Blair Reflection

Forrest Hills week 1

Monday:

There are a total of 12 students, 4 are absent today. It is very common for students to be absent. 3
students are in K, 2 in 3rd, 3 in 4th, 2 in 5th, and 2 in 6th.

 Ethan (K) – ASD, nonverbal, thumb, bites, sits, behaviors,

 Tyevon (K) – oligodactyly, behaviors, ASD
 Jayce (K) – poor vision, small, ASD
 Brandon N. (3rd)– quiet, fidgety, MR
 AJ (3) – WC, medically fragile,
 Chris (4) – moderate to profound hearing loss, vision loss, ASD, MR
 Ian (4) – WC, Muscular Dystrophy, medically fragile, distractions, vocal, hears voices/sees
people, MR
 Gabby (4) – LD, minor behaviors, very manageable, speech problems
 Connor (5) – WC, medically fragile,
 Kayla (5) – sass master, fiend inabilities, LD
 Brandon H. (6th) – ASD, nonverbal, doesn’t like auditory sensory, likes pressure sensory input,
elopes (runner), social
 Rachael (6th) – calm, well behaved, basic phonetic skills

All students have the same sight words. Each student does a different activity/level of writing their
words based on ability level. Some students write the words independently. Other students have the
words written in highlighter and students are to trace it. A middle level support is providing a line in
highlighter for students to write the sight words on. Then, as a class, all students circle their sight words
in provided colors based on beginning and ending sounds.

Aids freely step in and offer supports with the teacher. They have been working together for ~7 years
and have built a relationship. Aids are free to put students in cool-down or instruct class as needed.

Lots of down time between activities, mostly for the strugglers to catch up. Also allows that down time
and sensory breaks for the students that need. I do think some of these students could be challenged
more, but it may be that these breaks are what keeps their behaviors so well maintained.

Circle time, Yesterday was, today is, tomorrow will be. Month. Weather. Days of week song.

Tuesday:

Miss Justine is doing testing. She trusts the aids to teach the class. She gets all of the materials ready and
tells them how she wants it presented. She informed me that she also leaves them in charge when she
has subs.
 Blair Reflection

The tone of one of the aids seems to set the tone for the rest of the class. This aid is not one of the two
in charge, but her negativity permeates the class. She seems to have limited patience. But, she is
consistent with her student and doesn’t seem to take his outbursts.

Ian was being fitted for a new wheelchair, a power chair. While on the surface it may seem like a good
thing, his behavior can make this chair a huge problem. In just the first day he had it, he had to be
removed within a half an hour due to him fiddling with this trial chair. His inability, or refusal – I’m not
sure which it is yet, to follow directions and stay on task will possibly prevent him from getting this
upgrade.

Wednesday:

Ethan, Ian, Brandon N.

Wednesday was a very rough day for the class. Ethan was sick, which made it a rough day for him. Ian
was extra chatty and was only in his chair during OT. Brandon ended up having a 30-minute meltdown,
his second big one of the year. As I near him when the meltdown began, I helped protect him from
injuring himself and others.

Thursday:

There was a Manifestation Determination this morning. I got to sit in on the meeting, which was a great
experience. A discussion was held with the student and the guardians, as well as a representative from
the home district, the housing district, and the classroom teacher. The student’s home life as connected
to the behavior was discussed and school life. What the student shares vs. what is shared by the family
differs some. The student’s account of what happened yesterday vs. reports differ, but the basis of the
story is consistent. While there are concerns at home, they were addressed and it was stress that the
guardians are more restrictive/aware of what the student is watching at all times. It is also essential that
guardians are consistent in giving medication.

We went on a CBI trip in the afternoon. Wendy’s, Tractor Supply (to see the chicks), and then Big Lots.
The students mostly behaved really well. There were minor behaviors, but nothing too out of sorts.
Ethan was the most challenging, especially toward the end as he kept throwing himself on the floor.
Students were working on keeping their hands to themselves. The kindergarteners struggled the most.
Gabby had a bit of a hard time, but did much better when given a task.

Friday:

Today is the last day of the marking period, and as such they get out early. In the morning there was a
volleyball match, the end of a match and a teachers’ game. X and Y stayed back at the beginning and
tested with Justine. The whole school had fun. The students were well behaved amazingly well! I was
absolutely amazed! The remainder of the short day went well.
Blair Reflection