I usually go to my school on the same days and at the same time so you can imagine that the students are typically doing the same thing when I get there ech time. I am usually found helping the teacher(s) with literacy. I will take anywhere from one to five studetns out to the hallyway and practiced primer and pre-primer words and then do some reding with them. The system that the classroom teacher(s) have is none like i have ever seen before and I like it very much. The week before vacation I was placed in the hallway to help out a boy who I was not formally introduced to. So there I sat just a foot between our knees, I couldn't help to think what his story was. He was much taller than the average second grader but he was reading on a first grade level. Trying to be sensitive to his needs, I minded my business and just did what was asked of me. By the end od the hour when we were done with his work, all through my head I kept thinking that there is no way that this boy is in the second grade he is just way to big, How do I ask without seeming nosy? I finally asked the boy if he was new to the school and he shook his head yes. So I asked him which state he came from. The boy looked at me puzzled and said, "I am from Puerto Rico." "OOHHHH" I said. Now I understood, he must be older and with spanish being his primary language he is delayed in the reading. We cleaned up and he was just about to go back to his classroom when I realized that I didn't know his name. I turned around quickly and luodly said, "Hey!", and the boy turned around and gave me a signal with his head and I asked, "what is your name?" and he answered, "Sam". I smiled at him and said, "It was nice to meet you Sam, my name is Amy". Sam looked at me with that puzzled look once again and waved goodbye. I thought about Sam a few times over the break and wondered if I would be able to work with him again. I knew by the look in Sam's eyes that there was a bit of untrust and definitely a bit of shyness and the sense of feeling embarassed as well. I have to find some ways to get Sam to feel comfortable with me because it will make it easier for us to work together.

So there i was walking up the same set of steps I walked up over twenty years ago. Couldn't tell if the pit in my stomach was out of nervousness or just plain excitement. I was placed at Windmill St. School which I attended K-6th grade. I carefully waked the hallways inspecting every inch to make sure that everything was still the same as I remember it, then I reached the girl's bathroom. Something was different. I seriously think they changed the doorway!! Although it could just be my memory going. Anyways, I continued down to room 106 and when I reached it I realized that this was my fourth grade classroom that I was about to enter. In all honesty, my fourth grade teacher was a favorite of mine and a lot of good memories come from here. I chuckled at the sight of little girls and boys trying to put their jackets in the closets outside of each classroom. Finally, I stepped into the room and was greeted by the teacher who was just as sweet and kind as my old teacher. The desks were actually tables that were in the shape of a hexagon but didn't sit more than four children together sort od reminded me of the structure of the classroom when I was there. When I was a kid we had individual desks and chairs which we would group together usually by fours. The teacher's desk was in the same spot near the windows and the chalk board still remained the same. The only difference was that there was a rug on the floor, a computer area and also a quiet area filled with beanbags and books. This goes to show that years ago we didn't seem to need all this extra areas like we do now. If a child was in need quiet time or a break, they went to the office. Reading groups were done right there in the classroom but at our desks, and never mind a computer! What was that? Today children with disibilities are able to be successful within their classroom because of the accomodations available to them at hand. Needless to say, the school hasn't changed it's concrete foundation a bit, but the way in which the curriculum is taught and learned has defintley changed.