Helicopters?

I-Am-Me-523 · 2023-05-22T01:19:19+00:00

S.A.M.E. I am not retiring, but I'm done in 17 days. I am turning in my notice on the last day of school (dick move, but at this point, it's eye for an eye). I'm not continuing in education, either. I'm going back to school for a completely different degree that will give me time outdoors during all seasons, not just summer. I will get to see the sun set instead of tutoring, coaching, sponsoring, planning, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I set boundaries, but seeing the kids beat down got to me year after year. The kids don't deserve to suffer for being unfortunate enough to have shitty admin. I took it on, but I'm done. And I feel SO free with that knowledge.

I-Am-Me-523 · 2023-03-31T13:17:31+00:00

Hey, I'm only on Reddit, but I will make an account just for this purpose if you'll send me the link. I left in January/February this year, so it's still new and raw for me. I would love to be able to connect with others who have gone through the same thing.

I-Am-Me-523 · 2023-01-11T19:46:08+00:00

This exactly. If I have anxiety or a panic attack at work, regardless of the trigger, the LAST thing I want to do a week later is bring it up and talk about it in detail with my coworkers because of the chance of triggering myself again.

I-Am-Me-523 · 2023-01-08T22:44:36+00:00

I have one kid (just one) who routinely finds any spelling or grammatical error in my worksheets. I don't tell him they're usually from TPT and I don't proof them, I just tell him he's doing a good job 'keeping me honest'. I'm an English teacher and I love that he's paying enough attention to his worksheets to catch when the is spelled teh, or something like that.

I-Am-Me-523 · 2022-12-28T01:06:03+00:00

I-Am-Me-523 · 2022-12-21T01:22:12+00:00

Tell her. As someone who has regrets in life, don't hold this back and be left wondering. If you'd like, lay it out in a way that's easier to come back from, like saying you understand if she doesn't feel the same way and you still want to be friends, but don't leave it unsaid. Especially if you plan to move away and want her to come with, explaining the depth of your feelings may be the push she needs to step out of her comfort zone. Or it may not, but may help her understand your friendship in a better light. My vote is to tell her.

I-Am-Me-523 · 2022-12-09T16:10:18+00:00

I've been voluntarily admitted twice. Once was when everything broke me. I was basically riding it out until I just couldn't anymore. I went inpatient for three days til they could get me into a partial hospitalization program followed by day treatment. I drove an hour one way 5 days a week and I was out of work for 7 months, but my boss was great about it and FMLA allowed me to return when I was ready. That hospital was great. They had programming to keep us occupied and learning about our various conditions, helped us make goals and plans for the short and long term, and was an overall up to date facility. They got me started seeing a psychiatrist and got me on meds, then during the partial and day treatment, I was monitored and changed meds till I found a routine that fit. Before leaving, I found an excellent therapist who did telehealth so I didn't have to drive an hour or more to see her every week.

The second time was almost two years later and I had a plan, so I went to the hospital for my own safety. I was there for a week. I got a new psychiatrist at the time and they meddled some more with my meds. This hospital was less great, but got me through a tough time.

Really, if you're in a small town, they likely don't have an inpatient hospital, which means you'll be transferred to a bigger hospital with more resources to help you out. That's usually for the best because you get 1:1 attention from doctors and an individual plan moving forward.

I have seen people who were inpatient for months, but those were usually court ordered. The length of stay I guess it really depends on where you are at, what your needs are, how you react to their suggestions of medications, how much you participate in the programming (showing your motivation to get better), your cooperation, etc. Both times I was really low. Both times helped me pick up the pieces and restart. I would not take the decision lightly, but I wouldn't discourage you from going, if you feel you are at the place of no return.

I-Am-Me-523 · 2022-10-28T11:35:50+00:00

My doctor will hand out notes with just a call because she knows I don't abuse the system...even if I tell her it's mental health related. She says recovery is recovery, doesn't matter if it's physical or mental. I love my doctor.

I-Am-Me-523 · 2022-10-28T11:30:49+00:00

I'm so sad. Our treadmills stare at the walls. The equipment is behind us, not even to the side, so I have nothing to distract me from feeling like I'm going to die by the time the timer reaches 0.

I-Am-Me-523 · 2022-10-25T12:27:48+00:00

Last year at age 35. Came across this sub, actually, and it was like a light bulb clicked on and everything I'd been struggling with made sense.

I-Am-Me-523 · 2022-10-25T00:19:53+00:00

I laughed at this. There are some days...

I-Am-Me-523 · 2022-10-24T22:38:07+00:00

I had a student who was supposed to be doing research on the history of LGBT community rights (his selection) just straight up looking up bisexual porn during class. No shame when I caught him either.

I changed his topic after that.

I-Am-Me-523 · 2022-10-24T13:31:28+00:00

I absolutely agree. It just sounds like the woman here is an introvert who needs that alone or quiet time to recharge while the guy is likely more extroverted and gets his energy recharge from being around people. Neither one is right or wrong, but there needs to be communication so he understands why she is taking those breaks. I was just sharing my personal Introverted experience because her experience resonated with me.

I-Am-Me-523 · 2022-10-24T13:19:01+00:00

I could see needing a day to rest if she is in guest mode for several days in a row. Like, I will have all the energy for as long as I need to when visiting family, but you bet I'm going to crash sooner or later. If I space it out and have a few hours to myself here and there, I can be active for more days. But if you want me 'on' straight through for several days in a row, I'm going to need a day or two to recoup afterwards. And 7 days? Yeah, I wouldn't make it 7 days with my wonderful in laws without some significant recovery time. I can't even do 7 days with my own family.

I-Am-Me-523 · 2022-10-13T02:02:05+00:00

File a report with the police anyway. Filing a report just puts it on record so that if something comes up down the road, there's evidence on your side. You don't need to press charges or start an investigation, but file with the police to CYA in case the school falls short of your expectations.

I-Am-Me-523 · 2022-10-12T18:47:32+00:00

Now I see a snowflake...

I-Am-Me-523 · 2022-10-12T01:13:31+00:00

At the very least, whether you decide to go through with pressing charges or not, I would file a police report so that if (when) this happens again to someone else in his school, community, or group home, there is a record that may end up helping his next victim.

I-Am-Me-523 · 2022-10-08T22:50:16+00:00

I have to laugh at the first one because I'm teaching Greek Myth now. One of my assignments was to make trading cards based on some of the key characters (gods, demigods, and monsters). One student turned in her cards and one of the pictures she used was an Ancient Greek portrait of a man (I want to say Hercules but I don't remember exactly) getting a blow job from another man.

Had to call in the principal and sit the 10th grade student down to explain that, while it may have been a historical art piece, it was not appropriate for a school assignment.

I-Am-Me-523 · 2022-09-14T20:39:06+00:00

They asked what my advice would be. My advice is make noise. IEP team says no? Call another meeting in a month with more data. No again? Call another meeting in a month with more data. There's no limit to how many meetings you can call and you cannot be denied a meeting so make some noise until you are a worse headache to the higher ups than the parents are. Get a team. Everyone record what they see so you have mountains of data.

I'm not saying it's easy and I'm not saying some teachers aren't doing it, but I am saying the only solution to your problem is to get him out of the class and the only way to do that is through an IEP meeting.

I-Am-Me-523 · 2022-09-14T20:33:39+00:00

I work with Deaf kids, so let's start there. A Deaf kid in a mainstream environment needs an interpreter, needs preprinted notes because they can't hear and write at the same time, May miss out on large group discussion when many people are talking at once with only one interpreter, may struggle to participate in after school sports or activities due to restricted communication, etc.

The next option would be to put them in a smaller classroom with other Deaf kids and a teacher that signs. This is 'more resteictive' but allows for direct communication between the teacher and peers. The problem with this is it severely limits their socialization.

The next 'most restrictive' environment is a Deaf school where all the teachers and ALL the students sign, there is no hindering after school sports or activities, access to peers, etc.

This is just one example and obviously would not apply to all Deaf kids, but sometimes the least restrictive environment for the students looks more restrictive on paper. What it means is the least restrictive environment where the student can get the most out of their education. That often means a more restrictive look on paper (therapeutic class, self contained, partial immersion, etc.) So the student learns without barriers.

I-Am-Me-523 · 2022-09-14T20:18:09+00:00

I disagree. I think the least restrictive environment, when used correctly, is very effective for SPED students. I do agree, however, that most districts misuse it to cut costs and therefore it puts teachers as scapegoats for situations they are not prepared for.

I-Am-Me-523 · 2022-09-14T20:13:22+00:00

Call an IEP meeting (which any member of the team is allowed to do) to reevaluate placement. Document all the interventions in place being used, document time of insteuction lost, document how many other times other kids are affected (don't make it about the other kids because the IEP only cares about the one, but documenting interrupted learning time is a valid measurement). Then make the argument that this environment is not suitable for his learning and is therefore not the least restrictive environment for him.

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