Danialla,
I have two mentors. One is the program psychologist (I'll start calling her the PP) and the other is a grade level resource room teacher, who doesn't know as much about my students. They are very intelligent, experienced, and compassionate women.
I really don't have anyone to talk to and I know that's part of my problem. Today, the PP sent me an email to keep confidential. It was an explanation of why a student is in the psych ward for at least a week. It’s the worst event I've had to deal with at my job (even though it’s not quite “real” yet), yet I'm supposed to keep it confidential. I told a good friend, who works at the school and I know won't gossip, but she was just in awe of the story. I don't feel better.
It’s hard to find time to talk to the PP and my sped chairperson lacks human emotions. I am lucky if I get a prep each day. I've told my sped chairperson that it's impossible to get a prep most days, and she basically says, "F you. Figure it out and get back to me." I share my classroom with the program psychologist and an aide, but we barely have time to talk. The psychologist is so busy logging about the new kids and I'm busy trying to teach two or three different lessons to as many as six kids, at times.
I want to propose full-inclusion plus the usual counseling, social skills, and academic support period for all incoming students, if I’m still going to be around next year. Currently, half the students get counseling, social skills, and academic support. The other half get all that, plus language arts and math instruction from me. Keep in mind that they are in four different grades. Upper middle school follows one schedule, lowe middle school follows another. There is always a child in the room because of the overlapping schedule. Hopefully full-inclusion will create more time for prep and meetings between me and the PP.
Thanks for the encouraging words. I'm glad to know some of your students turned out okay! I’ll keep you in mind next time I need feedback.