They came, They saw, They were impressed.

Well, I hope they were impressed and not just being polite!

I mentioned on Friday that my former boss was sending over a few of his new team members to see how I do things.  SCARY! I also mentioned that my preparation for their visit was actually leaving me with more questions than answers.  It turns out that the day was so busy, I didn't have much time to think about it at all and suddenly there they were sitting in front of me and I had to talk.  Here is what I told them (the short version). 

I have been at the school of 4 years and my job description/ duties etc have changed every year.  This is the nature of Learning Support.  While it would be nice to teach the same content area and year level for a few years and really get the feel for it, Learning Support simply just does not work that way.  If you are teaching LS classes with the same curriculum and activities and lesson plans and delivering it the same way as you did last year and the year before, I would suggest that you are not truly supporting your students to learn.  If you are not supporting the STUDENTS in the room you are not a real Learning Support Teacher.  That is just my opinion I suppose.  

We discussed the curriculum and assessment criteria which, is used for the school's Literacy and Numeracy Program.  I didn't realise how much of the Program was "mine" until they started asking where things had come from and I had to say... my head.  I mean, it was a culmination of my knowledge and experience with a range of rubrics, developmental continua and criteria sheets.  The diagnostic testing regime was a combination of tests already designed by people much smarter than me.  But the way it fits together, the philosophy really does come from me.  I didn't know that before Friday.  

They were quite excited by the resources that I shared with them. Clearly, they have never experienced Pinterest!  They were also feeling very positive about the prospects of their own Literacy and Numeracy Program.  I was pleased too.  

There’s more exciting news from Friday.  My special friend, once a student of mine, now a grown up... (I'm so old) came to school with me.  She helped me clean up the office.  She sorted through papers and put things in folders and emptied boxes and moved all my storage around.  She made posters for my teaching partner and printed documents for me.  I finally feel like I'm heading in the right direction and the room is looking more functional now.  Thank goodness!!!  

Pictures are to come.  I forgot to take "before" pics.  :(  I'm sure you can imagine.  

Another week is about to begin.  I should probably do some lesson planning. 

:D M