I am really having problems wth the fact that the state would rather I get all my Special Ed. paperwork done then spending time creating good lessons for the kids. They need so much help because so many teachers have chosen paperwork over teaching well.

We have so much paperwork to do I could easily spend 20 hours a week working on paperwork that is just related to filling out forms. Special Ed. kids need teachers who will spend more time because teaching them is more difficult. We have to spend more time on simple things like learning to read and write well. The students I have this year only have a reading level of 1st to 3rd grade on the average. I know this is not all they can do because I have had other students with less IQ power that can read at the th and 6th grade level. The can write and they can't even verbalize their thoughts. 

The will not even be able to fill out a job applications or read a pill bottle if they don't learn to read; let alone being able to teach them the functional skills they will need to survive on their own (if that is possible at all). With enough help and dedicated teachers many of them would be able to hold real jobs, but so many have been neglected because priorities are screwed up.Paperwork trumps teaching.

I can't do this to them. I am always on the brink of getting in trouble because my paperwork is slow to get done. I think maybe I am not cut out to teach special ed. I came into it because jobs are so hard to find I praxised into it. My first certification is English.

I  LOVE to plan good lessons and teach, but it kills me that I can't spend more time than I already do. The problem is, we will be seeing more and more students who are in special education classes. Their numbers are exploding exponentially because too many parents are doing meth and other drugs and quess what? Their kids are messed up. Then their kids get pregnant and have kids and the circle continues and grows.

There are some real problems in our society. Too many people have kids because they are too strung out to hold down a job and they know they can get a government handout...and you know what? They want their kids to be special ed because then they can get them on disability and collect another check.

Too many parents don't care about their children's education, but the ones who do make a huge differnce in their children's lives.

I am so angry at what I am seeing I am determined to see them improve! I am angry at parents who take drugs, I am angry at the state for putting such a heavy burden of paperwork on us (and we don't get paid more) and I am angry at teachers that take the easy way out by printing off hundreds of worksheets, handing them out and telling the kids if they get them done they can have free time.

I tell them they won't get babied in my class and they will get better at reading...they will not get a lot of "free time" like they did in their last years of classes . I will use technology and any other thing I can find that will stir their interest and help them learn....and you know what?

They step up.

My class blog/website: http://mshuntersclass.blogspot.com/