Jan
27
Calvin is a small freckled menace. He goofs around during independent work time, wandering over to pester other kids who are bent over their papers. He can be flippant, stubborn, and obnoxious. He snapped his fingers at me once, saying “Maid! Come over here!” I thought he was disrespectful, a troublemaker, and just plain annoying. Then I noticed how his eyes linger when he’s acting out. He wants attention so, so badly. If you actually give it to him in a positive way — compliment him about his new shoes, or praise his handwriting on the one word he’s written down — he blushes, pleased. He calls me over all the time and tells me he doesn’t understand his assignment. But when I explain it, he’s not really listening. He’s got a half-smile: he likes it when I talk to him. Sometimes I turn away and he scribbles his way through, accurately, then calls me back to explain the next worksheet which is exactly like the first. “I don’t get it,” he says, happily. I roll my eyes for his benefit — I’m onto you, buddy — and pull up a chair.
I thought Tyler was a bully, because he’s built like a linebacker and the first week I was in class I saw him push another kid. He’s actually sweet, funny, and the first to participate in any class discussion. Bree seems timid and innocent until you get her talking about her favorite show, The Walking Dead. Lainey’s stonefaced expression says she ran out of fucks last week, but she’s full of dry humor. Jacob was initially so disruptive — talking back, cursing, picking fights, constantly banished to the principal’s office — I secretly (and judgmentally) questioned the wisdom of mainstreaming kids like him, but over the months he’s amazingly progressed from full-time teacher energy suck to a mostly well-behaved, happy kid.
Every week, I’m reminded of how we are all stories being written. Always changing, and never fully understood by anyone, even ourselves.
Comments
-
My product review site:
[
I love volunteering at my son’s school, just to see who these little members of society are, and how they view my son (who can sometimes be the energy sucker). I also enjoy it so I remember that being a teacher is NEVER EVER going to be a dream of mine. Holy hardest job in the universe…
This post made me laugh out loud at one point, and then nearly cry with the very next sentence. Love reading your insightful stories, but I’m sure the baristas think I’m crazy now.
So beautiful.
Oh, those last two lines are so lovely and so true. Thanks.
Ah yes…the joy, pain, and frustration of being a teacher. I always liked the “unlovable” ones best.
You’re an amazing writer and observer, Linda – thanks for sharing…
I love reading you.
Such lovely vignettes – and a very thoughtful reminder that there is often so much more to a person than meets the eye.
Beautiful. There is a powerful quote that I am paraphrasing….”the children that need the most love, often show it in the most unloveable ways”.
So good.
Beautiful perspective. Again. Always.
The quote over my daughter’s school front desk: “Children don’t care what you know until they know you care.” The work you’re doing in the classroom is so important. And I am proud of you.
So good. Immediately thought of this…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-murray/dear-parent-about-that-kid_b_6154898.html
Just had to tell you that I loved this.
Long time lurker here. Also, a middle school teacher. For anyone who has never been in a classroom and experienced these observations first handed, I highly recommend it. It makes you see children in a different light and appreciate the (many!) dynamics dealt with everyday in a classroom! Loved this!
You’re so awesome for classroom volunteering!
Dassler’s motivation is to try to are aware that athletes wi to have double sofare of fooear to support attain superior benefits, so particular emphasis on outstanding.Burse, too, will have a quality chance because of his ability as a returner.WoolWe all have that favorite wool sweater we wear to the ski hill or just relaxing at home, why not also use wool in your comforter.Research conducted by the ernnt of Quebec in the o years since winter tire use beca mandatory in that province ows a five p
I loved this. perfectly put. I sometimes panic when I work in the intermediate or middle school and I can see kids that could be “saved” with a bit of good attention but there’s no one to do it consistently. So many kids can go either way and we need more volunteers to see that and give them a spark.
But, the surfaces we walk on today are much more rigid and less forgiving than the grass,NFL Jerseys Supply, dirt and even stone roads our ancestors walked on. The price of your blog will be determined by the аmount of ca ou have got generated from it over ti plus the amount of traffic it receivеs. A wonderful spe is really an independent ple (or use the garage),NFL Jerseys China, but just about any ple is going to do,NFL Jerseys Wholesale, whether or not this hold many of the small