Rick Lavoie Videos

The Rick Lavoie video series should be included in the orientation process for all school systems. Mr. Lavoie has a gift for making the language of dealing with students with special needs less complicated and easier to understand. After viewing the video series, I understand the social skills of the special needs child better and I have made conscious efforts to communicate the subject matter on a level that all can understand without labeling. I was most impressed with the definitions for "no attention span" and "distractibility". Now that I am more aware of these students, I have made adjustments to ascertain successful outcomes. On a daily basis I am making every effort to make sure all children, especially those with special needs, "go to bed with more poker chips than what they woke up with. I am making more of a conscious effort to look at the world in the eyes of the students I am working. Most important "consistency" in dealing with children, not just adolescents, has always been a key factor in raising children to realize their fullest potential.

Brenda, Week 2

Last week was really a busy week with the HSGT writing assessment test and planning for the HOSA Fall Leadership Conference on September 25-27th. I had originally registered 14 students to attend the Fall Leadership Conference, two of which I sponsored because of their loyalty to HOSA and their determination to work in the health care industry. The other 12 were sponsored by their parents and several of the teachers in our school. I was really appreciative to the teachers for stepping in to assist with the cost of this affair for some of our students. My colleagues, like me, really go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure our students have positive life experiences and opportunities to help them improve their leadership skills and knowledge levels.

One of my student came to be at the last minute and expressed an interest in attending the HOSA Leadership Conference. The last minute was after the registration had closed and all late submissions would have a late fee attached. She stated up front that she did not have any money but she really wanted to go to Jekyll Island and that she had already found a couple of sponsors. I thought it would be really great for this student to come along on the trip because she is an extremely intelligent young lady with a great outlook on life. She has a 3.9 GPA and is very active in lots of school activities including being a SGA officer. In order for this student to go on the trip I had to put things into action shortly after the conversation in order for the trip to become a reality for her. I confirm the sponsorship with the teachers as stated by the student and felt reasonable safe to go ahead and make plans. I e-mailed the HOSA Headquarters and asked for an add on and the request was granted with a final cost for this student being $206.31 to include membership dues, HOSA shirt, registration, meal plan, late fees, and her share of the hotel room. I called the student's home on Saturday morning and spoke with her mother who was extremely happy that we could help her child go on the trip. The student was happy when I told her that the last minute add on was approved and the cost. I offered to
go ahead and send the registration and membership fees to expedite the registration. And so I mailed the check for $125.00.

On Monday afternoon the sponsoring teachers for this student asked me why she had not come for the money for the HOSA trip. I informed them that I was not certain of the reasons but I would find out and mostly because I needed to finalize the trip plans. When I finally located the student she told me she was not going and did not have a good explanation at this point. She did say the cost was too much for the teachers to pay and she did not want them to pay that much money for her. I reminded her of our conversation of Saturday morning and all she said was "I am sorry" but I don't want to go now. After school another student told me that the student had told them that the HOSA trip was going to be boring and they would not learn anything about leadership.

Needless to say at this point I was a little distressed. First, because I had lost $125.00 trying to help someone I thought would benefit from attending the leadership conference. Secondly, because I had given this student more credibility than what was being displayed. And third, I am questioning how I will respond the next time a student express an interest in attending the HOSA Conferences. I am not unhappy, jolted, or shook up about the money. I was mainly caught off guard by a good student whom I thought would have benefited from such a good opportunity to travel and enhance her leadership skills and qualities.

delores

Delores

It seems as if your year got off to a good start too. I agree that the instructions and directions we received at NTI this summer has made this position much better. Last year I had the worst time trying to keep the students focused and on task. The worst problems was keeping them a wake. I now know it was primarily the teaching strategies and instructional methods I used that was causing many of the problems. Being a new teacher to the educational profession was a transition all by itself, but when I found out that the old fashioned lecture based classroom no longer existed I felt like I had made a mistake in wanting to be a teacher.

I only wish I could use the same lesson plans used at NTI. Our administrators gave us a new lesson plan template which is cumbersome to complete but very detailed. That is good in one sense and bad in another -takes took much time to transfer information even with cut and paste
techniques to the new form. Overall, everything is going well.

Reflecting

Reflecting on the first weeks of school, describe one thing that has worked well and one thing that hasn't worked well.

Reflecting back on the first 5 weeks of school has been very exciting for me because I have a large new classroom and lab. I have enjoyed setting up the classroom and laboratory as discussed in NTI this summer. The staff and students are also excited also. Overall things have gone well for me. I am using the lesson plans and classroom management plans which have proven to be very helpful. The emergency lesson plan was submitted when requested and I was so happy to have it already completed.

The frustations felt over the last couple of weeks are related to equipment and supplies. The HSTE laboratory list of supplies ordered last school year has been placed on hold. I find that particularly disturbing because I had planned my lessons around the items needed to do demonstrations. The best part of this situation is that I was successful last year in a classroom with only a textbook and no supplies, I am certain I can do well with the few supplies that I do have on hand and the teaching strategies I am learning at NTI.

The other frustrations this school year has been the placement of students in the HSTE classes that have not had the introductory class. These students have not been exposed to the medical language and terminology and is expressing some frustrations themselves trying to keep up.
Assisting these students and performing demonstrations and checkoffs have been the greatest challenges so far.

I am hopeful and I know that I can continue do well inspite of the circumstances beyond my control. The students are enjoying the class and that is the most important fact in this giant high school puzzle.