Tough Day (Only 7 More To Go)

I'm totally exhausted. Just yesterday I was gloating about what a great job I did of planning activities for these last few weeks of school. The kids have been working for the past three weeks on a large Revolutionary War research project, and on last Monday I gave them the assignment of creating an "ABC Book of 5th Grade Memories." So we have just been going from one project to another, with assessments thrown in between. Things were going well.

Today was a totally different story. Was it just yesterday that I was bragging about how good I was? It all started, really, when I woke at 3 am to go to the bathroom. I could feel the beginnings of a bad headache coming on. But when I awoke at 6 am to start my day, I didn't take any Aleve. Therefore, I even started my day with a raging headache.

Then, today was the day that kids who were having to go to a new school next year due to boundary changes were going to be visiting their new place. And our IP teacher was going to go with them. Yesterday she had sent a message saying no IP services, and I always then wonder what I'll do with Adam all day long. But hey, he's on good meds now, so I figured it would be ok. But in the morning when I went to get my class, I could tell Adam did not take his meds that morning. So as we walked into the building, I asked him if he had taken his meds. No, he told me (no surprise). I then asked his 6th grade sister, who for some reason has the responsibility of seeing that Adam gets his meds. She wasn't sure. But I knew.

Normally when this happens, he goes to IP (Resource Room) as normal, and the IP teacher just keeps him until about 11 am, when the nurse gives him his meds a bit early. I don't have to deal with him. Unfortunately, remember, today the IP teacher was gone. I had no place to send Adam except the office. I did keep him as long as I could stand it, but when he is yelling, burping, out of his chair, etc., etc., showing behaviors I would not put up with from anyone else, I had to do something. I sent Adam with some work to the office, and followed it up with an email to our principal, ccing the nurse and our Educational Assisstant. In my email I said I was trying to give a health CBA, and Adam was making all kinds of inappropriate noises and being just way too distractive in the room.

I get this email back from our EA-whom I like, although her email today ticked me off. She said in the email that when Adam doesn't get his meds, he just has no control over his emotions, and how frustating that must be for him...Yes, I replied, but I am trying to get 25 other students to complete the health CBA, and it wasn't working for him to be in the classroom. She replied, asking if Adam could wait until the afternoon to take the CBA, after taking his meds. I replied that would be fine, although it wouldn't make any difference. That seemed to really put her off, as she replied, "What do you mean by'it won't make any difference'?"

Now, I have no idea how she can NOT know what I mean. Adam is not capable of doing 5th grade work, no matter how medicated he is! She knows this! But I made some sort of comment that I knew the CBA would be difficult for Adam no matter what, and perhaps he could do it if he just dictated it to someone. What an excellent idea, she said. I should tell IP that tomorrow.

And won't IP be happy about that one. You know, no matter how well-meaning people are, when they aren't in the classroom every day all day long, they have no idea, or forget, how tough teaching really is.