Persistence

So lately the word persistence keeps coming up in my world. Persistence is defined as: to continue steadfastly or firmly in some state, purpose, course of action, especially in spite of opposition, obstacles or discouragement. When asked about my weaknesses in a job interview I say that I'm persistent because this is a quality that most find very annoying (just ask my husband). I have also been persistent when it comes to working in my classroom this summer. Every time I walk into that room I discover a problem or something that has thrown a wrench in my plans. For example at the end of the school year I was looking at maybe having 14 students in my classroom and now I'm up to 17. For those of you general education teachers I'm sure you're thinking "17, I'd love to just have 17 students!" It is not necessarily the extra students or the extra work that causes me added stress, its the extra body in the classroom. My classroom is very oddly shaped and fairly small. My classroom measures approximately 40' by 20'. The classroom is full of adults 17 students and 5 staff and we need a "break" room for students to calm down when getting aggressive. Also, there is not one corner that is available to utilize because I have 2 doors in 2 corners, a sink in another, and the furnace in another, which makes classroom layout difficult.
Anyway, I consider myself very persistent but maybe I'm just impatient and want things done my way right now.

Tell me what you think:




I just realized that maybe many of you do not know exactly what kind of teaching I do. Currently I am a Special Education Teacher in a Community Based Program. My students have a variety of disabilities but fall within the Moderately Impaired range and are ages 16 to 20. We have students in the school until the age of 26 (Michigan is the last state to allow students to attend a public school, all other states are only to the age of 21). It is in the works that Michigan cuts the age back to 21 to join the other states and the funding will then transition to programs that provide work for adults with special needs, such as Mid Michigan Industries and (those of you from Hillsdale) Key Opportunities. Therefore it is not saving money by cutting the students the monies will just be used differently.