Go Team!

In this current elementary school that I'm working with, my Master Teacher has been a blessing to me in such a way that she brings me to the different meetings that she is a part of, usually before or after school. Sometimes, she actually feels bad that she "drags" me to these meetings, but I told her I'm really glad that she does because I get to see the other side of being a teacher and the support that a school gives to the student beyond classroom instruction.

One meeting in particular that she has brought me to was a Student Support Team (SST) meeting wherein different teachers volunteer to give support to a teacher with a special case student. In this meeting the principal and the school psychologist was also present to give advice and share what available resources the school has for the child. In most sessions, the team talks about student's personal history and academic history to give a good foundation of what the student has had in the past and what he is dealing with currently. After which the teacher shares on what adaptations or interventions have been done to accommodate to the needs of the student. Then, the team gives suggestions on other ideas the teacher can incorporate to those adaptations (Most of the time, the teacher has done so many adaptations already before it even goes to the SST meeting, so they have pretty much done their part. In some cases, some of the suggestions that are given have already been done by the teacher.) At some point the principal or school psychologist would make the team and the teacher aware of what extra support or other interventions that the school can provide the student and his/her family.

I realized how awesome it was that so many people cared about that one student. Sadly, due to budget cuts, some of the students will not be given much attention because major funding has been taken away from the school. But, the good part is, the teacher has already started the process of developing the child's current skills and providing the support he/she needs, so he/she is not left alone in the dark. There are many hands that is holding the student up.