Hi! I have worked with children with special needs for many years, usually as an aide in various programs. Last year I finished school and got my special ed teaching degree. However, I was unable to find a teaching job, and ended up working as an aide again. Part of the reason why I've had trouble getting hired in a school is because my teaching philosophy is a little different. I feel like kids learn best when they are having fun and when they feel at home. I focus on creating fun lesson plans that get everyone thinking, moving, and being interested, and I tend to make daily plans with the particular kids I work with in mind. I also like to focus more on learning to appreciate and enjoy reading (and learning to actually read in the process) instead of just drilling kids on phonics constantly. Plus, I am not as strict with kids. For instance, one of the kids I work with as an aide is a second grader who reminds me a lot of the kids mentioned in this forum. He has severe ADHD, and is a real firecracker. He's always happy, and he loves everyone, but he has difficulty controlling his impulses. He gets yelled at constantly, often for things that I wouldn't personally feel the need to scold him for. Things like, walking into the classroom while balancing his folder in his head, hugging his friends (I've taught him to ask for hugs, but this is still not acceptable to most of the teachers), blurting out questions during story time, etc. The poor kid is just the opposite of what the school wants him to be, just by being himself! I've been dreaming of opening an independent school for kids who learn differently and just aren't happy in traditional school settings. It would be a small school that would sort of mimic homeschooling or "unschooling." It would still have some basic rules and structure, but kids wouldn't be confined to desks or have to stand in single file lines. In fact, I would want the physical environment to resemble a home, where kids could sit on the couch or sprawl out on a bean bag during a read aloud, help themselves to drinks and healthy snacks when they were hungry or thirsty, and spend a lot of time outdoors each day. I imagine starting with a group of about 5 kids in kindergarten through second grade, and the group could grow a little as time went on. I would love to someday make this a reality... I'd rather wait until I have more funds and more teaching experience, but if I don't get a teaching job by next school year, I might just start working on it sooner! I'm always hearing about taking steps towards your dream by writing about it, seeking info, etc, so I thought I'd ask you for input. 1. Hypothetically speaking (since the school doesn't exist yet) if this school was in your area, would you be interested in having your child go there? 2. In a perfect world I'd have a grant to cover the cost of the building and supplies, salary for a second teacher or an assistant, my own living expenses, etc. But if the school did charge a monthly fee per student , how much would you expect or be willing to pay per month? 3. If you were considering this school for your child, what questions and concerns would you have for the person in charge? I'd love to hear your answers, and any other thoughts you might have! Thanks so much! PS... I have ADHD too... I was one of those kids who never quite fit into school.

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