On Soakers and School

I haven't blogged in a while, and I think it's just because I haven't really had much going on. Today I'm excited because I made some wool diaper covers for a friend's baby shower a while back, and she has been using them and likes them. And she wants me to make her some more! She said all she could find that is similar are wool pants, and those aren't the same. I'm happy about this because they are handmade and useful, and if we ever have a baby and use cloth diapers, I know I'll be able to make some effective soakers.

Pretty soon I'll have time to knit a lot more, because we only have two weeks of school left. This has been a bittersweet year. First, I have been really happy with some of the progress my students have made. There is one student in particular who had a lot of behavior problems (mainly disrespect and arguing) last year who has made tremendous improvements with her attitude over the course of this year. Last year, her behavior issues kept her out of class a good bit, but this year she was able to keep it together and she made a 4 on her writing assessment! I am so proud of her, and I know she's proud of herself because she showed her score to every staff member she passed on the way out the day she received it. So far, no one has earned less than a 3, so I'm happy. I feel like that the students who got 3's did their best, so I'm okay with those numbers.

Now on a not so happy note, we are losing four assistants next year. At our school, there are typically two adults per classroom-one certified teacher and one assistant. The assistants are very important because they help with one on one attention during the time students practice their work, they respond to codes (crisis behavior problems), and they help with discipline issues we need to take care of but could not effectively on our own, like taking kids to the gym if they are being too disruptive to remain in class. We're losing four people due to special ed budget cuts. Of all the places to cut funding, special ed? Really?

The four who are leaving are going to positions elsewhere in the county that are funded differently. I'm happy that they'll still have jobs, and I know we'll pull together and get whatever we need doing done, but it will be so much more difficult. One time I told a student that most things worth doing aren't easy.  I guess I'll have to tell myself that often next year.