Sunday, May 22, 2011
Testing craziness
No...I have not gone away or silent...I was caught up in testing craziness of NJ ASK state test. Not just one week, two weeks. So I never got to see my boys, and I was worried what would happen after being out of the routine with me for so long...on top of that I had to take off one day and the next day my classes were cancelled because we were all short staffed and I had to cover the Music teacher's classes...incredible. Three weeks nothing. I can start over again...what am I going to do? Are the boys even progressing? I am frustrated!
Monday, May 2, 2011
We are back!
Our spring break was way too long, I was so looking forward to go back to work...I realize that I love to be back, just for the reason of socializing. I love seeing faces.
I was a bit concerned thinking about Luis, if he remembered my room and routine, I had the slate board ready with my little schedule on it. Yet, I remembered the first time was not really the best one for me. I was really hoping this time would work out better.
When I opened the door to the room and asked for Luis, I could not miss his big smile, when he saw me! He was excited to get out of the room to go with me. He actually smiled! I exclaimend: "Happy birthday!" - but when I asked his teacher, she stated it was not his birthday. maybe he was as excited as having a birthday to go to my room :).
Today, he did not run or rush, he was more relaxed. He walked nicely with me in the hallway, and I did not have to chase him :).
I introduced the schedule to Luis stating:
1. Welcome: Hi/How are you?
2. Cards
3. Book
4. Rewards
5. Goodbye!
He seemed to understand. He was not touching anything, or playing with anything. I also took goldfish snacks from Ms. Jen's room to motivate him to be well behaved. I told him he would get a snack if he worked with me nicely. He did! He really did everything.
We practiced pronunciation of vehicle words - "Point to/Say..."He seems to have troubles pronouncing the word "bike", and he did not know the difference between the words "boat" and "ship."
Other than that he worked for his snack prize - gold fish - which he loves.
I was very happy about it. He often mentioned Mackenzie, saying "Mackenize, lunch" - I figured she has her lunch during our sessions. I am assuming he likes her. Maybe he missed her?
System and consistency seems to work.
I was a bit concerned thinking about Luis, if he remembered my room and routine, I had the slate board ready with my little schedule on it. Yet, I remembered the first time was not really the best one for me. I was really hoping this time would work out better.
When I opened the door to the room and asked for Luis, I could not miss his big smile, when he saw me! He was excited to get out of the room to go with me. He actually smiled! I exclaimend: "Happy birthday!" - but when I asked his teacher, she stated it was not his birthday. maybe he was as excited as having a birthday to go to my room :).
Today, he did not run or rush, he was more relaxed. He walked nicely with me in the hallway, and I did not have to chase him :).
I introduced the schedule to Luis stating:
1. Welcome: Hi/How are you?
2. Cards
3. Book
4. Rewards
5. Goodbye!
He seemed to understand. He was not touching anything, or playing with anything. I also took goldfish snacks from Ms. Jen's room to motivate him to be well behaved. I told him he would get a snack if he worked with me nicely. He did! He really did everything.
We practiced pronunciation of vehicle words - "Point to/Say..."He seems to have troubles pronouncing the word "bike", and he did not know the difference between the words "boat" and "ship."
Other than that he worked for his snack prize - gold fish - which he loves.
I was very happy about it. He often mentioned Mackenzie, saying "Mackenize, lunch" - I figured she has her lunch during our sessions. I am assuming he likes her. Maybe he missed her?
System and consistency seems to work.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Spring Break...
If you were wondering why I was not writing anything about the boys, it is because we are on 2011 Spring Break, yay! But don't worry, it is over soon...so I will be writing and updating more frequently...anyway...stay safe...goodnight.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Johny - the first day
Wednesday. I was a bit afraid of what could have been coming that day. But I knew, I had to simplify instruction somehow. It feels like it is me who is learning. Not Johny.
So I wrote on a little slate 5 things:
1. Say "Hello"
2. Cards
3. Worksheet
4. Game
5. Rewards/Saying "Bye"
I got to room 4, they were just coming from recess, Mackenzie was walking him down, "He's all yours," she stated. So I told him "Johny, you are coming in with me now." He slipped his little Chinese hand in mine and walked with me anxiously. So rewarding already.
We entered the room and it all broke lose, just like a tsunami, Johny was violently raging through all my filing cabinets, shelves, cases, and boxes looking for any CDs with such an obsession that I had to raise my voice. Now needless to say, I heard Ms. Jenn yelling the other day at one of the students when he misbehaved, so I took the courage and said rigorously "NO", and pulled Johny away from my cabinet. I sat him down, pointed to the tablet and said, "Look, Johny, first we say hello!" And we did. I crossed it off. He took off again, trying to open one of my locked cabinets where he saw my Program CDs. I said no again. And I also said, "First, we do the cards, then I let you look in my cabinets." So he sat down, did the cards - the colors. I tried to make him pronounce them well. He did try hard enough. Now I had to keep the promise. I opened the cabinet, took the CDs out hoping so much he would not destroy them...I took the box out and Johny started to opening them one by one, looking at them carefully as if he was trying to figure out what they were. It looked like he was trying to find a movie DVD rather than a CD. These were all I had. No movies, just CDs.
He was looking at them with fascination, he was admiring them, he was gently putting them back. I was not afraid any more he would destroy them.
I said, "Now Johny, we need to put them back, we need to do something else." And so he did, he helped me putting them away. But a second later he took off again. It looked so funny in my little room, me chasing him around my table, trying to stop him. Man, I was sweating!
I said again, "First we do worksheet, then I let you look here." And we did, and it worked out fine. We said finally bye, and I crossed out the last item on the slate.
Time for a reward. I thought smelly stickers would do, so I told him to hold his hand out, so I can put one on it, but boy was he upset! He did not like it on his had, and started getting into a meltdown. So I snatched it off his hand, and it all went back to normal. Phew....I must have burned about 2000kal in those 20 min.! I walked him back, he held my hand as if he was no different than all the other students we had passed in the hallway that day...Another piece of puzzles was found. It is matching.
So I wrote on a little slate 5 things:
1. Say "Hello"
2. Cards
3. Worksheet
4. Game
5. Rewards/Saying "Bye"
I got to room 4, they were just coming from recess, Mackenzie was walking him down, "He's all yours," she stated. So I told him "Johny, you are coming in with me now." He slipped his little Chinese hand in mine and walked with me anxiously. So rewarding already.
We entered the room and it all broke lose, just like a tsunami, Johny was violently raging through all my filing cabinets, shelves, cases, and boxes looking for any CDs with such an obsession that I had to raise my voice. Now needless to say, I heard Ms. Jenn yelling the other day at one of the students when he misbehaved, so I took the courage and said rigorously "NO", and pulled Johny away from my cabinet. I sat him down, pointed to the tablet and said, "Look, Johny, first we say hello!" And we did. I crossed it off. He took off again, trying to open one of my locked cabinets where he saw my Program CDs. I said no again. And I also said, "First, we do the cards, then I let you look in my cabinets." So he sat down, did the cards - the colors. I tried to make him pronounce them well. He did try hard enough. Now I had to keep the promise. I opened the cabinet, took the CDs out hoping so much he would not destroy them...I took the box out and Johny started to opening them one by one, looking at them carefully as if he was trying to figure out what they were. It looked like he was trying to find a movie DVD rather than a CD. These were all I had. No movies, just CDs.
He was looking at them with fascination, he was admiring them, he was gently putting them back. I was not afraid any more he would destroy them.
I said, "Now Johny, we need to put them back, we need to do something else." And so he did, he helped me putting them away. But a second later he took off again. It looked so funny in my little room, me chasing him around my table, trying to stop him. Man, I was sweating!
I said again, "First we do worksheet, then I let you look here." And we did, and it worked out fine. We said finally bye, and I crossed out the last item on the slate.
Time for a reward. I thought smelly stickers would do, so I told him to hold his hand out, so I can put one on it, but boy was he upset! He did not like it on his had, and started getting into a meltdown. So I snatched it off his hand, and it all went back to normal. Phew....I must have burned about 2000kal in those 20 min.! I walked him back, he held my hand as if he was no different than all the other students we had passed in the hallway that day...Another piece of puzzles was found. It is matching.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Luis - the first day
Tuesday. Coming down the hallway I am brainstorming my lesson..."it needs to be structured, it needs to be structured," I keep repeating...every step I take I go over my plan...the greeting, introducing the ESL room, plan, cards, worksheet, reward, saying goodbye...I am taking Luis today, he should be easy.
I got to room #4. I took Luis. Luis is puzzled. He starts walking faster than me...I keep saying "slow down!" but that does not help. He knows where my room is. Amazing. He remembered Ms. G. showing him on Monday.
He walks in looking around, trying to touch things. I say "No Luis, sit down here, please." He does it.
I try to introduce myself by reaching out with my hand saying "I'm Mrs. M." He shakes my hand and smiles, but I can tell, he is waaaaay different than when I saw him in Ms. Jen's room. Waaaaay different. I try to get his attention on cards. Forget it. He is picking up the pencil, the marker, the paper, touching the book, the cabinet...and I am just snatching things out of his hands putting them back where they belong, saying "No, Luis. We do the cards first."
Not good. Not good....I am thinking...I got his attention for about 1 min.? Something is wrong here, I need to start over....He was nervous being in a different room he never saw before. And here I go, the idiot, trying to conduct a lesson, without giving him a chance.
He did get through a few cards, stating the words he knew. But I don't think this will be my main focus next time. I let him pick the sticker. It is a smelly sticker. He likes it, and he keeps sniffing it. I say bye, and we leave. On the way back he walks ahead again. I didn't even have a chance to say goodbye.
I am not happy with myself. This was a disaster. I try to think what went wrong. Maybe I should give him time to get used to the environment. Yes.
I will do. One puzzle piece is done, I will look for a matching piece now.
I got to room #4. I took Luis. Luis is puzzled. He starts walking faster than me...I keep saying "slow down!" but that does not help. He knows where my room is. Amazing. He remembered Ms. G. showing him on Monday.
He walks in looking around, trying to touch things. I say "No Luis, sit down here, please." He does it.
I try to introduce myself by reaching out with my hand saying "I'm Mrs. M." He shakes my hand and smiles, but I can tell, he is waaaaay different than when I saw him in Ms. Jen's room. Waaaaay different. I try to get his attention on cards. Forget it. He is picking up the pencil, the marker, the paper, touching the book, the cabinet...and I am just snatching things out of his hands putting them back where they belong, saying "No, Luis. We do the cards first."
Not good. Not good....I am thinking...I got his attention for about 1 min.? Something is wrong here, I need to start over....He was nervous being in a different room he never saw before. And here I go, the idiot, trying to conduct a lesson, without giving him a chance.
He did get through a few cards, stating the words he knew. But I don't think this will be my main focus next time. I let him pick the sticker. It is a smelly sticker. He likes it, and he keeps sniffing it. I say bye, and we leave. On the way back he walks ahead again. I didn't even have a chance to say goodbye.
I am not happy with myself. This was a disaster. I try to think what went wrong. Maybe I should give him time to get used to the environment. Yes.
I will do. One puzzle piece is done, I will look for a matching piece now.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Room 4
Room 4 is an autistic classroom where I was asked to come and observe two of the students in possible need of ESL - English as a Second Language service. They are Luis - with Hispanic background and Johny - a Chinese boy. Both different levels, different languages, different behaviors, different personalities...
I was trying to reach my supervisor for an advice how to actually approach these students to determine their level of English, but no one was actually able to give me any specific instructions as to how to evaluate. So I decided to pull them in my 20 min. "intensive slot" that I have in my schedule, usually dedicated to the newest addtions coming to our school or to students with low scores who need to improve their skills.
I still did not know how to determine their levels, so I decided to come and observe the boys in their familiar environment. I thought it would be the best option for me and them. I knew I could not administer any kind of "Test"...Tests can be so impersonal.
I know nothing about autism, but this will change soon. At first, I was almost panicking about what to do? Where to start? How to approach them? I knew nothing. I mean NOTHING. Well, maybe the Rainman movie with Dustin Hoffman, but one cannot build up knowledge based on a movie...I am a beginner.
The good thing is I pray. So I prayed to God to direct me on this new path I took - to educate autistic students. I have the confidence. I have the Holy Spirit. Now all I need is to take off. And I did.
So I went to room 4 and observed Ms. Jen taking care of 5 autistic students. First thing I noticed was they loved being in that room, all organized, structured and meaningful. You could notice the routine. They loved to know what comes next in their sessions. Luis was peeking at me, but not really acknowledging me. Johny the same thing. They both worked with Ms. Jen. Everything went smoothly.
I thought to myself this would be easy.
The next day I went again. The same room, the same time. I sat behind them by the table. This time Luis looked at me more and even made a short eye contact. And Johny, while he was working on his paper, slipped his hand into mine and held it in. My heart instantly melt. He liked me. It was as if he was saying..."I accept you". I left with a heart filled with warm chocolate lava cake feeling...<3
I was trying to reach my supervisor for an advice how to actually approach these students to determine their level of English, but no one was actually able to give me any specific instructions as to how to evaluate. So I decided to pull them in my 20 min. "intensive slot" that I have in my schedule, usually dedicated to the newest addtions coming to our school or to students with low scores who need to improve their skills.
I still did not know how to determine their levels, so I decided to come and observe the boys in their familiar environment. I thought it would be the best option for me and them. I knew I could not administer any kind of "Test"...Tests can be so impersonal.
I know nothing about autism, but this will change soon. At first, I was almost panicking about what to do? Where to start? How to approach them? I knew nothing. I mean NOTHING. Well, maybe the Rainman movie with Dustin Hoffman, but one cannot build up knowledge based on a movie...I am a beginner.
The good thing is I pray. So I prayed to God to direct me on this new path I took - to educate autistic students. I have the confidence. I have the Holy Spirit. Now all I need is to take off. And I did.
So I went to room 4 and observed Ms. Jen taking care of 5 autistic students. First thing I noticed was they loved being in that room, all organized, structured and meaningful. You could notice the routine. They loved to know what comes next in their sessions. Luis was peeking at me, but not really acknowledging me. Johny the same thing. They both worked with Ms. Jen. Everything went smoothly.
I thought to myself this would be easy.
The next day I went again. The same room, the same time. I sat behind them by the table. This time Luis looked at me more and even made a short eye contact. And Johny, while he was working on his paper, slipped his hand into mine and held it in. My heart instantly melt. He liked me. It was as if he was saying..."I accept you". I left with a heart filled with warm chocolate lava cake feeling...<3
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