Day Two
Today marked day two of my experience TAing. This job is so wonderful and its exactly what i needed. I come home and I don't even feel like i've been at work and I'm constantly thinking about my kids and what I can do to improve their learning. Autism is such an interesting condition because the slightest things can upset them. For example, I put my chap stick on and then sat down to work with a student and he immediately covered his nose with his shirt and was like I CAN'T STAND THAT SMELL!!!!! And it took me a second to realize that it was my chap stick so i had to wipe it off as much as I could. I'm glad I didn't make the mistake of wearing cologne, i can't imagine what that would have done to them.
So far only one of my students can be a little intimidating because he bites and makes himself very rigid then springs backward bashing his skull into whatever he can. I have not had the restraint training yet so usually another aid or the teacher will sit near him because he is unpredictable all though he will shout a warning cry, " BITING!!!" right before he tries to sink his teeth into you. Holly (another TA) showed me her arm and it is well marked by her past battles with him. Even though being around him feels a little risky it is still important that I interact with him as much as I can. Yesterday his bus driver drove off with him still on the bus and we couldn't find him anywhere. My heart just sank as I thought, "great first five minutes and I lost one." I was very relieved when it was the bus driver and not me.
So far only one of my students can be a little intimidating because he bites and makes himself very rigid then springs backward bashing his skull into whatever he can. I have not had the restraint training yet so usually another aid or the teacher will sit near him because he is unpredictable all though he will shout a warning cry, " BITING!!!" right before he tries to sink his teeth into you. Holly (another TA) showed me her arm and it is well marked by her past battles with him. Even though being around him feels a little risky it is still important that I interact with him as much as I can. Yesterday his bus driver drove off with him still on the bus and we couldn't find him anywhere. My heart just sank as I thought, "great first five minutes and I lost one." I was very relieved when it was the bus driver and not me.