October Already?!

I blogged so much more before I had an actual classroom - now I feel like my time is just getting away from me.

I can't believe that its already October! Ahhh!

This school year has definitely been rough - but having amazing aides by my side have made it so much better. I felt like we were still learning the routine and working on how to play and then BAM! My kids this week decided to be absolutely amazing - and it made everything seem worth it!

I had parent teacher conferences last night and I got so many awesome reviews from parents and they were all telling me how much their kids love school. I absolutely love that.

My highlights from the night included:

• One student seeing me in the hall with his parents and he RAN down the hall and gave me the biggest hug ever. It made me feel so special!
• Some parents were a few minutes late and I mentioned we were okay since no one was scheduled after them - I had a dinner break next. After them talking and raving about how awesome their son is doing and how much improvement they've seen, they then asked where I wanted to go to dinner and they'd gladly take me and pay. It was such a sweet thought! (Although, I couldn't take them up on it since we talked for too long and I had more appointments in 15 minutes.)
• One mom said that she had complained about how she was frustrated in front of her son and he told her, "Mom, just take a step back (showing her how) and ask for help (raising his hand)." - Clearly we had used Daniel Tiger to help teach a lesson that wasn't getting through with Miss Brylie saying it quite as well.

It was a long week, so we took things easy and rearranged the classroom a bit. My furniture is supposed to come in sometime next week and then my room will really be my own. So far I'm loving the new feel of everything we have going on. Once I get it a little more decorated on the boards (hopefully on Monday) then I can finally get some real pictures of my classroom up.

The last highlight of the week was I asked on an indoor yard sale if anyone had a small umbrella stroller they would be willing to donate to our classroom. I have a couple of students with physical disabilities and our playground is just so far away. I had a sweet lady offer one for free. Not only was it a much nicer stroller than just a cheapo umbrella stroller - but she also had a sweet card with a donation for the classroom to get some supplies.

I'm a first year teacher in a brand new preschool and there is always more I'd like my students to have. Unfortunately, I've already spent so much of my own money. To have a complete stranger want to help us out not only with a stroller - but also give some money to help support the kids more just brought tears to my eyes.

I love what I do, no matter how stressful it is - which is pretty dang stressful, I don't think I could imagine myself doing anything else but working in special education. 

The classroom work begins

I'm officially going to be a teacher at Suncrest Elementary School!

Last week I was able to get keys and move some things over to the school that I've been storing at my house in random nooks just waiting.

I haven't been able to set up a ton in the classroom as they still have to clean it all up this summer... but when I went with my mom to do some cleaning yesterday they had moved the boxes in from my toy order. I so badly wanted to go through all the boxes but wasn't able to since it was so late.

I woke up early this morning (well, for a Saturday) and headed over again with my mom.
It was like Christmas, maybe even better! There was box after box of a lot of different toys ready to be opened and put away.

I really like that I get to start fresh - everything is new and mine. I don't have to go through someone else's old junk and decide what I need.

It was seriously so much exciting stuff that we just kept pulling out of box after box.

Cleaning the nasty coat rack area

First getting into the classroom

First getting into the classroom - still storing the old teacher's furniture

Toy Order boxes!!

All the boxes opened and thrown to the side

So after a long day, its finally done. We got all the toys out of packaging, labeled, and mostly up in cupboards. I'm hoping everything is in a good place - but once I have full access to do whatever I want in the room (they've finished cleaning and removed the old furniture from the old class) then I can really decide where I want things to go.

I feel like I have so much more to do and like it'll never get done - good thing I have another 2 1/2 months to get ready.

Now if only I could find a way to change the purple carpet and bright yellow blinds.

New Adventures: First Starting

Life has flown by and I feel like I have no control over anything.

Back in January, I thought I might be able to get a teaching position. They had told me there would be one and it ended up falling through. Once I got that news I was a little heartbroken. I didn't even get the shot to try.

But I knew Maggie would be leaving and I would have a full time job taking care of the class. 

Maggie has been gone since the middle of January and had her babies on February 19th. 

I've loved being able to have the experience of what its like to run a classroom without the full responsibility of all lesson plans yet. She's due to come back the beginning of April.

Well a few weeks ago I got an email from the district saying they would have two positions opening up for special education preschool teachers. I had been debating what to do - finally after talking to Rob & a few others I knew I couldn't deny my career. I applied. It was breaking my heart though, knowing I would leave my students without someone who really knew the class.

It took a while for them to call for an interview - so I began to think maybe I was a good enough candidate for right now. They must have had enough certified teachers apply. 

Finally, last Friday afternoon I got a call for an interview. 

Wednesday I was so sick and just wasn't feeling well. I seriously considered calling in (good thing I didn't, since both my para's weren't there!). I knew I could fight through it and just take things easy so I somehow made it through the day.

I went to my interview that afternoon and although I was extremely nervous I just had a feeling of everything was out of my hands. I didn't feel like I really wanted it at that point. I was there walking through the steps but I didn't want to leave my junior high students high and dry before Maggie got back.

I came home and crashed and wasn't able to really even feel anything towards the job. I was just too sick. They had mentioned they were wanting to fill the position ASAP to get someone working. I told them I was willing to leave if I got the job and that I had been warning the school it might come - I needed to take steps to my own career.

Friday, while still at school I got the call. They were "unofficially, but officially" giving me the job. They weren't done doing the paperwork to have me sign but they were 100% sure it was going to work and they wanted me. But, my teacher leader from the junior high requested I not leave until Maggie returns.

Although I am anxious to get started and be a teacher, I was glad and relieved that I would be able to stay for the end of year testing, end of the term, and transitioning at the school. I will stay at Mountain Ridge until April 3rd. I'll have a week off for Spring Break and then I'll start at Sharon Elementary School on April 11th. It still seems surreal but I will be able to sign all the paperwork and make everything official this next week. 

I am a teacher. 

I am going to have a classroom. 

For now, I'll be sharing a classroom and get trained with a teacher who is already in the room. Then next school year I'll get my own classroom at another school in South Orem probably. 

Everything just fell into place. Out of the two positions, I got the one in Orem. I am able to finish up my work with my current students. I will be able to train under a great teacher to get to know everything prior to being out on my own. 

I'm a little nervous still but am so excited to begin my adventures as a special education preschool teacher!!!

What now?

I finally heard from the district.. again.

They had said the school was approved and now have taken it back. They can't order the trailer they need and get it put into place with power and everything in enough time. They'll open it up in the fall but that means there isn't an opening for me to apply to for the time being.

So I am now planning on and prepared to take over for Maggie when she leaves to take care of herself and her babies.

Although I was hoping to get my own classroom, with my own students, and my own teacher salary - this is going to be a great experience to help me get a job this fall.

I'm excited to have a trial run of being in charge and running the class - but I don't have to plan the lessons yet! I don't have the full responsibility if the parents are upset yet and I don't have to handle the IEP meetings - although Maggie took care of those already too.

Life has taken me in a different direction and I'm happy to be able to try it out!

Umm.. Wait What?!

So I had given up hope that I would get a classroom this school year and just put it in the back of my mind that I could get one, hopefully, in the fall.

Then I got an email from someone at the district.

They're opening a new classroom starting just after Christmas Break in January.

Of course, my first thought was that if they were expanding and needing a new classroom that it would probably not be close to home. I would have to really travel to get to it.

Then she said it would be in South Orem.
Um.. I live in Orem!

So then I started getting in contact with USU to make sure I would be able to get into the program.
Yep. They do it all the time - it would just take 2 1/2 years to do it instead of the traditional 2.

So now I'm preparing like crazy in case I actually get it.


I still have to interview. I still have to go up against teachers who are already certified.

But I'm hoping my 6+ years of experience can help set me apart. Hopefully.


So this Thanksgiving Break I've worked on creating and printing and sewing a calendar set, made a visual schedule (with a million options so I'm sure to have everything), and gathered some toys and things that would be helpful in my classroom. I also am in the process of making Rob help me perfect my resume & cover letter.

I want the job so badly and I feel like I'm so close but so far away. It terrifies me though that in a month I could have my own classroom. I'll be leaving the world of aides and actually be in charge.


I think the hardest thing for me that I had to do was let Maggie know. If I get this job I wouldn't be able to be her long term substitute. Of course this news came after I was all ready to be hired at any moment by the subbing company.
She's been supportive though and there to answer questions. It wasn't until after I told her that I was able to actually get excited about it.

So now in the next week I'll hopefully get all applied and interview soon.
Then I'll have two weeks over Christmas Break to get a classroom all ready to go.

[Two weeks is not enough time! Ahhh!]

Classroom Updates

I have been keeping in contact with different people at the district office to be able to keep up on the chances they will have an opening for me in January.

First of all, they would have to have a teacher leave and have an opening.

Then, they have to go with certified teachers first (is what they said - but after talking with a few other people they've mentioned that my experience may help pull me up on top even though I won't graduate with a teaching certificate).

Lastly, I have to get into the local program for alternate teaching to be enrolled while teaching.

I've been informed that currently the program is full until Fall 2015.
And no teachers plan on leaving in the middle of the year. At least, they haven't informed the district of this. I know it could always change but for now the chances of getting a classroom mid-year sound very very slim. They said if they get desperate then things might be different - but I'm not seeing that happen. It made me sad at first.

But I will probably still have a classroom to play teacher in. The teacher I work with is pregnant! She needs a long term sub. We're also thinking she may not even make it back after Christmas Break in January due to bed-rest or other complications (twins can do that!).

So for now the plan is to be her long-term sub in the classroom. I feel like its totally manageable for me and it excites me to get to play teacher before having all the responsibilities (like IEP's and other paperwork) fall on me.

Things are a little tricky right now figuring out how it will all work out, but I'm hoping it all does and that it will help set me apart even more to be able to say I ran the classroom for a couple months.

Lastly, to help me stand out even more I've been working towards a RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) certification through UVU.

I'm hoping between adding this autism studies minor, my experience as a long term sub, my experience in the classroom for 6 years, and the certification that I can be considered equal to those with a teaching certificate already.

Here's to hopes and dreams!

'I'm working for' and 'I'm working on' cards

 

These cards are great for students who need a little more visual help to know what is coming up. They are great to add pictures to or just have text, depending on the level of your student.

For both cards, you'll want to print them out the working card on cardstock, laminate (its great to have an envelope laminated on the back and then cut it open with a razor to keep all the little cards handy), and add velcro.

Then you'll create your task/reward/token cards - this is where you can add the pictures or type in your own thing. They should also go on cardstock, get cut out, laminated, and add velcro.

I’m working on:

Student has task and reward cards that get put in the boxes. Some students may need to start working with more rewards and work up to only needing one reward with four tasks prior. Having a visual schedule can help many students (particularly students on the autism spectrum) to know what is coming up.

I’m working for:

This is a token chart. The student chooses a reward and then earns 5 tokens (at a pace you find works best for the student. To begin with you may have them get a token after doing one demand, every 30 seconds-1 minute and then work up to a more variable reward schedule.) 

Rewards can be customized to what the particular student will enjoy and want to work for as well as customizing the tokens. Some students might like cars characters on them, others may just like a coin to represent token, etc. 

To get these cards visit my store at:

www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Missbrylie

Or check out more info on my website:
www.missbrylie.com/working-visual-cards/