It’s the middle of the summer believe it or not and hopefully most of us have been able to unwind from a long school year. You may have had a great year or you may have ended the year at a low point. Special Education is tough and you can feel really beat down by the end of the school year. That is why we need to keep in mind our WHY. Our WHY is how we decided to become a special education teacher in the first place. No one chooses to become a teacher for the glamour or the money. We all have a WHY. We need to remember that WHY so that it keeps us going after the rough days and reminds us why we chose this career in the first place. Remembering our WHY helps us put our best foot forward for those kiddos that walk through our door and need us to present our best self everyday.
Hope and Wade King’s “The Wild Card” helped me reflect on my WHY. They point out that our WHY may not be the same WHY as it was when we first started teaching. Our WHY can evolve over time. Mine certainly has…
Like many current teachers, I can remember back when I was in Elementary school always playing “school” with my Barbie dolls. I took it very seriously back then. I remember making my mom take me to the teacher store to get a real teacher planner. The cashier chuckled when a 9 year-old was purchasing such a thing.
But WHY did I decide to become a special education teacher? I’m sure it had a lot to do with the fact that I had an older brother with severe exceptional needs. He taught me many lessons, but most of all he taught me to be accepting of all differences. He taught me that ALL people can do great things, just in a different way. He taught me that all humans deserve to be included and loved.
But WHY did I decide to become a teacher of students with autism? In my early teen years I began to babysit for my next door neighbor- two boys around the ages of 2 and 4. The younger boy was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. I fell in love! Although he was unable to communicate verbally, I saw him communicate in other ways. He had a teacher come over and work with him and I thought it was so cool!
But WHY do I continue onward as a teacher of students with autism? My students teach me something new everyday. They are resilient, loving, smart, and complex individuals all at the same time. I love making connections with them and their families. One small triumph helps me forget about the tough moments. Kiddos with autism need someone to advocate for them and push them to be the best they can be. I strive to grow as an advocate for students with autism and push for them to be included and given all the opportunities that other kiddos have.
See? My WHY continues to evolve and change and I’m sure yours has too.
What is your WHY? Let me know in the comments 🙂 If you would like to check out Hope and Wade King’s book “Wild Card” click HERE!