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~This Teacher Made Special Ed Truly Special~

My daughter would tell you this, but she can't talk. She's in Special Ed. Last year she was in 2nd grade with other Special Ed students from 1st through 3rd grades.

The year started off with the last words a parent wants to hear the first days of school. "The teacher has decided not to take the job, so we will be having subs until a new one is hired." OH great! This should be fun. The first day of school, a Special Ed class, and a Jr. High PE teacher behind the desk. Talk about setting a class up for failure!

It was 5 weeks into the year before a rather "green" teacher was hired. She was fresh out of school and had no Special Ed experience. By this time into the year, and too many subs to count, the students had developed very poor behavior and learned next to nothing. I seriously doubted this new teacher could redeem the year, let alone the last five weeks!

Her first day was awful for everyone. She had to learn names, try to figure out what the routine was; only to discover there really wasn't one, and understand the special learning needs of each child. I would not have blamed her for not coming back for day two.

She returned the second day, and the next, and the next. She learned their names, understood their learning needs, created a tight yet adjustable routine, and for the cherry on top, she figured out what they needed to succeed.

She used basic rules of courtesy to bring order the class, implemented positive reinforcements and had consistent consequences for any trouble. She spent time and effort on getting to know the kids and building relationships with each one. This gave her the respect she needed to push them academically. This revealed a common bond in the class; they all responded well to music and rhythm.

Using what she learned about them, and her bond with each of them as leverage, she began to teach. At first, parents and other teachers warned her not to expect much. They urged her to "survive" the first year, and then start fresh the next year. She had a weapon these others did not; she had relationship with those kids, and she was motivated to help them improve their skills! And she did.

This class of unruly, desk tossing, hair pulling, screaming kids learned to sit still for circle time for 45 minutes every morning. They raised their hands, took turns, stood quietly in line and performed classroom chores with confidence. All that, and they learned the 50 states, the days and months, and in Spanish too! They add and subtract, read and write, take proper care of library books and participate in school wide activities.

The next year, a quarter of the class moved into regular ed, some with assistance, but others had learned so much, they were able be placed with their peers. She is amazing! I envy the students, and the parents who have her each year.

Learn more about this author, Shannon Santamaria.
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