Blessing in Disguise!

I was just given a name and a schedule of a student that was added to my caseload (we call students we work with (with special needs), our caseload).

So, I went ahead and looked for the new student. He was in the Math class, he was seated at the far side of the room, his hood was up, and head bent down.

I asked the teacher if I can pull him out for testing, she said yes, and told me that when she first met him, she knew he has needs.

I approached him and asked him to come with me.

That was the start of my services with him. 

He was 15 years old then, a freshman, a transferee. We learned later after receiving his Sped documents, weeks after, that he was actually given educational services, his whole life, in a segregated setting! Since we didn't know, he has been placed in a non-segregated setting the whole time (in inclusion class)!

At that time he was reading at a Kindergarten level when I tested him. 

He was enjoying his new environment and the pull-out method worked for him too, so the team decided to keep him in his current setting. He was elated about the decision! 

He was actually very willing to learn and I had fun working with him. I didn't only focus on his academics but I tried to make sure I was also following up on his daily living skills, like putting on deodorant, making sure his fingernails were cut short, his shirt tucked at all times (school policy) and that he controls his saliva when he speaks.

After 6 months, I tested him again, and who would have thought, he was able to increase his reading comprehension skills by 3 years!

It was happy times for us. 

Happy times because it was a mistake to place him in an inclusion class in the first place, but that mistake was actually a blessing-in-disguise because he was given an opportunity to live a normal life and it has served him well.


Yes, he graduated high school already and the last time I checked, there was no more saliva drooling when he speaks!

He will continue to be one of my best memories in my teaching career.

I pray he is well and may God send his angels now to keep him safe and help him live a life he dreams of.

NAMASTE.


Comments

  1. MaricelAugust 24, 2012 at 3:09 PM

    I could tell, stories like these are what make teachers the heroes they are. My hats off to you, Gem. May you continue to inspire more lives.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jessica CassidyAugust 24, 2012 at 4:44 PM

    awww! what a sweet memories of being a teacher :-) you are one sweet teacher :-) Thank you for treating that student as normal :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Pepper TanAugust 24, 2012 at 5:49 PM

    What an inspiring story. Things do turn out for the best, even without us knowing. It is a gift to be able to see blessings in disguise.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Little World of FunAugust 24, 2012 at 6:26 PM

    These special kids could be improve when they will get a help who are willing to assist them and patiently teach them. Your work is so noble, and I am so impressed with the success of that child. Thanks to you!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Franc RamonAugust 24, 2012 at 9:41 PM

    That's an inspiring story and cheers to you for believing in your student's potential to learn and patience to teach. A mark of a great teacher.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Violy VallesterAugust 25, 2012 at 3:56 AM

    Wow! I love success stories like this. A blessing in disguise indeed. Hopefully he will be treated nicely too after HS, I want to see him successful too later on. God bless him. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  7. JosieAugust 25, 2012 at 7:55 AM

    that's a sweet story, nice to hear you have succeeded in helping your student cope with his environment. kudos to you teacher!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Teresa MartinezAugust 25, 2012 at 3:27 PM

    This is one reason why being a teacher is such a fulfilling profession.

    ReplyDelete
  9. lanieAugust 26, 2012 at 6:39 AM

    It's a very inspiring story, Nice post!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dennis DolojanAugust 26, 2012 at 9:48 PM

    i always adore and salute teachers , they do the impossible things for their students to learn ... and with your case with the student with special needs you deserve more respect ..

    ReplyDelete
  11. levyAugust 26, 2012 at 10:07 PM

    I have just watched a bollywood movie entitled "every child is special" I hope that all teachers will be more caring and compassionate to all children.

    ReplyDelete
  12. marriAugust 27, 2012 at 4:41 PM

    I believe that we have our own PURPOSE and MISSION in life.
    You definitely serve some of yours by helping that boy a chance
    to live his life like any normal student does. This story is so
    inspiring and you did a very humble yet great job.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. marriAugust 27, 2012 at 7:39 PM

      correction: "giving that boy a chance to live..."

      Delete

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