hi hmcfall...I'm a teacher too - little ones w/ special needs
We will have to share stories! So far a have a runner - where is she going, anyway
I've always thought maybe there's a gathering somewhere of all the kids who run, and any chance they get they attempt to break free and get there.
My fantasy job is to say, "watch your step...have a magical day!" as I'm working at the exit of a ride in MK
Welcome Caralyn!!
Only someone who has been in our boat would understand that! If you don't laugh about it sometime you would cry all the time.
We have a CDC class for SED pre-K children at our school and I always get the inclusion kids. Also being Kindergarten we get ALOT of kids who have never been in a structured program and the parents say things like "I thought they would have a hard time but I didn't know if it was normal." Well, when they shaved the cat down to it's skin, painted it red, tied it to a pole, and marched it around the living room singing Judas Priest songs. Maybe just maybe there was a clue?
I say that joking but there have been some children that were way off the normal radar who have been in my classroom.
As for runners, our school has front doors that go out onto a fairly busy street and we take that really serious. BUT the back door opens up onto a field that is about 3 acres. I always say run 'em to the back door, by the time they get to the fence on the other side they will stop, lay down, and take a nap. THEN I'll get them.
Year before last I had a little guy who truly saw invisible people and his pet name for me was MF B**ch. At the beginning of last year it was really hard to get used to the students calling me by my name. I was like
who?
me? oh you mean me1
Our Pre-K teacher really hates having head bangers. The joke is they will only bang it REALLY HARD one time. Then it is lights out. Problem solved.
I am sure other people think we are cruel and horrible people, but if they only saw some of the things we see. The best part is that the REALLY GOOD out weighs the REALLY BAD. Especially at the end of the year, when they are reading indepedently and writing multiple sentences. My other favorite is when they are older and come back to read or be peer helpers. Make my little heart sing. I always tell parents at our parent meeting, "I cry every year when they leave. Not because I am sad but because I am so proud of what they have become and I will not be sharing who they are everyday. If I stop crying on the last day it is time to call it quits."
I am also all for saying "Watch your step. Hope you enjoyed The Flight of Peter Pan." Maybe they will do a teacher employee exchange for us!
Great job at Kroger and so glad the coupons are helping out! 
Thanks a bunch!
