Ramblings of a teacher...

I've decided that someone out there has to write a book called, "You Know You're a Special Education Teacher When..." and fill it with anecdotal comments we find ourselves repeating/hearing from our students. 

It's weird, but yes, I am that person who loves writing down quotes. Somewhere on my hard drive full of pictures, there is a Microsoft Word document filled with hilarious quotes attributed to friends, students, and sometimes my own utterances that just don't come out right. I love remembering these things. 

So here we are...it's time for another list entry. You know You're a SPED teacher when....

1. You say, "When you don't listen, I have to take your squishy."

2. You have beads everywhere in your purse...because some kids really need a necklace. 

3. You carry gloves everywhere...because you never know when you might need them! This includes date night and outside of the school. 

4. You talk about poop stories etc. without realizing that others don't normally talk about this. This may include reminding friends that baby poop doesn't bother you. 

5. Self-stim behaviors of your students can easily be repeated when you tell stories about school. 

6. You discover that yes, you too, have autistic tendencies. 

7. You carry around stim toys and offer them to co-workers in a bind. 

8. You speak in acronymns. 

9. "Safe hands and feet" has great meaning to you. 

10. You start to think about ways to record yourself saying your repeated sayings so your throat won't hurt so bad at the end of the day. 

11. You wish you could put up videos of your students on YouTube because you know others would appreciate the humor, but you don't because of legal purposes. 

12. You understand that mayo, pudding, and ketchup all make up a new food group that isn't on the pyramid. 

13. You never sit down. When you get home, you forget you can. 

14. You tell your husband things in "If, then" format. You may also ask, "Was that the best idea?"

15. You know way too much about Dora, Thomas, Sponge Bob, buses, and trains. 

16. You love making tables using Microsoft Word. You also are very excited about organized data sheets using the same program. 

17. You wish you had a tape recorder because people would never believe some of the things your students' parents say to you. 

18. You walk/run to the bathroom very quickly. 

19. Visual aides are your best friends. 

20. You have "kids" whether you physically "had" them or not. 

21. The word "transportation" makes you feel slightly stressed that somehow, you'll be late or have to wait for a long time on hold. 

22. You sometimes state that your goal for the day is survival. 

23. No matter where you are, you watch kids running to make sure an adult is chasing them. 

24. You've been embarrassed in a public place because your student is a sneaky, sneaky food thief. 

25. "Hands out of pants" is a phrase you have to use often. 

26. Your students remember dates better than you do. 

27. Your students remember promises better than you do. 

28. When all else fails, every kid knows the words to "Jingle Bells" and "The Wheels On the Bus."

29. You talk about texture issues. 

30. You love Fit Balls. 

31. You understand how complicated it can be to explain a step-by-step activity. 

32. You love to see your students accomplish even the smallest goals. 

33. You laugh almost constantly because your kids are so funny (and sometimes you have to laugh in your head because you're trying to teach  more appropriate behavior). 

34. You appreciate simple pleasures: a piece of chocolate, magnets. 

35. It feels weird when it's really quiet. 

36. Your kids have better dance moves than you. 

37. You congratulate people for good eye contact, good listening, and good sitting. 

38. You have to let your kids have a "run break."

39. Grocery shopping gets really interesting because you have a classroom of kids sneaking things into your cart. 

40. You enjoy working with your students so much you do all your paperwork on your own time. 


Being a teacher is never boring. Despite the hard parts, I absolutely love working with my kids. I never laugh as hard as I do about the things that they say....

Can't wait to make a music video this year--I have a feeling that's going to give me more quotes! I had an idea today...old school Mario from the first Nintendo! I can't wait to see what that will bring!

July and it's literal coolness....

Well, phone blogging takes forever, so don't be too angry for the length between my entries. I would rather write weekly lest I forget the blessings of grace, but free time is so rare for me this month!

In fact, we just had our first free weekend at least since December! Sad, I know, but my hubby works every other Sunday and we've been doing soccer with the kids lately...plus all the fun summer BBQs and such. It's been busy....but I've really enjoyed the change in routine.

Sometimes, a good ol' change in routine is really what I need to keep on going.

In the field of special education, there is much repetition. I teach the same things throughout an entire year. As a huge fan of change and newness, it can be difficult to keep going when you are honestly sick of money and repeating yourself. I love to teach, but God invented summer/holidays for this very reason....sometimes the teacher doesn't want to hear herself talk about the same thing again.

Don't be fooled into thinking I'm basking on a sunny beach this summer with no plans...I'm actually currently teaching summer school and about to start "respite care" (a fancy word for baby sitting--but I'll be doing some very worthwhile skill keeping activities)for a student I teach during the year.

Like I said, I love working with my kids (despite the stresses that WILL ALWAYS come), but I needed this change in routine!!

Summer school has been interesting...it's a camp experience for our kids, some of whom are doing well and gaining social skills, and others I find myself battling with each day. Biting, kicking, defiant behavior, and...booty dancing. Yep, it's just another day on the job.

I must also say that I've truly loved getting to know the folks also working with me at summer school...they are very dedicated to helping kids and I have appreciated getting to know each of them. We get no lunch break, barely get to restroom (ourselves) and are constantly running...but there is not excessive complaining as one might expect. It helps me to keep going to be working with these folks who also really want to get to the root of the problem...and help the kids.

In real life (AKA outside of the workplace), I've been really into cooking and making preserves lately. I went berry picking a week ago, and we will be going again this weekend...there is just something so fun about taking the whole process from the field to the kitchen!!

The hubby and I are trying to do as much yard work as we can squeeze in, but it's been a very rainy month thus far!!we finally made it out yesterday, after a grueling bike ride, and fixed up the front yard. The hard part is that our shrubs/bushes are out of control and difficult to reach! I've got to get out the ladder so my tiny garden can get more sunlight.

It's amazing to see how fast a bush will grow when planted in the good soil with sun and rain in abundance....kind of like how we ought to be, but so often, other ythings come to block out our sun.

In life, I strive to be the big bush...growing tall, grabbing the light and continuing to grow....but often I'm like my pumpkin out there....capable of big things, but allowing something to block out the Son from my full view. I pray that in the garden of my life, I'll be better equipped. Much like the shield and helmet, I'll need hedge trimmers, a ladder, and possibly some snail and slug spray....but with the right tools, I can take off and make a giant pumpkin!!

Thanks in large part to my obsession with the tastiness of pumpkin seeds, we are growing a pumpkin. ;). I hope he will make it!

Next month should be exciting...several weeks with no summer school before September arrives! These months have flown by...we've already celebrated our one year mark in Washington! Now it's almost time for birthdays and school to start again!

We take so much for granted in this life. Lord, help me to enjoy these days, these friends, this season. Who knows what you will bring next!