May 22, 2010

Thanks for stopping by and reading this blog.

Today, if there's one thing that is on my mind more than anything its that I had to say goodbye to my wonderful speech class. See, for those that don't know I'm a substitute teacher and I've worked very closely with the Student Special Services Department, they like me so much that they gave me the duty of handling the speech services of and entire school, Bon View Elementary.

It was a rough year at times. I had to see darn near 50 students a day, in groups of 30 minutes, so I had practically no breaks and a short lunch. But I got relly attached to that job. Before we went on Christmas break three of my students bought me Christmas gifts; I got the tin of popcorn, a little dolphin figurine, and a bracelet (I guess she saw the gold ring on my left hand and thought I liked jewelry). I had some students who I won't miss and I know won't miss me.

I've helped Nicole take down posters and borders from her classrooms so many times. But as I walked my small room and took down the speech posters I was given by a colleague and the student work I had put up, I was really sad. I know I didn't do a bad job because some teachers spoke highly of me to my supervisors and while I was there more than 10 students got exited, or graduated, from speech. I don't know what will happen in the fall, I've heard a few speech therapists are retiring and one is going on maternity leave, but that doesn't guarantee me anything. I'm a sub, and I can't do IEP meetings or fill out assessments, so even though I'm good to actually see the kids I'm also kind of a burden for the other therapists who need to do all the paperwork on my kids.

But Friday, at around 3:10, as the school got out and kids rushed home from what was their last Friday of the year (they get out of school May 25th, this Tuesday), I was in the speech room, just cleaning up and throwing out old papers, when three of my students came in. I got to say good-bye again and I let them have an extra prize from the prize box. That made me feel good that they stopped by.