Spreken Zie SpEd
Random Musing About Special Education
Monday, April 2, 2012
Friday, May 6, 2011
It's The Little Things
"We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”
~Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Today somebody sent me this quotation during an email exchange and it reminded me of something I used to say to my students when they were frustrated. "You can't save the world but if you try, you'll end up saving some kids."
This was usually said in reference to a student telling me about some education professional who advised them to quit spending so much time with kids who are "lost causes" or "just like their parents". The one that would really get me was "you'll learn not to be so idealistic."
I love it when a teacher is idealistic! It means they are going to keep trying. And while they won't save every child they will help many that others have written off. So keep doing those small things for the kids and think of Mother Teresa's words when the bastards get you down.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
That Time Of The Year
Starting tomorrow, I'll be neck-deep in my student's final manuscripts. I'll spend the week reading the five chapters of their research competencies and I'll be meeting with those same students to review their work with them. I'm trying my best to have these suckers read before I meet with the authors so by Monday evening I'll be ready to pull my hair out, by Tuesday I'll be a bit grumpy (apologies in advance), and by Wednesday I'll be downright delirious (again, apologies).
Despite this grind, I secretly love this time of the year. Everything will be worth it when I see them Friday at the graduate hooding ceremony. Some kick-ass special educators are going to be crossing that stage. They're going to be teaching kids that a lot of people think are unteachable, getting to know kids thought to be unreachable and advocating for kids that have nobody else to care about them.
I love working with my students and will miss them, but on the other hand I can't wait for them get out of here so they can be more focused on fighting the good fight.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
To Laugh, Or Not To Laugh
Autistic Reporter: Train Thankfully Unharmed In Crash That Killed One Man
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Guest Speaker at WV ATC
Monday, September 13, 2010
More Evidence That Vaccines Don't Cause Autism
More Evidence That Vaccines Don't Cause Autism
Monday, September 6, 2010
NYTimes: Child’s Ordeal Shows Risks of Psychosis Drugs for Young
NYTimes:Child’s Ordeal Shows Risks of Psychosis Drugs for Young