"What was dat?"

So, I totally agree with Chanan and my body is needing the rest and relaxation of the break! I can't wait! However, I have until Friday to be done and am so jealous of those of you who are finished! Working has flown by way faster than school. I can't believe that we've all be out of school and actually working for an entire semester! I still miss you girls and have moments that I wish we were back at school together... learning... because sometimes I feel like I have no clue what I'm doing! So here's a funny story from today. I have to share it.....

Today's a crazy day because the transportation system is all messed up and when my kids arrived this morning one of my drivers didn't know whether or not he should pick a girl that is way on the other side of town. I was trying to make phone calls for him and figure some stuff out and decided to let my kids play first instead of the end of therapy like I normally do. When I've finally figured things out, I help the kids clean up so we can begin. All of a sudden I hear this really low funny sounding noise below me and wondered, "Was that what I thought it was?" I wasn't the only one thinking that because a girl asked, "What was dat?" The precious boy nonchalantly chimed in and said, "That was my body, okay. My body was talking and I tooted. My mom and dad do it all the time. It was just my body." I laughed really hard and no one made a big deal about it! It's funny what parents teach children about the things that happen in life. It's little things like this that keep me going throughout my day!
Have a Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!!

Today is my last day before the break! My body is SOO ready for the relaxation, but at the same time, I can't believe the semester is already gone!
I also didn't realize how much eating and gift exchanging teachers do! I have found myself in several awkward situations in which I was given a present and had nothing to give in return! I've even gotten some presents from some of my students!
I hope y'all are all having the blessed, challenging, fun, learning experience that I am having! AND~ I hope you all have a blessed, relaxing break! Miss you ladies!

Hello Everyone!

So Chanan gave me the scoop on this whole blog thing. I think it's a great idea. Hope it's ok that I joined! I've been reading some of the blogs (avoiding that final paper I have to do-sigh!) Anyway, I think this is a brilliant idea!
For those of you who don't know I've accepted a job in the schools and I'll be living in The Colony (North Dallas). Yes it's true... I'm staying in Texas. It shocked even me. I'll be working with two middle schools and a high school. Needless to say I'm kind of scared to work with the older ones since my school experience is pretty much limited to the little ones. Any tips would be awesome! I start shortly after the new year. Trying to get right into it as long as my license will go through. Anyway. Hope you are all well. Have a great day!

P.S. I know Erin and Kristen were wondering. The job is through EBS. I'm excited to be working for them!

It's not your fault...

This week has definitely been the longest week of my CF yet! I flew in from California very late on Sunday night and have been trying to catch up on my sleep ever since. On top of sleep deprivation, I've been sick since I got off the plane. So, needless to say, I haven't been at the top of my game.

On Tuesday of this week, when I was feeling absolutely terrible, I arrived at one of my schools to do some testing on a child. To my surprise, the normal testing room was occupied by an entire classroom. After some investigating, I learned that a gas leak and subsequent lack of heat in an entire wing of the school had caused several classes to be displaced. There were kids and teachers everywhere! I needed to have this child tested by the end of the week, so I had no other option than to test in a tiny, tiny closet! Not only is this room small, but it has a large server-type thing hanging from the ceiling that makes all kinds of noises. Normally, this wouldn't have been such a big deal. However, because of my sinus infection, my ears were not functioning at full capacity. As I attempted to give this child a language and articulation test, I frequently had to ask him to repeat his answers because I couldn't hear him. As I said, "Sorry, please say that again" for the millionth time, the boy said in a sweet voice, "It's not your fault. I'm still in speech!" He'll never know how many times I thought about that moment this week to help me survive!

"God was the first student of the month"

Today the students of the month were announced. My 1st graders were fighting about who was the first student of the month in their classes when one student, who always has to have the biggest and best story of all, said "i was the 1st student of the month ever," without her r's, as NONE of my artic students can say that sound! Another student chimed in- "Nu-uh! God was the first student of the month!"

Completely Forgot

Hey Girls,

Happy Thanksgiving first of all. I just wanted to say that I had completely forgot about this whole blog thing until Kay and Chris came to San Diego and we were hanging and Kay reminded me. I was so bummed that I had been missing out! But I read all the posts and you guys have some great stories. Kay got to hear a few of my stories. For those of you who don't know I am at a High School and another school they call and "Academy of Learning" which is 6-12 graders....and its more like a zoo full of high level autistic kids who haven't been able to function in any other setting in the district....this sounds exciting right??? not Most recent update is that a student I dreaded working with 2x week finally got arrested for punching a teacher 3 times. We all knew he was a ticking time bomb. So yeah its been eye opening and I can't wait to not go back next year! But as for everything else things are great and I love my job. I like that we can share tips on here. My one things is that I use the students homework all the time! I feel like a glorified tutor, but all the students goals were written pretty much to where I have to use their school work. Neways it works well.

Reflecting on my job & life.

So I had been thinking lately about whether or not I really like working in an elementary school. I know most of you are shocked after that statement. You never thought I would say that, but I really think I would enjoy working with just the preschool age children. I don't know how to do that in an elementary school. After a couple of weeks of thinking this way, I was really blessed by one of my fourth grade groups. They started to show interest in learning and asking questions and being involved in the therapy sessions. One even asked what being a Christian means! What a ministry opportunity! Now I am not sure where I want to work.

What do you guys think? Do you like working for the schools after wanting to have worked in other places? Do you think you'll change after this year?

Did you hear a pig?

For the therapy dimension of my clinical fellowship, I have been helping out with language lab at a preschool four days a week. This is without a doubt the highlight of my day. There is nothing more rewarding than stepping away from the hustle and bustle of the real world and stepping into the life a preschooler. As you well know, you can never predict what will come out of the mouth of a three year old or, in this case, what will come out of the nose. During snack time today, one of the little boys sneezed. With snot hanging from his nose, he looked at me as if to say "What now?" Normally, I would make the boy use his words to request a tissue, but this was a special case so I handed the boy a kleenex and told him to blow his nose. I watch as the boy puts the tissue to his nose, blows, and proceeds to loudly SNORT as he sucks air back into his nose in preparation for his next blow into the tissue. The sound caught everyone off guard. One small girl said it best with a questioning look on her face as she searched the classroom...."pig?" At least we've taught her something!

you can't escape tongue thrust!!!

I thought my extensive experience with tongue thrust was over, but boy was I wrong! I have a student that has been in speech for 3 years for probably every sound that can be produced with a lisp. No one has worked with her on it, or informed her (until me) that she is thrusting! Just when I thought I wouldn't work with tongue thrust in the schools... good thing I kept a copy of the program I used in school!
Miss all you ladies, and who all is going to TSHA?!?

TSHA Convention

If you still live in Texas...Chanan and I are trying to decide which hotel we are going to stay at for TSHA Convention. We are taking a poll...Where are you guys staying?? It would be kind of like old times. Let us know :)

But I love speech....

Behavior situation is a nice way of putting it! I am assigned to two schools. One school, who are all children who are either in kindergarten or pre-k, are your typical artic/lang. kids. The other school, however, I see all kids who are in self contained classrooms. Monday, I went to the school with the self contained kids and was to the part of my day where I see the "behavior unit" kids (most are high level autistic). Might I add that I have never had an issue with these boys, they have always been good with me. One of the students was having issues that day. When he came to speech, he refused to do anything. I heard phrases like "make mupe" and "what are you gonna do about it?" I proceeded to take away one of his sticks (each child has 5 tongue depressors with their name on them. If they do not have all of their sticks at the end of session, they do not get a sticker that helps them get to the treasure chest later). I put it in my pocket and the next thing I knew, he was coming around the desk after me to get his stick. He said, "give me my stick back!" This child is large enough where he could actually do damage. I redirected him back to the other side of his desk and threatened to take another away and take away an incentive in his classroom. He was still a terror! It was the end of session and one student was able to go to the treasure chest. He took a finger trap thing out of the box and I quickly got it back. Next time I turned around, he did it again and then it broke in half. I was angry and he knew it. I turned around and ignored him. Do not ever do this!!! I turned back around and he was turning over desks....heavy ones. My brand new materials were flying everywhere. He broke my Token Towers from Super Duper. I was furious. I had to get my 2 studens..who have major issues themselves to go down the hall and get their teacher. Thank God they did what they were told. While waiting, I told him to do things like "stop!" to which he replied...."Make Me!" After the principal was called, pictures were taken(which made him furious) he finally calmed down and started cleaning up the mess. He asked the principal if he was expelled and she said not this time but next time this happens I will have to expell you. He then asked if he could come back to speech and the reply was the same...if you do this again you will loose your privilage to come to speech. His reply was "But I love speech." That moment is what keeps me going. It's moments like those that keep me going back every day.

"GET ME OUT OF HERE"

If you're anything like me, you get tired of doing therapy inside a room all day! I really get tired of it! So, one day I decided to take two of my kids outside. I thought they would love it. We were walking around playing games and talking and then all of a sudden I could tell that one of the little boys was getting extremely nervous. I looked around, saw nothing, and kept on going. Luckily we were right by a door when everything else started happening. I see the boy backing up against the doors and I asked, "What's wrong?" His reply was, "A b-b-butterfly!" I looked around and saw one on the ground, which by the way was no where close to us! I was a little confused because I think butterflies are so pretty and I responded by saying, "Oh yeah, a butterfly, isn't it pretty?" Then the butterfly decided to fly. It was coming towards us and the little boy started screaming, "Get me out of here." Since we were by the door everything the boy was screaming was echoing. It wasn't just screaming. I mean this boy was terrified. It was the loudest thing I have ever heard! I started panicing and ran over to him, took his hand, and started to ring the bell to let us back in the building (it's so crazy how schools have to be locked down these days). It takes forever for the lady to let us in and then to top it off the door always gets stuck. So, I'm pulling on the door as hard as I can to get it open while this child is screaming for his life. I felt so bad for him. He was so scared. I'll think twice now before I ever think about taking a kid outside!

I'd love to hear some other funny stories anyone has to share! I know you have them... especially you Jessica!!! Thanks Kay for letting us know about the personal user account! As you can see at the bottom of my post it says "the sessions"... it's by where you can comment if you can't find it! Hope everyone is doing well! I miss everyone!

Yes, I Live with a Computer Geek

I thought I'd pass along some knowledge that I gained from my husband related to our blog. Typically, I tend to smile and nod when my husband gives me a computer suggestion, but here's a tidbit of information that is actually useful! (I love you, Chris)

Steps to Setup A Personal User Account on the Blog:

1) Sign in with the information that Kristin provided us in an email.
2) Click on Settings
3) Click on the Permissions tab
4) Click on Add Authors
5) Type in your personal email address
6) Click Invite

If you follow these steps, you will be able to sign into our blog with your personal email address. When you post to the blog or make a comment, it will automatically put your name at the end of your message rather than putting the standard 'acuslps.' Try it out!

I still haven't seen any kids. I start with them on Monday! I have been going to training for a month now and learning all the processes of my school. I have participated in many ARDs and tested a child, but I am so ready to begin therapy! I feel so young and inexperienced. I constantly ask questions of others around me. They all call me sweetie and honey and make me feel like a little kid. I want to be seen as a professional.

I'm glad to hear that you are all doing well and enjoying your jobs.

I've really enjoyed reading the posts about the first days! I've already been working for two weeks and last week was my first week to see kids! Unfortunately, after all my hard work the week before planning and scheduling, my school district decided to cut our week into half days. It's been so hot here that kids are getting sick at school and on the buses, and since the buses aren't air conditioned they've been releasing kids at 11:30. I'd show up to my schools and have no idea where any of my kids were because the schedules were so different. But I'd eventually find a few, pull them aside, and work with them. I'm surprised with how "normal" it feels to be working. Even though I feel lost a lot of the time, I'm getting the hang of it! I'm having to adjust to making sure I see the kids the days and times they need to be seen a week, month, or year. Being able to keep up with that and staying organized is another question. I keep changing my system... I just have to find the perfect one! The paperwork just from the school district alone is crazy and different for each school! And I don't even have to write the IEPs! It's just been so neat to walk through halls and introduce myself as the Speech Therapist to the teachers. I get some funny reactions... mostly they say, "You kids just keep looking younger!" I take it as a complement! I don't know about anyone else but my confidence level has increased just over the past few weeks! I've changed my mindset and actually see myself as a Speech Therapist now instead of a "student." It's fun and I hope everyone else is having fun too!!! Take care!! Love you guys
Kristin

Chanan's first day

Today I started inservice at my elementary school. I was bombarded by MANY new faces who ALL knew me- I'm the only new face on campus this year besides a student teacher! I decorated my room, and yes, I do have a room about the size of 1/2 a classroom! I will have some students at the jr. high and have been told they "possibly" have a place for me there! And now, as it approaches 2:00, I have 2 more hours to just sit here. All my student folders are at another school after being cleaned out over the summer so there isn't much left to do!
Hope y'alls first days are going well! I pray for peace in your hearts and minds, especially if y'all are becoming as overwhelmed as me!

Diarrhea, Dancing, and Diagnostic What?

Here's a few snapshots of my first official day at the office:

Although I thought I would be the most nervous person at work today, I was severely mistaken. Minutes into the workday, I overheard another new hire (a 40+ year old woman who had just received her master's and was hired as a diagnostic SLP) speaking with a seasoned veteran about how she was feeling on this first day. When asked if she was overwhelmed, the woman responded abruptly," I've had diarrhea for weeks just thinking about today!"

As the clock approached noon, I was feeling completely overwhelmed. I had spent the entire morning staring at a list of names and dates of upcoming ARD's and evaluation dates. With only minutes until an hour of freedom for lunch, a few fellow SLP's came into my office and asked if I wanted to join them for lunch. I had just spoken with Chris and agreed to meet him for lunch so I casually said, "No thanks, I'm having lunch with my husband." To my utter shock and amazement, one of the SLP's began to shake her money maker and announced at the top of her voice...."Kay's having lunch with her husband ladies. We all know what that means!!! She'll be coming back into the office with a smile this afternoon!"

At the end of the day, I was required to attend a meeting with the Superintendent of the school along with all the special education staff. The Superintendent began to announce all of the new employees and got to my name and title. Upon reading "Diagnostic Speech Pathologist" he said," What is that? I've never heard of that...Is that a new certification? As I sat down, I was met by a simultaneous eye roll by my fellow colleagues.

All in all, I'd have to say it was a good day. I didn't have diarrhea; I laughed hysterically; and I realized that at the end of the day I should just enjoy myself because ultimately.... no one really knows what we do!!

Hope all of you had a great first day!

That pesky ASHA form

I don't know how many of y'all already knew what to do with the ASHA form Dr. Bender gave us at the end of the year but I sure didn't so I asked! Here's what she said:

"That is your certification and membership application form. You MUST send it in when you are applying for certification which you will not receive until after you finish your CF. You can choose to send it in at the end of your CF (along with your CF paperwork) or you can send it in a little bit before you finish your CF.
If you send in all the paperwork at once, application and CF paperwork, it may take a little bit longer to process your certification (6-8 weeks). Especially if they do not receive a transcript or your NESPA scores. If you send in your application a couple months before (say in January) your certification may not take as long to complete (less than 6 weeks). In the meantime, you will receive notification of any missing documentation for your application and can submit it before you complete your CF process.
Your CF supervisor must continue in a supervisory role until you receive official notice of certification."

However, my other question (that I didn't ask yet, thought maybe one of y'all would know) is do we need to be members of ASHA during our CF year...

Just the Beginning

Hi everyone! It's so exciting that there are so many different ways of keeping in touch! I'm glad that someone thought of this before we graduated. I think it'll be especially helpful since we are all starting new jobs in the SCHOOLS!!!

I am so incredibly weirded out by the idea of not going to class in a couple of weeks. I am overwhelmed with this feeling of, "I don't know what I'm doing." I'm sure it's normal but I'm especially scared because I never had a "normal" school placement. I know I'll be fine... maybe a little confused but I'll make it. I went by my schools the other day just to see what they looked like. I was actually pleasantly surprised. I have three schools... one high school and two middle schools. The high school and one of the middle schools are in relatively new buildings and the other is not. When I went by the older school building, I asked if they knew what room I would be in. She really didn't know and said possibly the clinic! She took me to this room that had a small desk and one bed in it! I wasn't really shocked. I've kind of prepared myself for situations like that but seriously? A clinic? What am I going to do when there's a sick kid in there? Hold a trashcan for the sick one and tell my kid to say the /s/? No... I probably just won't use that room that day but then what? I guess I'll be in a closet! It's exciting, though, to not know what the next day will have in store for you. I like organization but I'm also glad that I won't always be in the same building and same room all day. I do however think those of you who do have one room are incredibly lucky!

I have orientation in a couple of days and then Monday is the big day. I have no idea what my caseload will be or how I'll do my scheduling on the very first day of school. I'm just surprised that I'm having this laid back attitude about it. I just keep thinking, "I'll deal with it when I do know." It's funny because I'm not usually like that. I would normally be calling and harassing people to tell me what's going on. The problem is... the school district doesn't even know. I just found out my schools last week! I'm just glad the Lord is calming my spirit and giving me strength to not panic! Anyway, I hope everyone is having a positive experience. I can't wait to hear about it!

Here's my question for this blog... does anyone have any good ideas of get to know you games or something interesting to start the first therapy session with? I have some but I don't think they're creative enough! Have a great day!!! Love you!!!
Kristin