Author:
Maureen (Confused)
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Date Posted: 18:29:18 10/30/08 Thu
When I was in elementary school my mom and my first grade teacher told evryone i had a reading proble. I stayed back in first grade whcih was the best for me...I know that now. I stayed with my first grade teacher for my second year and she tutored me in the summer.
I went for help in what we called the trailor...it really looked like a trailor. I went for reading but only a little bit they insisted that I had a problem in math. I was always told by some teachers that I was lazy and stupid. I always felt that way. My mo ahd dad were frustrated because even as I got older in the upper grades I could not do my homework myself. It was not until I was a senior in high school that my history teacher noticed there was a problem. He had a homeowrk assignment that was due I think every Friday if I remember correctly. He would ask random people to read...whenever he came to me I told him I did not have it. I told him I did not do it but I always handed it in at the end of class typed. One day which was a month or 2 from graduation he finally caught on or he just wanted to see what was happening. He told me to get out my book and read to him. I told him I did not have it and I had to go tomy next class. To make a long story short I did not get out of it. I had to read to him. I could not even get through the first sentence with out a problem. One teacher throught that I was having trouble reading because I had a speech problem. I was sent to speech therapy. She refused to accept the fact that some people did not want to read. Well I tried and finally after about a month she told me I could not read again in her room because I don't know the words and I am too slow. This was high school. I was graduating my grades were good enough to get into college. Nothing could be done I was graduating.
My parents and I went to visit a college and had an interview. When we arrived for the interview the woman said I had such high scores on my SATs. I was shocked...then she was asked to leave the room for a minute to help someone. My mom and I looked at each other like she was crazy. My dad forbid me to tell them that they were not my scores. I took the SAT 7 times...and I only got around 625 maybe a little higher.
Iwas accepted as a special Education and elementary education major. I was in my frist class for special education. When ever the teacher asked a question verbally I could answer it but my words were all confused but I had the right answer. When it came time for the test I could not do it. She asked if I was ever tested for a learning disability. I said no I am just slow and lazy and some people say stupid. She said no you are not. You know the work. She connected me with a dr. to be tested for a learning disability and it was found that I had a severe reading disorder, dyslexia and ADHD. I was so relieved I was not stupid there was a reason for my problem. I knew what all of those terms meant that was why I wante to be a special education teacher because I wanted to help students who learned differently not feel stupid or lazy. When it was time to go to my advisor to set up my schedule for the next semester...she was different toward me. She told me that she knows I have a learning disability now and need accomidations. I said I know I just found out...I finally know I am not stupid or lazy I just have a reading problem and need help learning how to read and deal with the ADHD so I can become a teacher who understands and can help my students feel good about themselves even if it is hard. Her response killed me...she told me that people with learning disabilities are to stupid to become teachers because they can't do the work themselves. She refused to schedule my classes. I went to the dean and he said his hands were tied she had tenure and if she believed I could not do it then I should think of something else. My dream was crush. I did change my major to my minor which was music. I never used it a day since I graduated. The other problem was that I did not know I was loosing my hreaing gradually. It had nothing to do with being in the marching band or concert band it is hereditry. I began teaching in 1999. I graduate in 1997 and start woriking as a TSS (one on one who a child with a disability). I loved it but I wanted more. So I sent my resume to some school. I am catholic and the catholic schools in my area have special education school and in teh regular elemntary school they have resource room. I was hired. I taught for 3 years then I moved away (pesonal thing) for a little bit then came back and began teaching again. I went to school during this time to learn American Sign Langauge and I still did not know I had a hearing problem. Then I went back to school to get my certification in special education and elementary education. I recieved it in 2006. I was so proud and yet so sad that I was older and I saw many people friends who had been teachng for years with a certification who were youngr then me. It did not matter to me I became a special education teacher and my dream came true. My desire to become a teacher came from my firt grade teacher, my aunt and my high chool history teacher. I remember my first year teaching and back to school night and one mother said you are the youngerst teacher my daughter ever had. I told her not to worry because I will work hard and I will be hard on them because I know what it is like to struggle in school and no matter what i will not accept heaing in this room that I am stupid or dumb because no one is...we all learn differently. Alot of the parents were there. At Christmas that year I got the most beautiful letter that made me cry on how hard I was on her daughter and she told her every day but her daughter told her mom the only reason she is is because she believes in me and loves me and refuses to let me give up.
I want to know why you never hear about teachers who have a learning disability or dyslexia themselves and how successful. My dream was shattered by that one teacher in college. I loved music but I knew in my heart I would never use it...maybe a little in my classes for fun but then I remembered I could not be a teacher I had not certification. I was so wrong. My dream came true. I am a teacher.
Now I am completely deaf in my right ear and severe to profound in my left ear. So I am now taking a step back in order to take steps forward. I am an assistant teacher for students who are deaf. The teacher in the room does not make me feel like an assistant but trust me with many different tasks that normally the teacher would do. I am going to go to graduate school this summer for my MS in education for students who are deaf nd hard of hearing. I could not teach a special education class myself with hearing students because it would be too hard for me. So sometimes taking a step back helps you to move forward.
I want to know why you never hear about success storis about teachers who had learning disabilities and became teachers through the struggle. I think some times I am the best teacher for a certain student because I know what it is like to struggle. Are their any teachers out there who have learning disabilities? I would like to know. I have ADHD and I was told teaching was not a job for me because of too much focusing. Well that is wrong because I do focus. I take my medicine and if I forget I make ure I am aware to pay attention. Anyone out their finally get there dream of becoming a teacher and thought it would never happen???
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Teacher with Dyslexia