I think I may have found my sub-calling...

Working with kids with ED (Emotional Disturbance) and Behavior problems.

Now I may not be ANY good at it AT ALL. But something feels right about it.

I visited a day school for these students this morning. It was just to be an observation of what ED looks like for my independent study.

The federal definition of ED is:

"...a condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics over a long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely affects a child's educational performance--

(A) An inability to learn that cannot be explained by intellectual, sensory, or health factors.

(B) An inability to build or maintain satisfactory interpersonal relationships with peers and teachers.

(C) Inappropriate types of behavior or feelings under normal circumstances.

(D) A general pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression.

(E) A tendency to develop physical symptoms or fears associated with personal or school problems." [Code of Federal Regulations, Title 34, Section 300.7(c)(4)(i)]

As defined by the IDEA, emotional disturbance includes schizophrenia but does not apply to children who are socially maladjusted, unless it is determined that they have an emotional disturbance. [Code of Federal Regulation, Title 34, Section 300.7(c)(4)(ii)]

To give you a picture of this particular school:
They had about 45 students (mostly male), the doors to the classrooms were locked, they had four time-out rooms (which they called "the box", basically a plywood walled room with a separate "cell" that can be locked if they are too uncontrollable), three adults per classroom (one content teacher and two mental health counselors for behavior control) and every child had to be kept up with.

Sounds exactly like the place where I wouldn't want to go. But for some reason, I just felt "right" there.

It would probably be like throwing me to the wolves over there, but I want to give it a try.

There's a chance of student teaching there. We'll see how that goes.

---------
In similar news, I start student teaching at the elementary school tomorrow! No more sleeping in. No more afternoon naps. No more of that. For 10 weeks. I'll get some time off for Thanksgiving...but that's about it.

2nd and 3rd graders...that don't have NEAR the problems of the kids I saw today. This is going to be simple!