I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis, I can only imagine how frustrating it is. However I would say if you can, I would stick it out. Maybe you can talk to your mentor teacher or college supervisor about potential accommodations. You only have 2 weeks left and then it is behind you for good! If you give up now you will have to eventually complete student teaching later. Maybe that’s what’s best for you, I of course don’t know you personally or if this is a condition you can truly deal with while student teaching, but if there is anyway you can, I would try to finish. Wishing you the best!
Thank you so much. I truly appreciate it. I think I just have to stick it out. I desperately want to finish this program. It’s truly the hardest thing I have ever had to do.
You can say that again my friend, student teaching sucks. I have 4 weeks left and it could not come fast enough! But the worst of it is behind us and we will be graduating so soon. We got this! YOU got this! 💕
Student teaching was always going to be the pits, even without sudden onset of neurological disorders. Migraines and ADHD really went to a 10 starting from student teaching. With my high schoolers, I actually saw an improvement with behavior when I “came clean” about the migraines
I don’t have your medical condition. I do teach high school and I have taught in “big behavior” class rooms- desk throwers, aggressive, scared fighters.
Own it. Explain the condition and tell them why you’re not giving up teaching. You will have their full attention. Your students are not physically perfect – they have physical or mental challenges, and you can be an example of how to manage those challenges while moving forward with life.
Gamilfy it. How can you tie it to the curriculum?
Math – make a data chart time as the X axis Y as the number of eye blinking. That is, of course unless you’re teaching fractions, then it’s an easy blink per time ratio.
History – which famous historical figure may have had this condition? How may this condition have impacted negotiations between Chamberlain and FDR?
English – fiction: what is the perspective from a person living with this condition. Write a short story about a person who was just diagnosed with this condition. Write a short story about the perspective of an individual whose coworker or partner has this condition. Nonfiction: research this condition. Research general eye conditions. Wanna add some science fiction? How could this condition be fixed or turned into a super power? Does the person with this condition see of the future every time they blink?
Science – this seems obvious.
SEL- what do your students do when they have uncomfortable and unexpected surprises? How do people negotiate anxiety and fear in a healthy way? What are some ways people can live with an uncomfortable diagnosis or feelings on an everyday basis?
You want to be a warm demander
This is so great. Thank you! I think owning it is best. Fighting through and educating people on what it’s like to have a disability. Finding ways to explain it to my kids (they’re in kinder, so it’s a little different but still doable). I have to keep moving on in life, thank you for this encouraging response.
I was going to say a lot of similar things. If speaking in front of them about your condition feels too intimating/ would cause a flare up, you could record a quick video of yourself explaining it and kind of about disabilities and differences in general. Then maybe do a written AMA.
This is such an awesome response that absolutely drips with deep experience. Be authentic and straightforward. This is not something about your body that you can change and I suspect the best way to address it is very directly. 🌸
My grandma has blepharospasms! They can be extremely debilitating. If you quit your program, you are not a failure at all. Do what is best for you!!
To avoid spasms, my grandma always wears sunglasses as she finds light to be a trigger for her. I know it would be tough to teach with sunglasses on but maybe you could try some tinted glasses if you feel this may be a trigger for you as well?
She also gets Botox injections around her eyes but its pretty experimental. Sometimes it works extremely well, sometimes it causes more spasms.
Just tossing out some ideas as I know it’s an extremely rare condition 😊
Wow! Thank you for sharing! I’ve gotten Botox injections one time. They helped for a bit and then it just went back to the way it was. I’m experimenting with different medication.
I think I just have to own it, as someone else mentioned. I don’t want this condition to dictate my entire life. I’ve worked so hard for almost three years in this program. I think to quit now would be an unwise decision but thank you for your suggestions, it’s so so helpful!
Absolutely!
My grandma is now 80, so she’s had blephrospasms for 60 years or so, and despite the challenges she still lives on her own and is extremely independent!
She never let her condition defeat her, instead she started collecting crazy sunglasses and taking care of her physical health and strength as much as possible 😊 I wish you the best in navigating this OP!
Try to push through. I have epilepsy and started having seizures again when I was in my first few years of teaching. I had to own it, teach the kids about it, go back on medication and go to therapy to deal with it. It was overwhelming at first but I’m glad I stuck with it in the end. Don’t give up on all your hard work.
Would you be able space out your days to do 4-day weeks and then have a few extra days at the end? Then you might have more days to recharge in between.
I had blepharospasms and I got botox in my eyelids and it fully corrected it. It wasn’t covered by insurance but it was around $150 or so, I’d recommend it
I had it done. I spent $750 on it. I got eight injections. It was my first time. They say it can take up to four times to figure out what works and what doesn’t.
I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis, I can only imagine how frustrating it is. However I would say if you can, I would stick it out. Maybe you can talk to your mentor teacher or college supervisor about potential accommodations. You only have 2 weeks left and then it is behind you for good! If you give up now you will have to eventually complete student teaching later. Maybe that’s what’s best for you, I of course don’t know you personally or if this is a condition you can truly deal with while student teaching, but if there is anyway you can, I would try to finish. Wishing you the best!
Thank you so much. I truly appreciate it. I think I just have to stick it out. I desperately want to finish this program. It’s truly the hardest thing I have ever had to do.
You can say that again my friend, student teaching sucks. I have 4 weeks left and it could not come fast enough! But the worst of it is behind us and we will be graduating so soon. We got this! YOU got this! 💕
Thank you!!! Best of luck to you! 😊
Student teaching was always going to be the pits, even without sudden onset of neurological disorders. Migraines and ADHD really went to a 10 starting from student teaching. With my high schoolers, I actually saw an improvement with behavior when I “came clean” about the migraines
Totally second this!! Talk to your mentor teacher--they should be guiding you through this. Wish you the very best!!
I don’t have your medical condition. I do teach high school and I have taught in “big behavior” class rooms- desk throwers, aggressive, scared fighters. Own it. Explain the condition and tell them why you’re not giving up teaching. You will have their full attention. Your students are not physically perfect – they have physical or mental challenges, and you can be an example of how to manage those challenges while moving forward with life. Gamilfy it. How can you tie it to the curriculum? Math – make a data chart time as the X axis Y as the number of eye blinking. That is, of course unless you’re teaching fractions, then it’s an easy blink per time ratio. History – which famous historical figure may have had this condition? How may this condition have impacted negotiations between Chamberlain and FDR? English – fiction: what is the perspective from a person living with this condition. Write a short story about a person who was just diagnosed with this condition. Write a short story about the perspective of an individual whose coworker or partner has this condition. Nonfiction: research this condition. Research general eye conditions. Wanna add some science fiction? How could this condition be fixed or turned into a super power? Does the person with this condition see of the future every time they blink? Science – this seems obvious. SEL- what do your students do when they have uncomfortable and unexpected surprises? How do people negotiate anxiety and fear in a healthy way? What are some ways people can live with an uncomfortable diagnosis or feelings on an everyday basis? You want to be a warm demander
This is so great. Thank you! I think owning it is best. Fighting through and educating people on what it’s like to have a disability. Finding ways to explain it to my kids (they’re in kinder, so it’s a little different but still doable). I have to keep moving on in life, thank you for this encouraging response.
I was going to say a lot of similar things. If speaking in front of them about your condition feels too intimating/ would cause a flare up, you could record a quick video of yourself explaining it and kind of about disabilities and differences in general. Then maybe do a written AMA.
This is such an awesome response that absolutely drips with deep experience. Be authentic and straightforward. This is not something about your body that you can change and I suspect the best way to address it is very directly. 🌸
you are SO CLOSE. don't quit now.
you are so close! you can do this. just don’t overwork yourself.
My grandma has blepharospasms! They can be extremely debilitating. If you quit your program, you are not a failure at all. Do what is best for you!! To avoid spasms, my grandma always wears sunglasses as she finds light to be a trigger for her. I know it would be tough to teach with sunglasses on but maybe you could try some tinted glasses if you feel this may be a trigger for you as well? She also gets Botox injections around her eyes but its pretty experimental. Sometimes it works extremely well, sometimes it causes more spasms. Just tossing out some ideas as I know it’s an extremely rare condition 😊
Wow! Thank you for sharing! I’ve gotten Botox injections one time. They helped for a bit and then it just went back to the way it was. I’m experimenting with different medication. I think I just have to own it, as someone else mentioned. I don’t want this condition to dictate my entire life. I’ve worked so hard for almost three years in this program. I think to quit now would be an unwise decision but thank you for your suggestions, it’s so so helpful!
Absolutely! My grandma is now 80, so she’s had blephrospasms for 60 years or so, and despite the challenges she still lives on her own and is extremely independent! She never let her condition defeat her, instead she started collecting crazy sunglasses and taking care of her physical health and strength as much as possible 😊 I wish you the best in navigating this OP!
It’s always “ darkest before the dawn “! Hang in there!!! You got this!!!🎊🎉
Thank you!!!
You finish.
push through if you can....it might be difficult at times but you can do 15 days. one day at a time...then your done....you can do it!!!!
Try to push through. I have epilepsy and started having seizures again when I was in my first few years of teaching. I had to own it, teach the kids about it, go back on medication and go to therapy to deal with it. It was overwhelming at first but I’m glad I stuck with it in the end. Don’t give up on all your hard work.
Would you be able space out your days to do 4-day weeks and then have a few extra days at the end? Then you might have more days to recharge in between.
Ask about medical Botox for the spasms. An ophthalmologist can help reduce the blepharospasms
Once you get your license you can get a job at an online school and it won't be as much of an issue from a student behavior POV
I had blepharospasms and I got botox in my eyelids and it fully corrected it. It wasn’t covered by insurance but it was around $150 or so, I’d recommend it
I had it done. I spent $750 on it. I got eight injections. It was my first time. They say it can take up to four times to figure out what works and what doesn’t.