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Special Needs for Special Kids

Providing you tools to save time and build confidence teaching students with the most significant disabilities

May 4, 2015

Juggling it All

As I approach this week on my own with my hubby in NC for the week, I feel the anxiety of trying to juggle it all.  I know there are so many parents out there with special needs children who feel the same.  It is especially hard now that we are in a new state (PA), with no support network.  I miss those few trust-worthy people I could call up when I needed some help (Peter, Fred, Greg, Lori, Sarah, Beth, Amanda…).   Last week, I missed my daughter’s induction into Honor Society because my husband was out of town and I just cannot handle Jimmy in crowds by myself anymore.  Now I am all on my own.  Some people tell me to just find some respite workers in the area, but that is just not an easy or welcome venture.  Jimmy is BIG and strong, and it takes someone who really knows him to read his moods and keep him safe.  In order for someone to know him that well, they need to spend time with him.  That takes money on my part and an invasion in my home.

For the last 16 years, we have had people in our home on a very regular basis.  Some people were amazing and some were not.  It was exhausting for all involved to get to a level of comfort that I felt I could leave Jimmy alone with them.  I just don’t have the energy anymore to weed through the people who sit on their phones watching Jimmy play on his ipad while I pay them $X/hour.  Don’t get me wrong, I have had some AMAZING people in the past who have made a huge difference in Jimmy’s life, and I think I would have lost my mind without them.  But, I also went through A LOT of individuals who were scary and questionable at best in my home for hours at a time.

So, now I face this week with some trepidation.  At least I am not juggling a job as well (a post for another time, as that is not a happy statement), so I just need to keep things as smooth as possible.  I will miss another major event for my daughter, her senior presentation which she has prepared and is giving a year early.  We, as parents of special needs children (and adults) miss a lot.  We are isolated in our homes, and despite everyone’s encouraging remarks to “just come on it will be fine” they just have no idea.  They do not understand how disruptive at best, and dangerous, at worst, it can be when we try to just “join in” without the proper support.  I am so lucky to still have a husband who has stuck in there and is an amazing support, he just cannot be here all the time.  So, everyone, wish me luck this week and say “amen” if you know EXACTLY what I am talking about.

PS  This is my second attempt at this post.  I deleted my first try as it seemed too negative.  Imagine how that one sounded!!

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I'm Christa Joy

My mission is to give parents and teachers the tools they need in order to feel effective and confident teaching even the most challenging of students.
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@fantasticallyfourth so inspired me with this post @fantasticallyfourth so inspired me with this post. HUGE SHOUT OUT to the amazing lengths teachers are going to this year. Keep shining that light!!!! 💕Today was the first day my kiddos were able to see me in costume for a lesson. In a regular year it’s a somewhat usual occurance—but as we all know this year has been different. • We used @love.mrs.liebscher s Multiplicative Pizzeria where students practiced their multiplicative word problem skills as they filled orders for the pizzeria. Finally, they were able to come up with their own multiplicative recipe and creat their own pizza! • Due to our current COV!D reality, each student’s individual place was set up with a red placemat for working, their work orders, and their own chef hat (made form construction paper. One of my favorite things is seeing how many of my kiddos end up wearing their chef hat all day 😂. It’s the cutest.
Thank you @pathway2success1 for these awesome ide Thank you @pathway2success1 for these awesome ideas!!! Favorite games that work on social skills? Let me hear some! I always love adding suggestions.⁣ ⁣ #teacherspayteachers #tpt #executivefunctioning #socialskills #teachersofig #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #iteach #specialed #specialeducation #education #teaching #classroom #teachergram #sel #socialemotionallearning #socialskills
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That's not fair!! We have all heard it. Teaching That's not fair!! We have all heard it. Teaching kids early on that FAIR does not always mean EQUAL is an important lesson and feels like a good fit for this week. I have some tips and free downloads to help you teach this concept in your classroom or at home. Read more here: https://specialneedsforspecialkids.org/2021/01/18/thats-not-fair-how-to-teach-fair-does-not-mean-equal/ #specialneedsforspecialkids #notfair #socialskills
NEW UPLOADS!! I just added new downloads to my fre NEW UPLOADS!! I just added new downloads to my free resource library, including this one from this past free worksheet Wednesday. Also new (and perfect for winter): 🐧penguin sorting and ways to stay warm in the cold weather.❄️ The new downloads are listed at the top. Plus, there are a lot more for this time of year, including Color of Winter early reader book, snowflake matching, winter sudoku puzzle, winter scavenger hunt, and a nonfiction book on groundhogs. Check them all out here (if you need the password, I will put the link to sign up in the comments below): https://specialneedsforspecialkids.org/resource-library/
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