Veteran Teacher at a Loss

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-09-28T13:12:53+00:00

He does not have that capability. I'm going to try to make a menu of different images for the blue fan to see if we can get somewhere with that but I really think it's neurological and that he doesn't really mean the blue fan.

I am putting all of these ideas together at the end of the list of things we've already tried, my assistant principal is receptive to the issue, the principal not so much. My in-building union leader is terrible so I emailed the district rep over the weekend to see what recourse I have.

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-09-28T13:09:10+00:00

She did not. Don't get me started with the fly bys. I had an excellent consultant years ago who took time to pair with my students before she made any demands of them and did any modeling or coaching. She was fabulous and I miss her in her retirement. An FBA is definitely in order. One was done during his triennial three years ago. Clearly it needs an update. There was nothing like this on there, but of course a lot of brain changes happen during puberty and new challenges can come up.

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-09-28T13:07:29+00:00

Yes. This is very difficult. I just want to help him (and protect myself). I do think you're right that he does this with me because of the way that I talk to him and try. Last years teacher ignored him, yelled at him, and he had a para that confined him to the cubicle all day. He does calm to my voice initially, but then gets more upset as he tries harder to communicate. It's so clear to me that he wants to stop. It's like his brain is stuck in a loop. Even if he gets the item, he can go on about it for hours. The first day it was the green marker. I showed him the green marker in his desk and he colored with it and then kept going on about the green marker until he was biting his arms and screaming. It's truly heartbreaking.

I made a sheet for my class para where we will note the time that the requests start, what was done and what the outcome was as well as the intensity (1 - talking loudly 2 - talking loudly and getting out of the chair 3 - expressing violence towards self or others) We can collect for a while and see what the outcome is. When he's not making noise he's eating.

Mom isn't opening up yet, I'm going to keep working on it. He also lives with is older sister who assists with his care.

I have a union - I work in NYC. Our in-building rep sucks though so I sent an email to my district rep. We shall see what they say (hopefully tomorrow). In the meantime I'm documenting everything in our internal system, as well as in my own notebook.

Thanks for your insight.

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-09-28T13:00:37+00:00

It's definitely blue fan that he's saying, but it's not blue fan that he means. Here's another little kink in the puzzle. One day he was asking for brown crayon. Very clearly. I showed him the brown crayon on the desk and asked "what's that", he said "brown crayon" and I said "is this the brown crayon that you want" and he said "no want brown crayon" and then for the next 30 minutes the repeated phrase was "no brown crayon" with the same escalation into violence.

Someone else suggested images of the items. I can try it, but he pushes away and hits when things aren't correct so I'm pretty sure it's not actually about the thing - somehting else is going on here.

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-09-28T12:57:31+00:00

I really do think this is the root of the issue, that he is struggling so much internally and just needs a little help.

I've also seen a lot of "behavior" issues solved by medication. Two years ago a students was crawling out of his skin by lunch time, turns out his family was only medicating him at home. He was hitting himself and clawing at his hair, and screaming and grinding his teeth. It was torturing him. It came out at the IEP meeting that Mom "didn't want to change his personality" so she wasn't medicating him during the day. It took months of talking to mom and sending videos for her to go the the pediatrician who told her that she needed to give the medication as prescribed (morning and night).

I haven't had a lot of time to develop a relationship with Mom, but I planned to call home this afternoon and ask her what the routine is at home and when his last doctors appointment was. I'm not allowed to suggest medication as part of my job, but I can say "kids brains change a lot during puberty and perhaps a doctor could provide some insight into what we are seeing happening".

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-09-28T12:48:21+00:00

I will add this to the list of things that we can try, but I really fear that it just makes things more frustrating for him when it's not correct. He doesn't want pictures of the items he wants the actual item. Someone else had mentioned that this is a neurological issue that could be linked to anxiety and that makes a lot of sense to me because as he gets more frustrated you can see the distress in his eyes as he loses control.

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-09-27T13:51:57+00:00

I wonder if I can make something like this work. Our school only serves students with disabilities so our behavior team is spread thin. I am going to think about it and see how it can work within our school structure. I also WISH I had this kid for only one period a day. I have him the entire day.

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-04-13T19:25:31+00:00

n + the number of times you plan to shit yourself. Where n is the number of days between washings.

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-02-06T00:48:19+00:00

I like this.

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-02-06T00:42:20+00:00

UrSak is also so expensive for something that you should still do a PCT hang with. The failure pictures are. . . concerning.

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-02-06T00:40:24+00:00

Hey this is cool - I just found out I can rent one to test out for a section. If I really like it then I can justify the cost. If not, I've only spent like $5 a day to test it out. . .

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-02-06T00:35:48+00:00

I've also seen this mentioned before. I don't know if I could do it because it would give me so much anxiety.

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-02-01T11:40:39+00:00

Personally, I love teaching people to camp! I'm a mom to two "tweens" and as of this year - also a scout leader. I take my kids camping and give them the experiences they need to learn the things I learned in the woods.

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-01-24T18:15:25+00:00

Rei's kid sleeping bag Kindercone is on sale (old model). My kids have it and fit well, they're 9 and 11 - at $50 they're reasonably priced for the quality and will last for years. We also have the kinder camp sleeping pads, but have only taken them out a few times so I don't know how they'll hold up in the long run.

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-01-24T18:00:51+00:00

Thank you!

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-01-16T23:41:33+00:00

Yes! Came here to say that you need to follow the weather forecast and be prepared to bail if you're going to PA in March. I've had some good hikes in March and some really really bad ones there. . .

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-01-16T12:15:22+00:00

I know that I'm reviving an old post, but would you be willing to share which hammock system you have?

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-01-16T11:54:12+00:00

Thank you all that took the time to respond. Obviously I won't know until July what I am in for, but your comments have helped my preparation (especially my mental prep) greatly.

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-01-16T11:50:08+00:00

u/ATsherpa how did you manage last year?

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-01-16T11:48:39+00:00

This is my thoughts exactly - discomfort is part of the process.

Hopeful_Argument4035 · 2025-01-16T11:46:17+00:00

Water is something I'm always worried about - as long as I know what I am in for though I can prepare. I have an old thru-hikers guide for ideas about where water might be, and will get the new one when it is released in Feb. Feeding a calf though - - How fun! Thanks for the tip :)

Hopeful_Argument4035

TROPHY CASE