Floating assistants in ESE/SPED classes?

[Ali]

Just trying to wrap my head around an idea /plan I've recently come across because of budget cuts: a special education classroom without a permanant aide to help the students ans teacher. Someone would be floating between 3 classes to assist as needed. Has anyone else ever heard of this practice or want to speculate about it with me? I'm trying to figure out how to change a diaper or do toilet training when I have to supervise other students who are safety hazards when left alone. Hmmmmmmm

 

[bookwormde]

yes this happens, but it is only supposed to be where that set up can still meet the needs of the studnets (incuding safety). If implementation of the chidren's IEPs or safety can not be assured then the change is a violation of IDEA.

 

[Singledad]

At my school (my daughters) there is one aide. This aide does float between different tasks in multiple rooms. Next year they may have to have another aide, but the way it worked this last year was that she was scheduled to be in certain rooms with certain students during set periods of time. So, like from 10am to 10:45 she is with A in her classroom, helping her work on such and such... then she has to go to B's class to help supervised him while they do an art project... after that she goes and takes charge of C, taking him to lunch, changing him after that, and taking him out to the playground to swing until such and such time when she returns him to his teacher and goes to class 3 to help in general..

you know what I mean? it was set schedule for each day. When the aide had to be two places at once, such as general helping class 3 (pre-k class) and being with student A, sometimes they have student A go to class 3 to do their work, where the aide can help both A, and those around A.

This is what I have observed. Occasionally my daughter wanted me to stay the whole day, so I helped out then in her class, which was a help to the aide as she could leave the class from time to time to get prep work done for when she had to be with the other students not in the pre-k class. (The pre-k class teacher is also a 6 and under spec. ed teacher, thus why the aide, some of those students where under IEP's, and it was a mixed/main stream class.)

 

[Ali]

I can guarantee I can't implement any IEP's if I am alone in my classroom with all full assist in all activities of daily living needed kids. I only have 2 hands...

I'm already having nightmares about going back to work..

 

[bookwormde]

What you are supposed to do it to call an IEP meeting for each child who is not having their IEP followed and needs met, of course the illegal threat of loosing your job is what stops most teachers from doing this. Many meet with parents and talk "off the record" and have the parents call the meetings and then it is much easier to just honestly answer the parnets questions about why the IEP is not being followed.

bookwormde

 

[kirstenb1]

You're exactly right. No one can diaper a child, or help them toilet, and adequately supervise the other special needs kids. I'm sure administrators will tell you to change them on a schedule, especially if facing budget issues, but, realistically you can't rely on that.

We live in a very rural, underfunded district. But our special ed preschool has always had aides, God Bless Them.

 

[hambirg]

I'm sorry for you. I worked in a severe/profound high school class for years. I can't imagine being alone with just a floating para. There are too many situations where you need two people in unpredictable situations. . .seizures, fire drills, blow outs, students getting sick. . .etc. We had 3 paras plus a teacher, and even then it seemed like the planets were aligned against us some days.

ETA- If your classroom is anything like the one I worked in, it would take one person most of the day just to change and feed everyone. Good grief!

 

[Ali]

Update. The situation is dire and covered in feces. I have 3 pages of notes about the times I have had to change diapers, clothes because of leaks, and the injuries that have happened because I can't supervise when I'm wiping bottoms. That's for 2 days with kids.

No assistant in the class is ridiculous. There is no teaching going on for most of my day. Can't wait for an admin walkthrough.

 

[hambirg]

Update. The situation is dire and covered in feces. I have 3 pages of notes about the times I have had to change diapers, clothes because of leaks, and the injuries that have happened because I can't supervise when I'm wiping bottoms. That's for 2 days with kids.

No assistant in the class is ridiculous. There is no teaching going on for most of my day. Can't wait for an admin walkthrough.

Ahhhh. . .I'm sorry. I can't see how they can do it on just liability alone. It's just not safe. I hope the situation gets fixed right quick!

 

[Ali]

Update. Another injury today. Admin walkthrough saw one student wandering around, 1 throwing things,me trying to do an assessment and chaos everywhere else. They just smiled and left. I hate my job. I hate the economy which is causing me to stay in my job.