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Week 18

 


Monday

I was still recovering from being under the weather over the weekend. I spent the day fielding emails and later had a visit from a dear friend, which brought a sense of comfort and calm.


Tuesday

I began the day with an in-house meeting to ensure our team was aligned for an upcoming IEP meeting. Immediately afterward, I tested a couple of students on their unit assessments. I then worked additional students into my schedule and completed remaining assessments needed for upcoming IEP drafts. Throughout the day, I also assisted the head of a committee by fielding emails and gathering information from administration regarding protocols. After finishing multiple emails, I headed home feeling productive but tired.


Wednesday

Wednesday was a day. I spent the first part of the morning testing two students on their state math assessments. I then received an email I had been anticipating—unrelated to my current job—and it was more than I could bear. Shortly after, I attended another meeting that redirected my missteps with a current student. As I walked back to my office, I cried. I wept for what was, what is, and what could be.

Still, I mustered the strength to attend our annual staff Christmas gathering. Even while talking with colleagues, tears rolled down my cheeks. It truly was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.


Thursday

Thursday brought an IEP meeting that lasted until almost noon. It went well, and I learned valuable lessons along the way. Special education services must be documented exactly as they are delivered—whether through support facilitation within the general education classroom or specialized instruction in a pull-out ESE setting. I learned more about collaboration, teamwork, and being open to guidance on effective IEP formatting.

Later, I helped a group of students complete their ELA unit assessments in my room. This led to important conversations about read-aloud accommodations versus independent reading of passages. After speaking with multiple members of our leadership team, it became clear there is no single definitive “law” on this issue. Best practice, however, is to prepare students for state testing conditions, where passages are read independently on the computer. I’ve truly enjoyed these discussions with our instructional coach—both about instructional dilemmas and future aspirations I’ve begun to contemplate.


Friday

Friday was pajama day—the final day before a two-week hiatus. Teachers prepared elaborate classroom parties, and I visited both teachers and students to wish them a very Merry Christmas. I caught up on paperwork, revisited my ESE “stomping grounds,” and even enjoyed some pizza.

My favorite part of the day was being visited by students who wanted me to know I was an important part of their day. Later, I visited students from previous years and received a hug from each one of them. I ended the day driving my daughter Abby to a movie night near UCF. As I played chauffeur, I listened to uplifting music and let the week slowly settle.


⸻


Message


God can and will take broken things and turn them around for His glory. He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth as a baby to rescue us from the brokenness of this world. This is not our home. Jesus returned to the Father to prepare a place for us—and in that truth, there is hope.

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