...four to go. And yesterday went pretty smoothly. There's a new kid in my 1st period class who gave me a few fits last week. I wasn't sure how he'd be yesterday but all went well and he was fun and funny and we'll see what happens next. He's from Cincinnati, hasn't had mad much in the way of schooling; in foster care; a minority in a mostly white school so he's feeling and testing his way around. Seeing what he can get away with or not. It's always a roller coaster ride when this kind of kid comes our way. People want to treat him with kid gloves and in a way I understand that but on the other hand...shouldn't he be treated like any other kid...show him what it's REALLY like to be a student...make him feel like someone who doesn't stick out like a sore thumb. Plus when you treat kids with kid gloves...it can only last so long and then they have shell shock when all of a sudden they're supposed to follow the same rules as everyone else. Anyway - yesterday went well.
So I think I mentioned yesterday that I got a new kid on my caseload. He's visually impaired. Apparently (I haven't met him yet and hopefully he won't start until after the holidays) his right eye - with corrective lenses - at best is 20/200. At best for his left eye, he can count fingers up to a foot away. Yowza, right? So I'm reading his IEP and since 4th grade (he's in 11th now) he's been in 7 schools. This is his 7th. Ridiculous! I keep reading. As a student with his visual impairment he gets "orientation and mobility" training. What this means is that he has someone come to the school once a month, pick him up and they work on getting around independently; taking public transit etc. So the woman who works with him, as a member of the IEP team has a blurb she's written in the profile. In it she says that "Mr. Magoo's" main way of getting around is his bike. Me: WHAT!? I continue to read: "When asked what he does when he has to cross an intersection, Mr. Magoo states that he just goes when he thinks it's safe...traffic usually stops." I was flabbergasted Is it good parenting to give your blind kid a bike and let him ride it in the STREET!? It's a wonder this kid hasn't gotten hit and killed. And maybe he's gotten hit...I don't know. Anyway - I have his intake meeting on Thursday. Can't wait to meet mom.
So that's about all I've got. Today should be fairly easy...ooh, and bonus: one of my bad and crazy kids had to go to WV on a "family emergency"...he'll be gone all week! (I hope it isn't something bad but I'm pretty sure the same thing happened the week of Thanksgiving.) I'm not complaining though...class is so much nicer when he's not there.
K - I'm out...got lots to do today. Later
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