"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.