Reality 101: CEC's blog for new teachers

Sheena: Add CEC’s 2012 Convention to Your Calendar Now!

I am in awe and I don’t want to leave! The CEC 2011 Convention & Expo has truly been one of the best professional development opportunities that I have experienced in my two years as a special education teacher. Aside from the beautiful setting of National Harbor, Md., the sessions, presentations, speakers, and networking opportunities leave me feeling even more passionate about the career path that I have chosen.

Yesterday was a series of inspiring coincidences that ranged from meeting visionaries in the field who seemed to fall into my path and attending informative sessions with presenters whose words touched my heart, validated my new teacher experiences, and motivated me to continue to on my path by viewing each experience as an opportunity for growth.

My morning began with a session about new programs from California to support English language learners (ELLs) based on the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP). I met countless teachers and graduate students in this field and learned about developing masters degree programs for ELL teachers in special education.

Megan: My Turn! Greetings from CEC!

“Oh, the places you will go…” ~ Dr. Seuss

Greetings from the CEC 2011 Convention & Expo!

A few years back, I had a professor who went to a CEC convention in Hawaii. She made it sound so fun and suggested we all go to the national convention the following year. When, I wondered, would I really attend a national convention? At the time, just completing papers and making it to student teaching seemed far more important than going to conferences in faraway places.

And now? I am like a teacher at special education Disney World! I have had so much fun learning new things and realizing that the special education world is so much bigger than it sometimes seems in my little classroom. Literally everywhere I turn, I am seeing something new. I am catching up with old friends, but even more importantly, making new ones. Meeting other educators alone is worth the experience of being here, but I have gotten some amazing tips about things to use every day in my classroom!

Melissa: Blast from the Past

Hello all!

I am totally blown away by the CEC Annual Convention! I am having an absolute blast!

First of all, it was amazing to meet my fellow bloggers Tuesday morning. I was worried I wouldn’t recognize them, but I knew each of them immediately. They are amazing people with a passion for special education, and I am so happy to have met them in person. It was so fun to be a part of the Student Forum and share our teaching experiences with soon-to-be teachers. It was an experience I will never forget.

The educational sessions are wonderful! I have walked out of them with pages of notes of applicable things I can try in my classroom as soon as I get back home. I am looking forward to walking through the Expo Hall tomorrow. Everyone has said it is so fun to go to, and they all have fun toys and samples -- I can’t wait!

Brad: Greetings from the CEC 2011 Convention & Expo!

When I joined the Council for Exceptional Children, I did so because I believed that the organization was consistent with my personal mission as a special educator. Like any member, I’ve read CEC literature by mail, clicked on articles within the CEC SmartBrief, and paged through the scholarly research articles presented within the journals. All those facets contribute to what I know CEC to be – but none of it has compared to the experience of attending the annual convention (this year, in National Harbor, Md.).

Throughout the first full day of the convention, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and interact with teachers, administrators, professionals, and scholars. I’ve participated in break-out groups that have included pre-service teachers, university-level emeritus-scholars, and every professional level in between. I’ve listened to the perspective of professionals in the field who have been publishing since before I was born. I’ve also shared some experiences of my own with students who have yet to teach in the classroom.

Brad: Flying Alaska with Students, and an Anthony Update

Last week, I had the opportunity to travel to Bethel, Alaska, with two other teachers and 11 students. This was our first experience traveling anywhere off Alaska’s road system and for a few of the students, it was their first time on an airplane. We were invited to Bethel by the local high school’s Partners Club, who hosted a Unified Track and Basketball Tournament.

Overall, it was an amazing experience. We practiced preparing and packing for the trip, checking-in at the airport, and navigating security. One of my life-skills students had his first experience with the TSA, which included a professional swab of his nervous and sweaty palm.

I realize not every class gets to leave the classroom often — much less fly somewhere 400 miles away — so I’d like to share how we found the support and fundraised the money to do it. In two words: espresso and community.

Melissa: Uncommon

As many of you know, my students and I have been on the same path together for two years. Now there is a possibility that my lane will end, while theirs continues on.

When I was offered my current job, I was given the choice of two positions. One was a permanent, mainly co-teaching position. The other one, the one they really wanted me to take, was the self-contained autism spectrum disorders teacher, a new position that was only guaranteed for two years because it was funded by economic stimulus dollars.

Being the crazy idealist that I am, I took the ASD teaching position because I truly felt (and continue to feel) that was what God wanted for me. Do I ever regret not taking the other position? Nope. Not even a little bit. I have had such a blast these past two school years, I wouldn’t trade it for the added security.

Also—not that I am even close to being the world’s best teacher—I think I am who my students needed. Our personalities just mesh. We like each other. Rarely a day goes by that I don’t have at least one episode of laugh-until-I-cry over something hilarious one of my students says, or an oh-my-gosh-they-are-SO-smart moment when I am just blown away by their deeply intelligent thoughts and questions. We’re just a match made in heaven.

But now there’s a chance we’ll have to break up. It makes me sad not just for myself, but for my students. I really do love these guys. Who’s going to take care of them next year if there’s no one in my position? Who will advocate for them to get what they need? Who will make sure their accommodations are being carried out and working for them in the general ed classrooms? Who will be their soft place to land when they need it, and who will push them out of the nest when that’s what they need? I want it to be me, darn it!

People ask me every day if I’ve heard whether I have a job next year. I’ve decided to stop worrying about it. Do I check the job listings in neighboring districts? Yes, and it makes me sad. I feel I am where I belong. I don’t want to start over somewhere else.

Megan: Let The Job Searches Begin…

“Real success is finding your lifework in the work that you love.” ~ David McCullough

It’s finally spring! A time when thoughts turn to sunshine, flowers, Cubs games, and . . . job searches?

I am a very blessed girl with an amazing job that I know I will have for at least the next school year. However, talking to friends and co-workers as the year winds down brings back memories of sleepless nights, tedious hours filling out job applications, and the stress of wondering where, and if, I’d have a job in the fall. I remember it all too well.

When I tell people how I found my first job, they look at me like I’m nuts. All throughout my undergraduate program, I’d been very vocal about my desire to work with children with emotional disorders. It was my passion and I connected any project I could to students with ED/BD. I was also fortunate to have incredible professors and advisors who listened to me and supported my endeavors. As my December graduation date approached, I assumed I may have to sub for the remainder of the school year, or perhaps continue my job as an educational sign language interpreter.

Then an alumna from my college e-mailed my advisor; she was now an assistant principal of an alternative school and they were looking for a mid-year teacher, as they were opening a brand-new classroom. Did my advisor know anyone who may be interested? My professor thought this position was exactly what I was looking for. I called the assistant principal, interviewed, and was hired within a week.

So if I have one piece of advice for new teachers, it would be to make sure you communicate what you’re looking for! You never know who is listening and who may end up connecting you with your dream job.

Sheena: Expectations vs. Realities

Where in the world have I been these last few weeks? I’ve been trying to survive in a bureaucratic world that doesn’t make sense for idealistic thinkers like me.

Although I have not yet received a letter or pink slip from my school, I anticipate that I will not be offered a renewed contract or tenure at the end of the year. This year has been an incredible mountain of obstacles as I’ve attempted to advocate for my special education students by taking a collaborative, engaged role during lesson planning meetings. The word “passion” has often been used to describe my actions, goals, and value system, but the same word is sometimes equated with “aggression” whenever I attempt to interject an opinion. I have been entrusted to help develop lifelong skills and successes for my students with learning challenges, and yet I feel I am often not given an equal opportunity to share my ideas for effective teaching strategies.

Tenured teachers with no incentive to change have been boulders and windstorms along my path, and I honestly have very few resources in which to seek shelter, other than my faith, my family, my friends, and even this blog, which has served as a great outlet.

Reading through past journal entries often helps me remember past journeys on which I once felt that I would be lost forever, but eventually found a way to make it through. In one entry, I read the words of a woman I interviewed with who worked for UNICEF in Niger at the time. I inquired about any advice she had to pass along, and I remember being stunned by her yogic wisdom. She said that our expectations in life almost never meet the reality of our experiences; thus, the only way to be successful, to feel fulfilled, is to constantly meditate on our intentions.