Somewhere in the middle...

I started, again, to write about the thick skin & soft heart issue... But somehow, the words weren't there. As I sat and reflected (and have been doing for a long, long time now), I realized that there's so much to just this issue that I have I have to get out. And now, well I guess there's been enough time... enough time in my current teaching assignment to look back at the struggles, celebrations, victories and losses that lead me to where I am now as a teacher. However, to get where I am; I have to go back in my story.

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After the year with C (see two posts down), I decided that I needed a change of pace. So, I took on a big change. I moved out of state and taught for a year in an elementary school. At that time, I was sure that elementary kids were my favorite. After all, they were hilarious, cute and even liked to give you an occasional hug from time to time. Needless to say, I, once again, enjoyed the time I spent at this school and actually allowed my heart to open up to many of them. However, I was incredibly home sick and I couldn't believe it! So I made a tough decision and returned the following year back "home."

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I was hired to teach for a "new" program for our special education cooperative. The program was a self-contained, therapeutic, day treatment program for students with emotional and other disabilities in grades 6-8. Currently there was another program, but it was designed primarily for elementary students and they were outgrowing their overstuffed portable building.

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To be honest, I have no clue how or why I even applied or interviewed for that job. First of all... MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.... Hello, Sarah, are you nuts? Secondly, I firmly believed in all or mostly inclusive settings and self contained was not a "philosophy" that I bought into. Lastly, this program was to be housed in a portable building (at least it had a bathroom) that was outside of and secluded from a local elementary school where the feeling was, shall we say, one of "exclusion" and "uneasiness." Despite all of these factors, I was excited to take on a new and exciting endeavour.

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And, let me tell you, it was was exciting!

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There's lots to tell about the time that I spent at this teaching assignment- from the learning environment, attitudes of staff, forms of discipline and student successes and failures- but that, readers, is, as they say, another story. Ones that I probably do need to write and share at some point, but not all today. The two years I spent at this program, are the two that most shaped my life, as a teacher and the person I am today. There's a lot to tell.

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There are not adequate words to state here about the impact that this place had on me, my teaching and overall philosophy of education and human kind, in general. The work & relationships I built with those students and in that tiny building were never more challenging, rewarding nor life-altering.

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It was my work at this place that shaped my strong preference for middle school students. I realized what a lovely metamorphosis of change and being these years can bring. After all, can one really take things personally when a person is going through adolescence? I think not! I also learned that while I still strongly believed in the necessity for inclusive settings, that there was a time and place, occasionally, for more restrictive settings. While I now teach in a mostly-inclusive environment, the work I do can not compare to that I did when I taught self-contained with the same students throughout each day. Lastly and sadly, the attitudes of others in the community and in the schools, have not greatly improved- especially towards those students with emotional disabilities. BUT, it served as a catalyst and focus on my passion as a teacher. This negative perception and reaction serves as my fuel and fire for the passion I have in advocating for and working with these students. Students I see as people first... People with hearts and dreams and hopes and wishes and families and gifts and who are so deserving of the care and respect we can give them.

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This, here... this brief summary of two of the best years of my life- years where I cried harder, laughed more, screamed louder, advocated stronger- is who I am and what really shaped me as an educator, friend, mentor and human being. I hope somewhere, in the future, I can explain more of my experiences as a teacher and the stories of this place... the place that is me. Teacher.

Summer at the Concession Stand

I never thought it would have happened, but I spent my summer running the concession stand and Lakeside Park in Syracuse. The first obstacle was finding an appropriate name. I am a fan of many things, two of them being my dog and alliteration. So, "Sadie's Snack Shack" was born.

Life at The Shack has been interesting & eye-opening. I really did miss the students over the summer and was excited to see familiar faces of past, present and future students while at the park. The more I worked there, the more I learned from it and what makes being at a park so pleasant. Here's a list of observations, ideas and other things I want to take from my experience at the park and somehow recreate or place at school:

1. Everyone who is at the park wants to be at the park. ~ I want to help foster a strong desire for students to want to learn and be excited about being at school.
2. People, kids especially, appear to be happy. ~ What's better than enjoying your time in school?
3. All people have choices. ~ When people get hungry, they eat. Thirsty, they drink. Hot, they go for a swim. So, I'm trying to think, how can I incorporate controlled choices into my classroom more effectively?
4. Environment is key. ~ Kids don't sit still at a park very often. They are running around, rolling, skipping, jumping up & down and in & out of the water. I don't think that this is a mistake. I'm looking for a way to incorporate more movement into my learning environment and being more aware of it. We may even go outside more! I really should remember to look at my environment first before looking to other interventions.
5. Diversity & inclusion are great things. ~ I love that at the park there is such a mix of people. People's age, ethnicity, gender, culture, ability, religion or language is not a barrier to the environment in which they are placed. Everyone is simply together- working, learning, collaborating, celebrating and existing together. I love that and truly believe that inclusive settings are most beneficial to the whole. I am wondering how to celebrate diversity and incorporate even more inclusive practices, when appropriate, into my school.

I really think that working at The Shack this summer will help me to be a better teacher. I think it's important to take little nuggets of information & inspiration from where you are and incorporate them into what you do. I encourage you to do the same.

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Side Note: I'm back! My goal is to post at least once weekly. I am holding myself accountable by writing it down here! :)