Hi Everyone! So I just found out a week ago that I will not be teaching the MDD program this year. I will be an SDC Math Teacher. Yikes! I have never been an SDC math teacher at the same school. So as of now, this blog will be done. Boo. I will probably start a new blog for my new job once I start figuring things out. (^_^x)
School starts in less than 2 weeks...

Hi everyone! I need some suggestions.
I teach a work skills class during my 5th period. Its with 11th and 12th  graders in my MDD program. The idea is to teach them life and work skills they could use in the real world once they complete their education.

My idea that I would like to implement here is a way apply the skills and learn new skills by helping the other teachers here in the high school.
This is what I have so far:
_________________________________________________________________________________

Dear Teachers,

In my 5^th period class, I am currently teaching my 11^th and 12^th grade students work skills. I would like my students to have as much real world work as practice. Because of this I decided to offer their help to you.

If there is work that you need to be done, like stapling papers or sorting papers, please email me or fill out the form attached and I will have my students complete it during my 5^th period class.

Things to remember:

·         We do go on fieldtrip during 5^th and 6^th period so it may take a couple of days to complete. Because of this please date when you would like the work complete.

·         An adult (either one of my aides or myself) will always help them so that it is done correctly.

·         If it is something you would like done in your classroom during 5^th period, it will always be 1 or 2 student plus an instructional aide.

·         If it is something you would like us to complete in my classroom, just let me know and I will send students to pick up the work.

Ideas of work we could help you with:

·         Stapling papers

·         Sorting papers

·         Stuffing envelopes

·         Cleaning rooms (tables, desk, white boards)

·         Cutting papers

·         Breaking down boxes

____________________________________________________________________________________

·          If any of you fellow teachers have any other ideas, please let me know. I can't think of anything else my students could help with. Also what do you think of my idea and letter? I would really love some feed back.

TThanks!

Finally a new post! Home made planner! Super HAPPY!

Hi Everyone! Things have been so nuts here in school. I've been meaning to put a new blog for months. Hopefully I can start doing it more regularly.

So I have been working like crazy trying to find the perfect way to make a planner that works for me and my type of class. I tried the type you buy at a store but they either didn't have enough room or had too many spaces. Anyways I ran into this brilliant idea about a post it lesson planer by the Wise & Whitty Teacher blog. Click here to where she talks about her lesson planer.
It didn't exactly work for what I needed but I just modified it to my needs.
First instead of a spiral notebook I used a binder I had lying around.

First I used a binder I had lying around instead of a spiral notebook. I put 2 whole post -its and the third is cut. Then I outline it all in black. Finally I place them in sheet protectors.

I originally used whole post its but I divided them in half. I teach 5 classes. The bottom portion is for notes, things happening that day, or things I need to do that day.

Then as things happen and my plans must change almost daily, I simple move a post it. Because each post-it has 2 subjects, I need to cut them in half. The half that doesn't have the sticky side is just taped on. Its still easy to move again if needed.

Well that's it for now. I'm really excited about this lesson planner.

More Pictures!

 I saw this on one of the blogs I read. Now sure which but I LOVE IT!

 

I am getting 4 computers!!!!!! So I have 2 tables waiting for them. Not sure when they are going to come along but still exciting.

I have 4 crates to put student binders.

 Each student has a binder specifically for their needs and their goals. 

There is a folder in each binder where students put their  unfinished work.


 

Each tab has worksheets tailored to their goals and other life skills they could work on independently or with some help during free time.

The binders are a work in progress. I will up date as I work on them.

 Here are some views of my classroom this year. I have tables instead of desk! I am super excited to see how this year goes.

Pictures!
Some things stayed the same...

my messy desk

  

my calendar                   

            

                               

my class rules (new rules but old set up)

 

my What's Happening This Week wall

Some things have gotten refined....

 I finished my DIY paper boxes.

My guide t o answering the phone . (I'm not sure who I got the idea from. I bought one example from teachers pay teachers and then made a new one based on the one I bought..) Refined by turn in bins  


 A lot more jobs for my students

Another school year!

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't up dated in a while. Things have been crazy. Three of my students graduated from high school. Then I taught summer school for the MDD program. I had most of my usual students PLUS a incoming 9th grader AND 3 students who are profoundly deaf. The DHH teacher for summer school got sick the second day of summer school and ended up in the hospital. She is okay but that mean they had no place for the 6 students in the DHH program. I ended up with the 3 lower level students and another coworker received the 3 higher level students. The cool thing was I learned more sign language. In total I had 17 students and 7 aides in my class. It was completely crazy.

Now is the start of a new school year. Our MDD program has expanded. There are now 2 MDD teachers and 22 students with 7 instructional aides. The other teacher and I split the classes by ability. I teacher the lower levels and she teaches the higher levels.
My schedule is as followed:
Period 1: Math
Period 2: Reading
Period 3 Life Management
Period 4 Prep period
Period 5 Life Skills
Period 6 Writing

One of the crazy things is that the DHH teacher here only has 2 students for 1st period. Everyone thought it would be a good idea for them to interact with other students, so they put them in my class with the DHH teacher and a DHH instructional aide. Those 2 students were 2 of the 3 that I taught in summer school. LOL! Who would have guessed?

It has been 2 weeks since school has started. I will post as life happens.

On top of everything else that is happening, I have 3 weddings I am attending, 2 of them which I am the wedding coordinator for. I will post pictures hopefully tomorrow.

YEA! I'm back for another year!!!!

YEA! So I wasn't sure if I was going to keep my job next year due to the economy. However, I was just told that they are not planning on letting me go and in fact hirer a second MDD teacher here at my high school. They like the direction my program is going and are planning on expanding the program.

I am so excited. I will have someone to help me come up with new and better ideas. So for the rest of the school year I will be doing my happy dance.

Oh and I'm getting new curriculum called Basics (or something like that). It's predominately used on the computer with IEP goals on it already. Then when the IEPs are help, I can print out charts and graphs to show parents. At least that is what I was told about the program. I will be trained in the summer about the program. Has anyone else used this program?