Christi
12-11-2007, 08:22 AM
Ladies, please forgive...I really want to share this with you ASAP, and I am at school, so I am posting the same thing at 2 places!
As those of you who have known me for a while know, I have a special place in my heart for kids with special needs. I gladly take kids in my class who other teachers think are too much to handle and love them just like any other child. Not to say that I don't have my moments or frustrations, but I just feel a special calling to love on kids who are special. This year, I have a child with multiple handicaps in my room, as well as a child with Asperger's syndrome.
There is a little boy who is in a self contained class whose grandmother goes to my church. I've prayed for this child since he was born, and he has had more than his share of troubles. This is his first year in the 'big school', so I speak to him and give him attention every day at lunch....no big deal to me, that is just what I do! He has come a couple of times to my room with another child and a teacher's assistant. Yesterday, one of the teacher's assistants was just joking and said, "Nathan, you want to go to first grade with Mrs. Stapleton?" and lo and behold, he jumped up, grabbed my hand and said "Let's Go!"
So off we went! He came in and sat and a student helped him with the math we were doing. In the middle of everything he told me he had to "poop", so I got someone to watch the rest of the class and took him to the bathroom while I sent for one of the teacher's assistants. When he was finished in the bathroom, she said he headed straight back to my room! He stayed for about 30 more minutes.
This morning, another teacher told me that Nathan's mother cried last night and was sharing with the others at their women's circle how thrilled they were about Nathan coming to my room. She said something about how she didn't know me, but she was just so thankful that I had taken him under my wing! It THRILLED me to no end!
So then Nathan came back for about 30 minutes this morning, and he'll come back later on for a special speaker we're going to have.
I tell you this not to toot my own horn, but to show you that some teachers DO care, and to thank the Lord that I have been given the patience and understanding to willingly accept children that others might see as a hindrance. THIS is why I teach!!
As those of you who have known me for a while know, I have a special place in my heart for kids with special needs. I gladly take kids in my class who other teachers think are too much to handle and love them just like any other child. Not to say that I don't have my moments or frustrations, but I just feel a special calling to love on kids who are special. This year, I have a child with multiple handicaps in my room, as well as a child with Asperger's syndrome.
There is a little boy who is in a self contained class whose grandmother goes to my church. I've prayed for this child since he was born, and he has had more than his share of troubles. This is his first year in the 'big school', so I speak to him and give him attention every day at lunch....no big deal to me, that is just what I do! He has come a couple of times to my room with another child and a teacher's assistant. Yesterday, one of the teacher's assistants was just joking and said, "Nathan, you want to go to first grade with Mrs. Stapleton?" and lo and behold, he jumped up, grabbed my hand and said "Let's Go!"
So off we went! He came in and sat and a student helped him with the math we were doing. In the middle of everything he told me he had to "poop", so I got someone to watch the rest of the class and took him to the bathroom while I sent for one of the teacher's assistants. When he was finished in the bathroom, she said he headed straight back to my room! He stayed for about 30 more minutes.
This morning, another teacher told me that Nathan's mother cried last night and was sharing with the others at their women's circle how thrilled they were about Nathan coming to my room. She said something about how she didn't know me, but she was just so thankful that I had taken him under my wing! It THRILLED me to no end!
So then Nathan came back for about 30 minutes this morning, and he'll come back later on for a special speaker we're going to have.
I tell you this not to toot my own horn, but to show you that some teachers DO care, and to thank the Lord that I have been given the patience and understanding to willingly accept children that others might see as a hindrance. THIS is why I teach!!