Friday Drama

VII Communication
B. Elaboration of significant episode:
Today we were preparing for ISTEP. We were trying to make a schedule and figure out what accommodations everyone had. We will have all of our kids testing in one room at the same time. There are two new students who just moved to our school from out of state who have IEPs. All day my teacher and the principal have been trying to get a parent/guardian in so that they can sign the papers that will allow us to give accommodations during ISTEP. The oldest girl is in fifth grade and she is at a 1st grade level (so the testing says) in all areas. Before she had 80 percent in the special education classroom, much more than any of our students do now. My teacher was freaking out because she has never had someone so low and she did want to have to teach science and social studies to her, basically because there is no time. The little boy is in 3rd grade and is at a kindergarten level. My teacher is only licensed to work with learning disabled and she was worried that these students would be borderline mildly mentally handicapped. Both student in Ohio required a bus aide due to lack of communication/verbal skills. My teachers stance was that there is no place for these students in her LD classroom. She said that the mild students should not be with LD. This drama pretty much consumed the whole entire day. Most of the teachers were involved and everyone seems to be freaking out.

C. Analysis of Episode:
I was concerned when I heard how low the new students were. I was not in anyway worried about having them in our LD classroom. (Technically that is their current label). I think I have had a lot of experience in the Marion and Elwood schools, who in many cases have LD, MiMH, and EH/BH disabilities combined into one classroom. I guess I have had more experience with having some students with low IQ’s. My teacher it seems is not used to the idea of lower students. Our regular LD special education class is actually very close (for the most part) to grade level. It was just frustrating today when everyone was getting worked up over these students. It seems as if all the teachers are stressed over ISTEP and that is just making all conversations have a borderline bad attitude. Hopefully everything will work out with these new students.