Kathy+M.

=The Backpack of an Inclusion Teacher =

== In the backpack, more like a teacher bag, nestles a plethora of necessary, and some not so necessary, teacher tools. Trying to find something specific seems like an anthropological dig. Folders, color-coded by subject. Too bad, like her students, this teacher jumbles her work. The science worksheet from yesterday, you say? Hmmm, well science follows math, let’s check the blue (math) folder. You need a band aid? Let’s see… a-ha – found them. You need a pass to the nurse? No problem. What was last night’s math homework? Check the plan book. Uh-oh, Johnny’s worksheet, left in Learning Center yesterday, which she should have given back to him fist thing this morning. A zippered pencil bag full of “found” pens and pencil, plus the purple and green Uniball pens used for grading, editing, writing sticky notes to remind her of “things to-do,” a mini stapler, a big fat pink eraser (since pencil erasers seem to evaporate overnight), sundry paper clips, an eye glass repair kit, and two undeterminable objects. A white folder, with “Confidential” scrawled in two inch-high letters across the front. Then, there is the little pocket on the side, stuffed to bursting. Let’s see – bus passes, hall passes, hole reinforcers, a binder ring, some binder clips, a pocket pack of tissues and a chap stick. Pheewww... this traveling teacher is prepared for everything! ==