Hello all!
It’s been a while since you’ve seen an entry by yours truly and there’s a good reason: I’m now working full time as a teacher for students with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and other Learning Disabilities.
So far, it’s a blast! My class is very manageable, and the staff and parents have been very supportive. My wife has been teaching at a public High School for the last four years, so we are regularly comparing notes to see how our teaching experiences differ.
First, I have the same fifteen students all day. She has 150 who are with her for about an hour per day.
Second, my school has a process in place to handle students who have episodes that disrupt the classroom. They can easily be separated until they are classroom ready again. There are solid consequences that are not arbitrary punishments. At my wife’s school, there is little she can do about a student who is chronically disruptive.
Third, the school’s focus is on input–learning–and the output expected of each child is customized to match their circumstances and ability.
I could go on but it is gratifying to find a place where their philosophy matches my own. Look for more updates in the future, along with some humorous anecdotes.
Good luck!
Allen Dobkin
