You Sure I Don't Live Here?

So this is where I live. Practically at least! My folks stopped by on open house night & my camera crazy dad snapped a few pics. I'm actually answering and email in the one pic!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

This year I only have one student with Autism (6 last year) but he was in my class last year so I know him pretty well, which helps a lot. He's almost 6 and will probably be in specialized programming all his life because he is completely non-verbal, among other things.

This is his third year in the program and we've been trying to get him to verbalize or use sign language the whole time. He does point at what he wants, he also uses a picture communication system, but has never, ever signed or verbalized in a purposeful way.

He LOVES to spin and today I caught him sitting on my office chair (he's not allowed behind my desk). So I sat on the floor in front of him and spun him around on the chair. He loved it.

So I kept spinning him. I would spin him around once, stop, get in his face and sign & verbalize "More" over and over. Then I would wait for awhile, and spin him again.

We did this a few times until one time he signed more. HE ACTUALLY SIGNED "MORE"!!! I screamed and praised him and spun him like crazy (which he loved).

Then he did it again! And again!!

THREE TIMES he did it!

I was screaming like a mad woman I was so excited. Everyone thought I had gone crazy cuz no one could see what we were doing behind the desk.

I told his mom and she was shocked. I told some of his former staff and they were shocked.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

THIS is why I do this job!

Waiting for the other shoe to drop!

I am in complete awe of my new classes this year!

As last year was not only my first year as a full time teacher, but also my first year in Early Ed, I had no frame of reference with which to compare my students. The other people working with me kept telling me that I had very difficult groups, that it wasn't just me. I had to take their word for it, but I honestly kept wondering if there was something wrong with me! It was SO hard working with them in so many ways, I kept thinking that this was normal for Early Ed and I was just not very gifted if I was finding it that difficult.

But I now see that it really was just the groups of kids I had, phew!

It's not that I didn't love my kids last year. It's not that I didn't have any fun. I miss my kids, I really do! I loved them and still do and had so much fun with them all through the year.

But it was HARD. H-A-R-D.

My kids this year are blowing me away in the best way possible! On the third day of class my afternoon kids followed the routines with next to no problems or complaints. My director happened to walk into my class at clean up time and was in awe of them. She looked at me and said, "This is their third day of class? We're miracle workers!"

I'm so excited to see what my kids this year are going to accomplish! I might even be able to do kindergarten work with some of them by the spring! :D

My New Classroom

I changed rooms this year but I really only moved to the other half of the room I was in last year! I really like it a lot better though!

"Iguana"

So a former student's family asked me if I'd be willing to support their son at Awana on some weeknights. After a RIDICULOUS process of getting the okay from the ATA (seriously people!!) tonight was my first night.

M's mom told me the day before how he was so excited to go to "Iguana" with Mrs.R. It is henceforth known as Iguana cuz that's awesome-sauce! :D

I can't even describe how much fun it was!! He did so great, I'm incredibly proud of him. He even recited his memory verse (which sadly the teenage boy who listens to memory verses couldn't understand). Oh well! He then proceeded to tell me that "God loves us according to the Scriptures" and "Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures". He mom mentioned that currently his fav hymn is "Blessed Be the Name".

But the definite highlight of my night came when he was playing with my watch and bracelet. He then noticed my wedding ring:

"I have your ring, Mrs.R?"

"No that's mine."

"But I want to marry you."

*pause* "Maybe another day, sweetie."

"Okay."

*melt*