It’s 10:51, and I am eating my lunch, so I have a few minutes (a very few minutes) to write down some thoughts about my day. I know, it’s not even 11:00 yet, but I’ve already taught 3 classes. Well, I’ve been responsible for 3 classes in the Media Center. I didn’t get nearly as much taught in the first 2 as I’d hoped.
In the first two classes, I had special students. You know, those students who eat away every ounce of your patience and energy. In the first class, a second-grader was, as usual, not doing what I asked her to with the iPads. If I taught this child one on one, I might be able to give her as much attention as she craves. But, alas, I have 17 other students and approximately 30-35 minutes to teach the lesson. I took the iPad away, then this student started wandering trying to get another iPad. She wouldn’t listen to me. She started trying to take iPads from other students who were doing what they were supposed to. I tried to call the assistant principal, but there was no answer. Our counselor is out today. I finally called the main office. Eventually someone came and got her, but by then it was time to stop the lesson and let students check out books.
During the next class, a student kept removing his shoes. I told him repeatedly to put them back on, but he wouldn’t. Then he took his shoe and threw it. Next he got up and started kicking over chairs, and even throwing one. At that point, I put the other students in a room that I could lock from the outside. I was worried about their safety. I again called for help. And again, it took a while to get someone down to help me. This students was climbing on the table with one shoe on and just a sock on the other foot, then jumping off. He roamed all over the Media Center. He took his shoe and pounded on the glass of the door where I had his classmates locked safely away from him. It’s a good thing that it’s reinforced glass; I think this 7-year-old may have broken the glass otherwise.
By the time he was finally taken out of the class, there was only about 5-10 minutes left, so we didn’t get a lesson. Instead, I let them tell me about anything they wanted to for a few minutes, and we did some quiet breathing to calm down. One little girl, a child who never misbehaves, thanked me for keeping them safe.
Then my class of twenty kindergarteners came in. There are many “special students” in this class also, but I managed to make it through. My nerves are fractured, though.
I’ve been thinking about firsts and lasts lately. I’ll be glad when I’ve taught my last class. I only hope I can make it to the end of this year.
Life As I Know It 