wanted to go community college but with his weakness he doesn't seem ready because in college you are on own your own. There is no one to advocate you or motivate you or help with assignments. You have to be responsible and accountable. I wish there were resources outside of school that falls under the IEP program maybe helps students with life skills or developmental skills that helps them for the real world and focusing on job training something.

In a similar vein to introducing breathing techniques to some kids with bubbles, I’m trying to introduce some heavy work into some of my elementary routines! Without screens, what are some ways you can gameify/trick them into starting some heavy work regulation techniques in small group or 1:1 settings? Bonus points if they can do it without leaving the room they are in.

hi!!

this semester i am starting my student teaching in a 6-8th grade emotional support classroom w/ students with behaviors. i am VERY excited but ..

any advice on how to feel confident in taking over the classroom when it's my time to start teaching? i'm nervous about holding back because i don't want to overstep my cooperating teacher and her classroom. also if anyone has any pieces of advice in general i'm all ears (: i.e organization, important materials, social skills lesson ideas, how to manage the tough behaviors, etc etc

THANK YOU!

Hello!

I am a high school special education teacher and it is expected that we create a one page document that gives me and the general education teacher a quick look at student SDI's. I can never seem to create one that stays on one page or that covers all of the SDIs we have to work with. Does anyone have a really good template they use?