I find myself at the beginning of what looks to be one of the most challanging school years of my career.

I have 3 identified special needs students. One of these students cannot speak due to the results of a massive seizure. Another is very limited in both expressive and receptive language for reasons yet to be identified. The third identified special needs student has seizures that may require the administration of a powerful drug by yours truly. They two seizures occurring at school so far were mild, thank God!

In addition to the aforementioned, I have 2 other students struggling with Oppositional Defiance Disorder-or perhaps I should say that I am struggling with the ODD. :)

Then there are they 3 very immature students who function at the social level of a three year old not to mention their equally low level of achievement.

That's eight-count them-eight major issues in a classroom of 17. Oh...let's not forget the special needs child that comes to me from another classroom. Bringing my total to 9 major issues in a classroom of 18.

Sounds tough? It is!

But I look forward to seeing their faces every day. Even though the nose picker makes his nose bleed every couple of days and the pouter can hold a grudge all day...every day and the un-medicated kid with ODD has been aggressive and rude to all, I genuinely like every single kid in my room.

Honest teachers know that there are always one or two kids that may rub you the wrong way or a kid or two that can quickly grate on your nerves on the best of days.

It is a rare and blessed year that you like them all-even the nose picker.

Just sayin'.......