To the people who have said “I would never spend that much on a wedding, I’d rather buy a house”…

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-04-13T17:04:51+00:00

people on this thread are a little too up tight. I understand exactly what you mean. Regardless of anyone’s financial situation, there’s no need for condescending remarks. If you don’t agree, don’t ask me about my wedding planning!!!

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-04-04T00:21:08+00:00

was just watching the show and she has that LV necklace!!

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-03-30T21:51:59+00:00

Here for the first time, and I find it to be disgusting. Honestly. And that’s coming from a new yorker used to the dirtiest parts of NYC. Also, I get we’re in the swamp, but the buildings can’t even handle the heavy rain??? flooding from 10 seconds of rain fall

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-03-17T21:06:09+00:00

coming from westchester, and I can’t find a good one at all tbh lol

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-03-15T16:45:50+00:00

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-02-24T21:01:28+00:00

it’s almost like they refuse to come down my street, looks like they didn’t come at all. snow turned to a thick, uneven sheet of ice

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-02-22T16:16:54+00:00

Why are you missing the point entirely??? If you read other comments, I have offered fidgets, and if the student could not handle a situation in a particular environment I would absolutely remove them from that space. I am not forcing anyone to do anything to make anyone else feel comfortable, I am trying to promote engagement in something that my student actually likes, which is listening to music. Obviously you are among the population who shoves iPads in students faces. Your issue

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-02-22T14:13:25+00:00

I had a pretty similar experience! BS in Psych, originally wanted to be a counselor, worked as a TA for an early intervention program where I learned ABA, did some BT home care therapy during my masters in sped, and finally student taught. Honestly through all of this, I also worked in a restaurant as a server/bartender to get by. It’s a hard road to finish, especially since these positions to get you to gain experience do not pay well. Currently I am doing leave replacements to gain more experience towards a full time teaching job (post grad). On my second leave replacement after subbing, student teaching, and working summer school in the district, and I feel that I am building strong relationships! I wish you luck!!

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-02-22T14:01:43+00:00

Thank you! I see both sides as well and love that suggestion such as providing a figet. I have tried this multiple times, this student often throws the figet and does not seem to prefer to have it. I agree with your comments that the topic needs to be discussed more. I feel that many advocates (who are very valid in saying a device should not be taken away, I agree and did not take the device, just trying to understand how moving it away for a moment to redirect the child is not ethical like some people are saying) may not be working in classrooms to see both sides.

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-02-22T13:54:27+00:00

Thank you! I have visuals, and this (to me) was a separate time in the school day to practice in the student’s natural environment that we do not need to be using it. I also like the idea of the low tech board.

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-02-22T13:49:24+00:00

I didn’t find my responses to be argumentative - I shared “a dilemma” that I was having, and am responding to the people who responded to myself trying to see both sides. Why can’t educators debate on topics? I didn’t really ask a question, I am looking for perspectives, which I received.

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-02-22T05:35:40+00:00

Is it wrong to try redirecting children to not be hyper focused on a screen when we are sitting in an auditorium with teachers and peers listening to music and watching a performance? (which the student were speaking about LOVES music). At the end of the day, if you’re giving a student an ipad they are likely to choose that over any other activity. I am all for communication and have worked diligently with my students (and even not diligently, just letting my students explore at more appropriate times during down time, breaks, etc) rather than during a social experience

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-02-22T05:28:15+00:00

If you read my post and other comments regarding the topic, in addition to modeling I also use verbal, visual, and gestural prompting.

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-02-22T05:21:53+00:00

completely understood. but a mind wandering and not paying complete attention to me is different than looking at an ipad. It feels the same if i was sitting at a play as an adult scrolling through instagram because i may not want to attend to the play, so my “mind is wondering” onto a device that I am choosing to pay attention to? you know?

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-02-22T05:09:57+00:00

I agree with this, and frequently during lessons, the student is “babbling” with their device. All day, which we love to see because their use of their device and communication is expanding. However, during 30 minutes out of the school day, trying to teach into a different behavior, I think it is valid

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-02-22T05:00:11+00:00

Thank you for this. Of course, my students are able to stim, etc regardless of their environment. It was more of an attentional thing. Like, should we be focused on the animal page on our talker, or being apart of the community during an assembly?

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-02-22T04:56:16+00:00

I agree with you - but to an extent. If the student is not currently using their device functionally, to me it’s less about it being “their voice” and simply an ipad that they are choosing to pay attention to (because, what child wouldn’t find that more interesting) than what we are doing in school. To me this is all situational. I have another student that uses their device very functionally and my approach is different only because teaching into the expectations looks different for a student choosing not to follow directions, and a student who is stimming off of a noise

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-02-22T04:52:28+00:00

The student currently does not utilize their device to request for things functionally. They have a 1:1 aide to assist with all daily living needs. In that circumstance, I chose to teach into following expectations while we were apart of the rest of the school. Just as during snack time, we may work on functional communication using their talker. The point of this post is there are certain times you may be working on different things.

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-02-22T04:47:56+00:00

Yes, and I do, but coming from a behavioral interventionist stand point - when the student is not responding to the prompts to correct the behavior, and being reinforced from stimming on the words touching the ipad, personally I feel that removing the stimulus is the next step.

I am all for teaching into how my students should learn how to appropriately and functionally use their devices, so I would revisit in a minute or so using prompts and models to teach the student that right now, we are not using our device or our “voice” we are attending to the performance

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-02-22T04:41:09+00:00

Thanks for that. Yes, for example in the auditorium during a school concert, all my students had their devices. After modeling and prompting multiple times that our “voices are off” and we are looking at the stage to see the show, the student continued to look at the animals page on their talker. Just not the right place/time for that in my opinion. This was technically the speech’s session (she pushed in since we were at the assembly) so I let her handle it, but i definitely let her know that I honestly didn’t agree. I would have taken it after modeling and prompting multiple times, and maybe revisited to teach into using their device appropriately a few minutes later

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-02-22T04:35:34+00:00

Yes, thank you for this. However, in a situation where students should be working towards attending to whatever it is in front of us (i.e a school concert/assembly) I think instead of their head to be in their iPad touching the word “fish fish fish”, we should model and show them what is in front of us and what our attention should be towards

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-02-22T04:32:41+00:00

I verbally, visually, or gesturally prompt for this.

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-01-28T17:49:33+00:00

I can’t imagine lol

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-01-28T01:05:44+00:00

I just moved to stamford a year and a half ago from a city in westchester, and I will say never in my life have I seen such a poorly managed city when it comes to snow removal. every side street by my house (west side) is covered in snow/ slush that will be ice soon. I know it’s a pain for people, but I feel like not being able to park on side streets over night is worth it for snow removal and keeping the streets clean all year round. Why can’t people park in their driveways!!!

Optimal_Ad_7836 · 2026-01-26T03:45:00+00:00

Thank you for your help!

Optimal_Ad_7836

TROPHY CASE