Blogging Loser

I know I've been a bit of a blogging loser lately, but things have been nuts and I've been just trying to keep up.  

As some of you may have heard, I did indeed get bit and pinched by a student.  It wasn't as bad as it sounds though... didn't break the skin.  I had a small bruise from the pinch but nothing that really even warranted an accident report.  The student knew it was wrong and immediately had an adverse reaction to what he did (he cried within like 1 second of biting me).  He also wrote me a very sweet apology note.  Sometimes the kids we work with with such severe disabilities can't help what they do in terms of physical aggression, so you just gotta roll with the punches (literally and figuratively).

This video is really interesting regarding autism.  It was made by a 20-something girl with autism who I'm assuming is non-verbal (like many of my students).  It's like 9 minutes long but you might be able to skip through some of it, but you get the general message.

At the recommendation of one of my teaching friends, I've started reading Random Family by Adrian Nicole LeBlanc.  Here's a short summary and review.  This book is so real and so honest about the problems that "normal" people face in the Bronx... it makes me look at things in an entirely different light.  Especially since a lot of the places in the book I've been to, or even am near every single day.  These are the places I work and the types of situations my students are seeing everyday.  It's completely mind-blowing.  So, if you get the chance and are at all interested in hearing an objective first-hand account about what life's REALLY like in the ghetto, check it out.

I'll post a more substantial update soon.... only 3 more days left of training!!!  Thank God... I don't think I could have handled any more.  Seriously.