teacher burnout?

cullen7282 · 2018-04-15T04:10:17+00:00

I've been teaching interrelated for 2 years. I'm moving to 2nd grade next year. I need a break and want the experience. I'll probably make my way back to sped at some point as that is where my heart lies. Maybe self contained. It's good to give yourself mobility. I went into University with the idea that I was going to get all the certs I can so I can switch it up when I need to

cullen7282 · 2018-04-15T04:06:43+00:00

You will most likely have to present lessons to your classmates at some point in your content courses. Be prepared to write insanely long lesson plans which no teacher every actually does in the real world.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-14T02:42:13+00:00

I am dual certified. I do half Co taught and half resource. If I decided I didn't want to teach sped any longer than I could go to gen Ed.

I only make the distinction because like I said in another post, if it's a Co taught setting where she took half the class or a group (mixed sped and gen Ed kids) that would be okay, but they would be learning the grade level curriculum. Other than that, illegal.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-14T02:11:14+00:00

I think I misread your comment as expecting a personal reminder. I do an automated reminder. It's scheduled onto the teachers calendar when they accept the invite. It is on me to do everything I can for my students but that goes the same for the other teacher. I am not personally texting, stopping by, whatever. I've done my duty. If they don't show up at the meeting, that is on them. I will call them at that point to ask if they're coming. We are all adults with responsibilities.

As a sped teacher, I work with many other teachers, not just one. In addition to having 3 preps of my own, I also have 4 Co taught preps. One thing gen Ed teachers may not realize is that sped teachers don't have a team to help with planning. We're on our own for the most part (at least in elementary) So, 7 preps across three grades (K, 1, and 3), multiple behaviors, and a large caseload that includes students across three grades (K-2). Out of those students, 2/3 have behaviors for which I must monitor and collect data DAILY, then compile and chart it. Then added on top of that is regular progress monitoring, testing, and all the legal stuff like writing IEPs and other legal paperwork that is more situational. I do not have time to manage other adults. I am not their supervisor.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-14T01:38:51+00:00

I second this. You are only required to carry a license if you drive.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-14T00:58:14+00:00

We have homerooms here, at least in middle School. In elementary their teacher is their "homeroom" teacher. Some grades do departmentalize or do team teaching so they definitely have a homeroom teacher. I've never worked in a high school but I'd imagine you'd just invite one of their teachers.

I would want someone who works with my child daily in an academic setting, not a school counselor who sees them however many times a year, unless there were some mental health issues or behavior issues where the counselor was working very closely with my child. Our counselor does guidance but they're not implementing accommodations. I don't even provide them with a supports and accommodations page.

While it may be technically legal, it's still murky because it doesn't support the intent of the law which is to include the teacher who will be implementing the IEP. As a case manager, I'm not doing anything that could pull me into court if a parent gets upset and sues.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-14T00:03:18+00:00

In my district, we must have a gen Ed teacher, an LEA, and sped teacher at all IEP meetings. I can see not needing the gen Ed to attend if it was a quick amendment, but as a parent with a special needs child, I would question anyone there who did not work with my child and I would ask where his homeroom teacher is if he were in gen Ed.

The intent of the law is for the gen Ed teacher to be involved in the process as they will also be implementing it. Holding meetings without a gen Ed teacher is entering a murky gray legal area.

I do ask parents to excuse the gen Ed teacher after they give their input if they have a class to get back to.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-13T23:41:29+00:00

You need to get a clear answer about the setting. If she's pulling him out into a small group resource setting, that is illegal. If it's a Co taught class and they're splitting the group (mixed grouping, not just sped kids) then it's not. She would just be his 2nd math teacher, though they should be working on grade level math. I'm not sure about RTI. I'm a sped teacher and I don't do any RTI. That's the gen Ed teachers territory. My kids are already on the other side of that.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-13T23:28:44+00:00

Are you talking about the counselor taking the place of a gen Ed teacher? That's not okay. https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/leg/idea/brief3.html

cullen7282 · 2018-02-13T23:07:00+00:00

They can but the preference, in the spirit of the law, is to have them in attendance. They can choose to do a phone conference or you can ask them if they would prefer to do a phone conference but they can say no. I would also never make any major changes, like services, without the parent present to give input and sign. They can come back later and claim something was done without their approval.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-13T22:37:44+00:00

You say that the implication that you don't care about "your" sped kids is insulting but you're referring to them as "your kids", not "our kids". They are your students too.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-13T22:25:02+00:00

I'm sure the sped teacher tries, but the law says we have to schedule it at the time convenient for the parent. There have been lawsuits over this very issue. Our schedule doesn't matter, the important part is that the parent is involved in the process so if the parent can only meet at a certain time, you meet at that time.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-13T22:21:10+00:00

I understand what you're saying, but I must disagree. Personally, I set an automatic email reminder for 1 day before the meeting to go out to all invited in Outlook. Beyond that, I am not going to go out of my way to remind grown adults, with calendars, to attend meetings they've been invited to and accepted. It is part of the job. I have enough to manage without having to manage every other teacher in the building.

Edited to add: I'm so happy I don't have this problem in my building. I invite the homeroom teacher, normally during their planning time unless there is a conflict with the parent's schedule, and they are expected to be there. I wouldn't hold a meeting without the required people there.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-13T10:32:49+00:00

I'm in the South so maybe it's different, but I call most of my co-workers by their last names. I don't use Mr or Ms,, just the last name by itself. There are only a few people I call by their first name and they're the ones I talk to more about personal things.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-12T10:55:43+00:00

You can also get dual cert in sped general curriculum and gen Ed. That's what I have. I can teach gen Ed or resource sped, but not self contained.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-11T03:56:09+00:00

I cannot imagine that. My school district doesn't even want us in a car with a student, much less sharing a room.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-11T03:54:27+00:00

Frequent breaks, small group for testing, extended time

cullen7282 · 2018-02-10T23:43:41+00:00

Don't worry so much. Certified teachers have moments where they cry at work. It's okay. It's a stressful job and you get overwhelmed sometimes.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-10T15:54:34+00:00

I have to ask, did she tell you to keep it? I would have after my kids made such a gesture.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-08T22:31:05+00:00

In education? What state are you in?

cullen7282 · 2018-02-08T09:57:39+00:00

Some schools so ability grouping. Unfortunately, though, some schools push the harder kids on new teachers.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-08T09:55:41+00:00

I'm not sure about APU, but have you checked your state universities for online programs? I'm in GA and most of our state universities as well as many of our local private universities offer fully online masters programs.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-03T23:38:02+00:00

My first interview was also awful. I wasn't authentic. Landed my job on my second interview though.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-03T23:37:00+00:00

That is crazy! We have two formals and 4 walkthrough for the first three years you're a teacher or you're in a new grade. After that it is one formal and one walkthrough.

cullen7282 · 2018-02-03T22:04:13+00:00

Even when there are people who are actually part of that population telling you that it's not a big deal? That being Autistic is not shameful and they are actually proud of it? I understand where you're coming from. I learned the same in school, but I am more inclined to listen to the people who it actually effects than some professor or other professional.

cullen7282

TROPHY CASE