2. Tommy. I'm thinking of renaming this blog "all about Tommy", ha. I've started him on the new "point for anything good" system- yesterday he got 50! He had a fantastic day! He was polite, cooperative, loving- a joy. *Sigh* You see the "but" don't you? But, today he wasn't. As I think I've mentioned before I'm working in the grade 1 and 2 class along with their regular teacher (we'll call her Mrs. F)... Mrs. F is very... "old skool" we'll say. She gives out (and takes away) merits, expects complete and total obedience, teaches by the book, loves sit down quiet work, and steers clear of messes and noisy exploration. All that is fine and dandy for some kids, and an absolute H-E-double hockey sticks for others. Tommy is an other. He literally gets bored to tears copying out poems about flowers for Science. Anyways, today I was in the class for the morning and the parent helper was arguing with Tommy to get him to behave (doesn't work, ever) and he got very agitated and was tipping his desk. I quietly warned him that I was going to have to take his desk if he continued. He put it back down and watched me walk away, saw Mrs.Volunteer watching him and tipped it again. She got angry and told him to "leave it down! that's dangerous!" and he shut down. He climbed under his desk and put his fingers in his ears. Now remember, this is a 6 (almost 7) year old boy who is extremely smart, not what you'd consider to be normal behaviour, except that this boy is socially and emotionally stunted, we know that. I ended up moving his desk away to the edge of the class, he followed and climbed back under, I left him there. After I got my grade 2's working I went back over to him and said to Tommy, "I can see you're upset, can you tell me what happened?" He looked me straight in the face and said, "I don't know." It was heartbreaking, this little boy was so worked up he was in a corner (literally) and he had no idea why. We talked for a bit, mostly just me telling him that I cared about him and giving him a few minutes of my time and we moved his desk back and he went and sat down. During our discussion I asked him if he knew anyone who cared about him and I was hinting at his Dad and without hesitation he pointed one small grubby finger at me and said "YOU." So, at least I know I've got that much into him, he knows I care. However, I'm feeling frustrated right now as everytime I build Tommy's selfesteem back up the tiniest bit he gets in trouble from someone else and down it goes. I was gone for the day, from break to the end of the day, with the Kindies on a field trip and I knew how the day would go... and when I got back and Tommy was crying and being ignored I, sadly, knew I was right. I asked Mrs. F's permission to speak to him and we didn't talk about his day at all, we simply talked about his Dad and how Dad will always love him (there is a distant and emotionally damaging mother on the scene occasionally) and he calmed down. All he's loooking for is love. LOVE. As much as I feel like I'm making some progress with him, I'm worried about next year as he is taking up so much of my time right now... and next year I'll have a whole class to worry about.
So, my question is this:
- How do you feel about treating students differently? I give Tommy much more of my time than the other students, but I do try to interact with each one during the day. Tommy needs that attention (talking with him, listening to him etc) in order for him to function... but I have a whole class... what do I do!?
...3. I have a supply dilema. At my school we were asked to create a budget wishlist for approval. Well, I'm starting up a whole new class so I have quite the extensive list of decorative supplies, furniture, and curriculum waiting to be ordered. Our principal told us today that we won't be getting those budget shopping lists back until July and we are not to order any supplies until then. Also, apparently the suppliers shut down for the summer already so I won't be able to order again until September. I'm worried a bit about the curriculum but I'm more worried about my decorations... who wants to start school in an ugly classroom!?
So, my question is this:
- What have you created to decorate your classroom that was simple, easy and cheap!? I'm fairly creatively inclined so I was even thinking of just using an overheard and and painting my own big pictures until I get my new stuff... what are your ideas?
4. I'm pooped. A field trip today to the park and water park for the Kindies graduation was a lot of fun (I went to be extra hands) but tiring. And, tomorrow is a trip to the railway museum with the Kindies, ones and twos! I suppose I should get myself to bed early tonight... after I make the slideshow for the year end on Friday for a retiring teacher!
