Today I had the pleasure of experiencing what it was like to be a teacher at the special school my oldest two attend. Let me tell you.... it was definitely eye-opening and very humbling, to say the least. I was only there for less than two hours and it seemed like an entire day. I was so tired when I left. It wasn't a physical fatigue but rather an emotional or psychological one.
This week was Teacher Appreciation Week and every day the teachers were surprised with different things such as fruit, flowers, and candy. However, today was the highlight of their week. As a surprise, the school rented a limo for them to ride to Olive Garden for lunch. They left the school at 11:30 and were to return by 2:00pm. You should have seen the look on their faces when they were escorted out of their classrooms, one by one, to the front of the school onto a red carpet leading to the limo. I heard one teacher yell out, "NO..WAY! NO...WAY!" when she saw what was happening. It was truly priceless! I got a sneak inside the limo and it was so nice! I was so excited for them and I could see the excitement on their faces as well.
These teachers work so hard and dedicate so much of their time towards educating these special kids. They are with these kids at school from 8:00am until past 3:00pm five days a week. I don't know how they do it. The class that I watched was the eleven and twelve year-olds. They were all very sweet, but a few had issues. One child could not stand the noise and had to leave and "walk the halls" and another child asked for a "stress ball" to help relieve some of the tension he had. It was neat to see how they understood and were able to deal with their issues. However, I can only imagine what it must be like during instructional time. I was only there to basically "babysit" and so it was definitely a lot different.
I used this chance to observe the class and see them interact with one another. My son was in that class and so I took the opportunity to observe him as well. I could tell that the kids liked my son. They kept bragging about how smart he was and how he was now in the "Algebra book". I didn't know that they had tested him and he made a 100% on his pretest for "Pre-Algebra", and so they moved him up to the next book. I could tell he was so proud. I was so proud of him too. The biggest difference I have noticed in my son this year is his self-confidence. He sure needed the boost after last year! In my opinion, that alone is worth the tuition I pay.
Many of the kids in this school are diagnosed in the autism spectrum. I could definitely see the OCD come out in some of the kids. That is a common problem with autism. They knew their normal schedule and routine and it was hard explaining to some that it was different today. Before the teacher left, she gave me specific instructions on who was allowed to do what and the times for lunch, etc... That was very helpful because the kids tried to get me to let them eat lunch an hour earlier than they were supposed to. One thing I like about the school is that they allow them to have snack in the mid-morning and that is so good for them. Not only does it give them a chance to relax and rest their minds a bit, it also helps with sugar levels. I just know how grumpy I get when I am the least bit hungry.
I am so glad I had this opportunity. I was so excited to be a part of the celebration and see the faces of the sweet teachers who were truly surprised. I also enjoyed getting to know the children that my oldest spends the day with at school. I could tell that they are very supportive of one another. It shows in the excitement of seeing one of their peers progress in math, for example. That was very sweet to see. I am not sure what I would do without this school. I wish that everyone had the pleasure of having such a gem in their town.
This experience has taught me so much. I have a greater appreciation for what these teachers do on a daily basis. I also realize how much patience it takes to do what they do. The children are wonderful and I am sure it has to be rewarding most of the time, but I can't imagine not getting a break. I bet they look forward to those holidays and off days. Next time you get the opportunity, let those special teachers you have the privilege of meeting know how much they are appreciated. They have one of the most important jobs in the world, but rarely get the credit they deserve. I am just thankful for wonderful teachers!
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Give a man a fish and you feed
him for a day.
Teach a man to fish and you feed
him for a lifetime. -Chinese Proverb
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