Just what I needed

This post requires some back story:

I have one particular student, A, who likes to call me by my maiden name. I have known this student for 3 years, and of those 3 years, he has known me by my maiden name for only 2 months. But it’s fine. We have fun with it. In fact, earlier in the year, I joked that I knew he wasn’t feeling well because he used my married name when asking to go to the nurse.

Anyway, one other student, B, (who doesn’t speak much, and who doesn’t always have much functional language) has started emulating him, and calls me Miss [Maiden Name]. Love it. He doesn’t say much to me otherwise, so I love that he jokes with me in this way.

So, last Thursday, while working with B, I noticed that he was quieter than usual. I asked him a couple of times if he was tired. “No.” I asked if the activity was too hard and he was upset. “No.” Hmm. Okay. About 20 minutes after I left him, I saw him walking up to the office with a teacher, and he was out sick the next day. Aha! So I started thinking that I needed to make sure he knew he could ask me to go to the nurse, etc., when he needed to.

Today, I saw him and said, “Hey, B, did you go home sick last Thursday after speech?”

B: “Yes.”

Me: “B! You know you could have said something to me! You could have said, ‘Mrs. [Married Name], I don’t feel well. Can I go to the nurse?'”

B: (with mischievous grin) “No I couldn’t. You’re Miss [Maiden Name]!”

I love this kid so much it’s ridiculous.

Hope someone brought a smile to your face today, too. 🙂

Ups and Downs

Today was the second full day of school for the kiddies, and also the wrap-up assembly for our PBIS program. Every year, they have a contest between a 6th grader, a 7th grader, and an 8th grader to see who can name the most staff members (teachers, aides, student teachers, interns, support staff…everyone). Every year, I end up being “Mrs. Umm…. Pass” by each student. This year was no different. Okay, well, the 6th grader knew my name, but I’m pretty sure that was because I showed him my ID because I felt badly that he didn’t know anyone. Just once, I’d like it if my Assistant Principal would pull a SpEd kid from the crowd so I could get some props!

On the plus side, on their way out of the gym after the assembly, two of my 8th grade boys smiled and waved to me. My heart swelled knowing that they are not too cool for speech (or too cool to say high to the SLP). For the past two years, my 8th graders have taken that attitude with me. I might as well be invisible in any public settings. It’s cool, they’re 13/14, and they don’t want to look different. I get it. But this 8th grade class means so much to me. They’re the first class that I’ve seen all three years. We started at this school together. Plus, they’re just a bunch of great kids. I am going to lose. it. at graduation this year.

Thankful Thursday: Employ’d

I was thinking about it today at work, and 1 year ago this weekend, I was in the ‘burbs for ISHA and for my first job interview (for the job I didn’t get). Just a few short weeks later, I interviewed for my job. And at the time, I thought “Hmm…middle school. Yeah, I don’t know about it, but heck, I can do anything for 9 months.” “Lucked out” does not even begin to cover it. I’m so thankful for this job, not only because it’s a job, but also because of the staff, the students, the atmosphere, everything. It really has been an ideal first job. It’s been a learning experience for sure. Not a week goes by when I don’t have something new come up. But it’s also given me a chance to work with an entirely new population, develop my clinical skills, put myself out there as a resource to other teachers, and just grow as a professional. I hope with all my heart that I get to stay there next year.

Ch-ch-changes

Life is a bit overwhelming at the moment. Working full time without pay, planning a wedding, trying to figure out where to live in August, balancing a social life, etc. Ick. 

I’m feeling a little overwhelmed by the hospital right now. It’s only day 2, and I’m just a little unsure, worried that I’m not going to succeed. I think I felt this way before my preschool internship, and I know I did just fine, but this is different. I feel like they expect so much of me, and I’m worried that I won’t meet their expectations. *sigh* No sense in setting myself up for failure now, but it’s hard not to. 

Off to read a 3-inch thick binder full of stuff for my hospital….

The Name Game

I was thinking about it this morning, and if I were to give a title to this past semester, a few options would be:

The Semester I Stopped Eating Breakfast at Home

The Semester I Became an Angry Person

Caffeine: It’s What’s for Dinner (and Breakfast and Lunch)

My Life as a Hermit

Can’t Talk Now…Too Busy

Can’t Sleep…Clinic’ll Eat Me

I Promise I Used to be Social

Oh Right, I Take Classes, Too, Don’t I?

 

On a somewhat related note…. While at the clinic today, my clinic director’s eight-year-old daughter told me, “This place is like my second home.” You’re tellin’ me, kid. For serious.