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Yep. You should have a sped department chair who keeps you in the loop, if not, ask to be part of the leadership team meetings. You’ll know everything.
Sad but true all too often! I've had to address the issue with the admin and their secretaries about it. It helped a bit. We are like that kid that nobody really wants around.
In our building we call our self the red headed step child.
Yep! Always the last to know! 5th year sped teacher here - I’m lucky I have an awesome teacher I work with who always checks for my name and forwards them to me! Find a gen Ed buddy that’s got your back!
This is a great idea.
Totally happens all the time, even within the department since I’m a sub separate program.
I am just so strapped for time and exhausted, it takes so much energy to hunt down teachers from three grade levels to try and get info. Some won’t text or email back. And their grade level meetings are often during their lunch and three times per week? I have spoken to my principal about this and she tried to help but it isn’t really working. Next year, it’s SPEDzilla time, setting up expectations immediately!
You are not alone. I have been a SPED teacher for 12 years and I have had to move to three different districts due to my husband's work. Remember, as a SPED teacher you will always be able to find to a job. Everywhere I have gone sped seems to be the last to know and yes, it effects you, your paras and your students. ( We often feel like child that has been put in the corner and no one likes.) Communication is the key and persistence. Some campuses have a campus calendar that has field trips, benchmark, and state testing dates on it. Most subjects and/or grade levels have a lead teacher. Speak with them and ask them to keep you in the loop and explain to them why . Most gen. ed teachers have no clue what a sped teacher does and why it is important for you to know what is going on in their classroom regarding curriculum and other things. If possible check if you can go to the gen ed teachers planning . The key is to get access to the teacher's lesson plans. You will know what is going on what standards they are teaching and where you will need to modify. Again communication. Yes, you will hit walls where it may feel like the people outside of sped do not feel your pain. Do not let that stop you. Find , seek and be persistent. Change takes time. Yet know that it is for your own sanity and the sanity of others you are seeking the info. I have had to go to my diagnostician and administration to explain why I need the info the teacher will not share. SPED is a service it not a class on its own and therefore you should not be on that sped island by yourself.
Excellent and spot on……..
Mentor
Set up a weekly meeting with each grade level. Stress the importance of communication. How important that they keep data. Share lessons that helps students meet goals. Have Admin have teachers Share lesson plans. Establish a contact person to receive updates. Stress their legal commitments and share helpful hints . Send out timely requests and reminders
Mentor
So you still need to be aware of grade level activities, testing and schedule changes. Even SELF-contained students should have some transitional skills such as minimally going around to classes.Designate a contact person and communicate.
It must be everywhere because my SPED colleagues and I are NEVER informed about what's going on involving our students and school-wide activities. I'm moving to a new school district next year, so I'm hoping to be part of the positive change there. I pray that we all can in all of our districts.
When I first started SPED at a middle school, I asked the Assistant Principal if I could sign out books fir my student. He said the best I can do is give you a class set. He said you teach sped they don’t get books, period. Granted most if not all my 6th graders could not read or write but they underzza stood pictures. I didn’t win my argument for the books. I ended up putting myself
I teach special education Pre-K -5th at two different schools. I cannot keep up with who is doing what activity. I just look for what is going to change my rotations. I do get a weekly news letter from my principals on Sunday. As I am lesson planning I check and make the changes to my Google calendar.
It does happen a lot, and it is frankly, inconsiderate. Ask to be included on all school email, planning, trainings, and social events. Shame Shame.