Daily Entries:

2/14/2019: 12:45-1:45

Today was the first day I was in the classroom at Pittsburg High School. I was nervous to

go the classroom because I did not know how what to expect. I had only been given my

cooperating teachers name. When researching her on the staff list on the Pittsburg State High

website, she was not pictured under staff. This gave me some insight that she might teach Special

Education. Even if she was a Special Education teacher why is she not pictured under staff? I had

no details regarding if the Ms. Kloster’s classroom was a resource room or if it was self-

contained room. When I arrived, the secretary asked one of the students to show me to Ms.

Kloster’s classroom. I was discouraged to find out that this student did not know where Ms.

Kloster’s room was located.

When we eventually found the classroom, I did what we were taught in class, stand by

the door because my cooperating teacher was working with a student. In the first thirty second of

being in the classroom, Student B approached me with her paraeducator and gave me a hug. I did

not know what I should do in that moment. Can I hug her back? Should I tell her that is

inappropriate? Was there a better way of handling that situation? After spending the first day in

the classroom, I witnessed different strategies from the paraeducators to make myself feel more

comfortable. What I should have done was ask her for a high five. In Ms. Kloser’s room, they are

big about high fiving. I should remind her that I am a stranger and she should not hug strangers.

This could help reinforce that it is inappropriate to touch strangers. I should have also verbally

let her know that I was uncomfortable, by telling her that I did not appreciate her touching me.

Lucky, her paraeducator told her to stop hugging me and they moved on to her next task.

I later further reflected on this situation. This situation became more concerning the

more I reflected. Many students with visible disabilities are have a higher risk to experience
sexual abuse. It is concerning that Student B was willing to hug anyone that walked into her

classroom. I began to think about if she hugs strangers is in public or just at school. As an

educator I would call her parents and discuss the dangers of her unwanted touching. They could

talk to Student B at home. If that does not work, maybe each time someone comes in the room

make her practice the right way to greet someone. Another activity that could be helpful is to

have her categories the people she can hug, high five, and only wave too. I believe that if these

three strategies are implemented and enforcing constantly her inappropriate touching could

become nonexistent. I believe that next week I will see the same behavior from Student B.

However next week, I will be prepared to let her know her actions are inappropriate.