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Stupidcat
Raven
Joined: Mar 06, 2007
Age: 24
Posts: 120
Location: Texas
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 Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:11 pm Post subject: Teaching with Asperger's |
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| I'm in my junior year at University and this semester I'm going to start observing in the classroom. I'm not afraid of this. Young kids are fun and easy to manage when you know what you're doing. But recently I've been starting to wonder about my choice of careers. I have such a hard time relating to people and I worry that it might get in the way of my professional performance later on. How will I know if a student is lying to me or is upset and needs a hug? And beyond my students, how am I going to deal with their parents? |
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Irulan
The Borg Queen
Joined: May 18, 2007
Age: 25
Posts: 2282
Location: Poland
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| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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I have my teacher practice this year and I hate it as same as I hate those stupid girls I must teach English to  I'm unable to judge if when they're making some comments concerning me, they're only having a really good humor and are cheerful or if they're malicious little bitches whose ambition is to humiliate me  Anyway, my first lesson with them looked this way: http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt43285.html 
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Stupidcat
Raven
Joined: Mar 06, 2007
Age: 24
Posts: 120
Location: Texas
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| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Irulan wrote: | | I have my teacher practice this year and I hate it as same as I hate those stupid girls I must teach English to I'm unable to judge if when they're making some comments concerning me, they're only having a really good humor and are cheerful or if they're malicious little bitches whose ambition is to humiliate me Anyway, my first lesson with them looked this way: http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt43285.html |
Yikes. Luckily I'm teaching younger kids (K-4) so i hopefully won't have these kinds of problems. This sounds more like a lack of discipline school wide than anything you are or aren't doing. |
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Irulan
The Borg Queen
Joined: May 18, 2007
Age: 25
Posts: 2282
Location: Poland
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| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:28 pm Post subject: |
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That school saves a lot of money this way because we, students are not paid for our efforts. But during our last lesson they'll be informed by me what I used to think about them all the time 
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Sedaka
Searching For My Catcher in the Rye
Joined: Jul 17, 2006
Age: 27
Posts: 5264
Location: In the recesses of my mind
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| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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ive worked with lil kids (1st-2nd) and college kids (both for a TA for ~3yrs)...
i think the lil kids are easier, though i don't know if i could do it all day everyday.......
and as for the college kids... you just have to be able to make fun of yourself as well. it's hard... some will like you and some won't. don't take it personally either way.
my teaching evals were what opened my eyes to AS ect... there were some really crushing comments, but there were some good ones too.
can't please everyone... as long as you're fair.
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nannarob
Phoenix
Joined: Apr 14, 2007
Posts: 1349
Location: Queensland
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| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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I am a retired Nt teacher who operated at an intuitive level. I can see many strengths that an aspie teacher could bring to a teaching situation.
1. a calm, ordered classroom
(if you are one who loves to make lists ....)
lists of - class rules and expectations; of learning activities in the next 6 weeks; etc
a timetable that you stick to
2. honesty and justice
inevitable if you are an aspie
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I think there must be some chronic learning disability that is so prevalent among NT's that it goes unnoticed by the "experts". Krex
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nannarob
Phoenix
Joined: Apr 14, 2007
Posts: 1349
Location: Queensland
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| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:17 pm Post subject: Re: Teaching with Asperger's |
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[quote="Stupidcat]
3 a sense of fun
"I'm in my junior year at University and this semester I'm going to start observing in the classroom. I'm not afraid of this. Young kids are fun and easy to manage when you know what you're doing. [/quote]
4 competence based on the above statement
[quote="Stupidcat]
But recently I've been starting to wonder about my choice of careers. I have such a hard time relating to people and I worry that it might get in the way of my professional performance later on. How will I know if a student is lying to me or is upset and needs a hug? And beyond my students, how am I going to deal with their parents?[/quote]
5 self awareness
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I think there must be some chronic learning disability that is so prevalent among NT's that it goes unnoticed by the "experts". Krex
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nannarob
Phoenix
Joined: Apr 14, 2007
Posts: 1349
Location: Queensland
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| Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:24 pm Post subject: Re: Teaching with Asperger's |
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[quote="Stupidcat]
But recently I've been starting to wonder about my choice of careers. I have such a hard time relating to people and I worry that it might get in the way of my professional performance later on. How will I know if a student is lying to me or is upset and needs a hug? And beyond my students, how am I going to deal with their parents?[/quote]
Of course you will encounter problems because of aspergers. But I think you have the insight to work around this.
Are you still allowed to touch kids in America .... the luck of the female.
You can always ask an upset child, "Do you need a hug?"
There is body language you can learn to recognise lying.
I could go on in great detail about parents etc. Let me know if you want more. I would love to support you in your teaching career.
_________________
NEVER EVER GIVE UP
I think there must be some chronic learning disability that is so prevalent among NT's that it goes unnoticed by the "experts". Krex
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kuiamalynne
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: Jul 09, 2007
Age: 25
Posts: 67
Location: Ohio, USA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:03 am Post subject: |
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I'm a new graduate teaching assistant at a university, where I teach first-year composition & rhetoric. My first term was absolute hell -- I had a couple "funny" students, only... I honestly couldn't tell when they were being "nice funny" or "cruel funny." Some would make fun of me behind my back, within ear shot, and some of my better students confided that the "bad eggs" were making faces at me while I wasn't looking. (This behavior, in college!) My evaluations for first term were mixed... but some were very, very scathing and cruel. (One said he found it insulting that a "mildly disabled person" was teaching an English class.)
This term is much better, though. I feel much more comfortable in front of the classroom, and it's more routinized for me. And I make lots of lists on the chalkboard. 
I often feel discouraged, but I think that's normal for all teachers, really, regardless of me having AS. Some of my/our difficulties might be differ from those of NT teachers, but we've all got our horror stories, I guess. So, I'd say that you should be prepared for some bad things to happen... but, honestly, the good stuff will come, and you'll get better at being yourself and balancing your personality and potential weaknesses with discipline. Also remember that other teachers are there to help you, so always feel free to vent to them. |
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Liverbird
Using my evil powers for good!
Joined: Jun 14, 2007
Posts: 1167
Location: My heart belongs to Anfield
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| Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:43 am Post subject: |
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I got my degree in early childhood education. I think that we bring alot to the teaching field. Firstly, we're not afraid to get down on the little kids level because we're more comfortable there anyway. Also we're usually not afraid to get down and act silly with them, because we're naturally that way.
I have a side interest of toys and children's lit. So, I've become an expert, consequently. But this is not considered weird for my career field.
Also, don't worry about how to deal with parents. I always look at it as: how would I want someone to tell me this thing about my kid?
I just approach it as your little person does this well, we are seeing issues with this, but it might be good because of this. Oreo cookie. good bad good. I don't know why NT parents need you to do it this way, but it works for them and it helps me to kinna rationalize my concerns.
I originally went to be a high school english teacher and ended up with little kids, so it must have been my calling.
Our sense of wonder, our inability to "grow up", our expert ability at being people watchers, our ability to assess situations objectively, our ability to be creative and think out of the box (always a plus when activities don't take as much time as we thought they would), and our ability to understand the hummingbird stuck in a spiderweb thinking that little kids have. Also our being able to accept people as they are and not be able to see past the surface is always good. We also appreciate the honesty of little kids and we're not offended by it.
Another good quality is that since we tend to have different thinking patterns that are usually visual, it helps us to put things into an order that is more easily understood by little kids. I always noticed in my student teaching program that I was the only one who put together units utilizing all areas of a room. When I do a theme, I DO a theme. I think of activities for every area. Blocks, housekeeping, table work, water table, etc. I always got big bonus points for that because I just couldn't think inside a box. I never feel limited as a teacher either. I do lots of research and then pick out the best of all the plans. Because we tend to be speciality thinkers, it helps us to organize activities in a way that students really maximize on learning the subject. And usually I can find some way to make everyone interested in at least a part of the subject. I also am able to really motivate kids because I do think so differently.
I almost forgot. Our intense longing for structure and routine is great for little kids. They need it too! Picture menus for how the day is going are great!
Those are the qualities that I have that I think make me a good teacher. You may have others. (WARNING: only use as directed and all the other disclaimer dribble).
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"All those things that you taught me to fear
I've got them in my garden now
And you're not welcome here" ---Poe
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Sedaka
Searching For My Catcher in the Rye
Joined: Jul 17, 2006
Age: 27
Posts: 5264
Location: In the recesses of my mind
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| Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:58 am Post subject: |
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| kuiamalynne wrote: | I'm a new graduate teaching assistant at a university, where I teach first-year composition & rhetoric. My first term was absolute hell -- I had a couple "funny" students, only... I honestly couldn't tell when they were being "nice funny" or "cruel funny." Some would make fun of me behind my back, within ear shot, and some of my better students confided that the "bad eggs" were making faces at me while I wasn't looking. (This behavior, in college!) My evaluations for first term were mixed... but some were very, very scathing and cruel. (One said he found it insulting that a "mildly disabled person" was teaching an English class.)
This term is much better, though. I feel much more comfortable in front of the classroom, and it's more routinized for me. And I make lots of lists on the chalkboard.
I often feel discouraged, but I think that's normal for all teachers, really, regardless of me having AS. Some of my/our difficulties might be differ from those of NT teachers, but we've all got our horror stories, I guess. So, I'd say that you should be prepared for some bad things to happen... but, honestly, the good stuff will come, and you'll get better at being yourself and balancing your personality and potential weaknesses with discipline. Also remember that other teachers are there to help you, so always feel free to vent to them. |
if you dont mind me asking... how doe they know of your "disability"?
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www.pubmed.gov
www.sciencedirect.com
http://highwire.stanford.edu/lists/freeart.dtl |
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Azharia
Deinonychus
Joined: Jan 05, 2008
Age: 26
Posts: 301
Location: Cork, Ireland
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| Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 12:48 pm Post subject: |
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I did the first half of teaching course for 6 - 12 year olds. Took a year out this year, but thinking of going back.
I found the practical teaching practice was lots of fun, and had no real problems with it despite being aspie.
If I go back my problem will be the hours and hours of preparation needed every evening. |
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kuiamalynne
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: Jul 09, 2007
Age: 25
Posts: 67
Location: Ohio, USA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Sedaka wrote: | | if you dont mind me asking... how doe they know of your "disability"? |
Initially, I think they all just thought I was a bit eccentric. However, I wrote a small piece for a departmental publication that mentioned I have AS, so I'm guessing that some of them saw that.
I'm not all that open about having AS (especially at school), but, at the same time, I don't feel like I should be closeted either, especially if letting others know helps us all to communicate/understand each other better. I'm still trying to figure this one out, though. |
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Fayed
Deinonychus
Joined: Sep 25, 2007
Age: 22
Posts: 319
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| Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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wooot, im not the only one who wants to be a teacher.
I did a 45hr Field Experience ( but they called it observation) last semester and had a blast. Doing a 20hr one this semester 
As for the things your worried about, IMO those things will come to you in time as you progress as a teacher.
GL on your observationing |
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JerryHatake
Mason Athletics Super Fan Enough Said
Joined: Jul 02, 2006
Age: 21
Posts: 10887
Location: Woodbridge, VA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:38 pm Post subject: |
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Had to do a 40 hour field experience in an elementary school near Mason.
Worked with fourth grades but I got along with them pretty well without ever mentioning my AS and ADHD.
The kids got pretty attached to me with the 40 hours I observed and helped them.
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