Random Update.. AKA ..very long rant

You've been warned;
I haven't posted much of substance lately as I have been one VERY cranky Kristen...

The last two weeks at work were nothing short of chaos coupled with aggravation. We had State testing going on in all three grades. The first week was G.E.P.A. (grade 8) I was asked to administer the test to my 8th graders along with several others who needed the same modifications as stated in their IEP's.. (extended time, small group, directions read..etc..) This is not something out of the ordinary, I always administer at least one week of testing to whichever grade I have the majority in.. currently I have 7 eighth graders. 2 sixth, 1 seventh. So I leave sub plans for the remaining students and off I go. Well, one would think this was the first time we ever administered these tests... the scheduling of test administrators and monitors left a lot to be desired. I had no monitor for the first day, so it was just me. Didn't get a break, kids took 3 additional hours to test, I didn't get lunch and after it was over, I found out that my remaining kids had no substitute.. they left them alone with my Para... big legal no no. As I thought each day would get better it got progressively worse. And my kids took so much extra time that it continued into a fifth day of testing. pure joy, I tell ya. Keep in mind that during these tests, you are at no time allowed to sit, read, talk or leave the room without the approval of about five different people (exaggerating a little) but needless to say.. I was stuck staring at these testing kids for about 6 hours each day.

Then comes week two... NJASK testing for grades 6 & 7. Scheduling nightmare again.. not enough administrators.. so off I go again for another week of testing h*ll with the 6 & 7 grade students.. along with once again having to leave sub plans for my now remaining eighth graders.
Oohh but SUB plans would require having a substitute.. nope, not in my room... again, they forget that their are 7 emotionally disturbed boys in my room with no substitute. I LOVE state testing!! I just can't stand incompetence and worse when the people in charge of taking care of these things play the "well, so and so was supposed to take care of that" and when you call that person, they say no, "so and so is supposed to do that... PEOPLE .. ED kids.. no certified teacher, stop passing blame and just get it done.

What annoys me the most about the whole thing is that these are not kids that handle chaos or change well. It ended in 3 suspensions, fights, and a whole lot of unrest in my room, that I am now trying to get back into some sort of control. I just feel it could have all been avoided if people did their jobs. AND LEFT ME IN MY ROOM.

On top of that, I received one new student today.. grade 6, a runner (I'm talking out of the building) who accuses teachers regularly of hitting him. (I'll give him something to... just kidding..) Child's mother told me in the meeting this morning, that she has no control.. he tells her what to do.. when to do it etc... Hello... Mrs. enabler.. grow a backbone and parent this child.
So then when I asked the same above scheduling people for a schedule for this kid today I was told that they didn't have computer access, therefore couldn't do it. DO THEY NOT OWN A PEN OR PIECE OF PAPER.. I'm not talking brain surgery here.. just a schedule with where to send this kid for gym.

And I'm getting another 6th grader next Tuesday (don't know his backstory yet). That leaves room for one more, my max is 12. Is it June 22 yet?

Okay I'm done... I'm over it... 8 more school days until spring break, and I can go back with a whole new attitude... until then just call me CRANKY!

On a side note, from my crankiness, I'm going to my first "waiting families" event on Wednesday night, with my agency. They are having a family that just got back from China a couple of months ago come in to talk about their trip and post placement progress. I'm VERY excited about that and will post about it after.

~Have a great week.