Today is Thursday, August 18. It is late and I am so very tired but today was a unique and special day so I wanted to share.

I teach a special day class and my students are very unique, awesome individuals who also have severe disabilities. One of the responsibilities I have, and take extremely seriously, is to ensure that placement in my classroom is still the most appropriate and that my students spend as much time as reasonably possible with same age general education peers.

On the occasion when I feel like my kids are ready to move up the ladder to a higher special day class it is difficult.  The ideal situation would be for them to spend time in a more moderate class to see if it is a fit, but we don’t have one on our campus. Each elementary school has its own special day class program, so trying out a new program requires endless meetings, and a geographical change in school placement.

That is why today was so amazingly incredible. I went on a field trip with one of my students! It was not a long journey, just the time it took us to walk down the hall, but it might as well of been a plane trip to a new world! It was like going on vacation.

My student and I spent most of the day participating in a general ed classroom with same grade peers, and my student did INCREDIBLE! Sat at a desk, followed directions, and participated in learning activities. With some extra support and prompting, my student fit in! What is even more heart warming, the other students were so welcoming! Never asked “What’s wrong?” or “Why is that student in here?!” Instead, table mates introduced themselves, offered help, and even freely gave compliments for efforts made. Proof that adults have a ton to learn from children!

I enjoyed my day in the very different world of a general education classroom, and I have a ton of data to prove that my student really is ready to move on from my class. Perhaps not ready to be completely independent in a gen ed classroom, but certainly ready to fly out of my room. Now the hard part…proving it to the know-it-alls that outrank me and making this change a reality!! I am up for the fight though.

I am also rejuvenated and ready to return home tomorrow. I loved my vacation to the land of general ed, but my classroom and my students are my home and where I feel most comfortable. I think tomorrow we will play with GLITTER!