So I thought I would post a little about my teaching experience so far. I love teaching in the special ed classroom. There are definately things I would do differently in my classroom but I am learning soooo much. I don't know how I will possibly remember everything. I know I bitch and complain about all the things I have to do for the program and to get my credential but it is seriously all worth it. I can't picture myself doing anything else. The students make it absolutely worth it. It is never boring and I am laughing constantly. Don't get me wrong, they can drive you crazy but the good outweighs the bad. One of my favorite things to do is just talk to them. They have the most wild, sometimes made-up, stories. I wish I could sit and listen to everything they have to say. Their views and opinions really are fascinating. But unfortunately, there is not enough time in the day and I frequently have to cut them off and ask them to tell me the rest at recess, even though most of the time it is forgotten. I thought I would post some funny stories about my experiences with the kids in my special education classroom.
* I have a student who is emotionally disturbed and bi-polar. Even with that, she has the highest confidence I have seen in a student. Everyday I get updates about her Tropicana Beauty contest she will be in this summer. Here are some of our conversations (mind you, she just turned 10 years old):
Student: What day is it Miss Olsen?
Miss Olsen: It's Tuesday, why?
Student: Oh good, I'm getting spray tanned on Wednesday.
Student: Miss Olsen, I think you should have me in your teaching video.
Miss Olsen: Oh really?
Student: Yeah, because my head looks really pretty from behind.
Yes, she was dead serious! Oh, and today we were talking about roller blading and she said she can't rollerblade for 2 months because her mom said if she gets a scrap or bruise before the competition then she is out. I felt like it was the real life Toddlers and Tiaras.
Another hilarious conversation is with one of my 3rd grade students. She has this cute little nasaly voice. We were drawing pictures with circles and she made a moon. The conversation went as follows:
Student: There! I gave my moon a mustache!
Miss Olsen: Oh, cool. He looks good.
Student: I gave him a mustache because he is Mexican. He is a Mexican moon with a mustache.
Miss Olsen: (holding in my laughter) Well you know that just because he has a mustache doesn't mean he has to be Mexican. Lots of people have mustaches and aren't Mexican.
Student: (looking at me like i'm crazy) Oh no, Miss Olsen, If you have a mustache that means your Mexican. He is a Mexican moon.
Needless to say, she wasn't going to budge. In her mind Mustaches=Mexican. And there was no changing that fact.
This last one was just too cute, I have to share. Somehow we got on the subject about the school and who owns the school. I was listening as the students were discussing who they think owns the school. I think someone might have mentioned the principal which would be a normal response from a student. Then someone said, "I think Dave owns the school." I had to ask who Dave was and found out that good ol' Dave is the custodian. I thought it was sooooo funny she thought the custodian owned the school. It makes sense, she sees him going around fixing everything, and people going to him all the time. I'm sure there will be many more to come. The students keep me entertained all day.
