Lunch ends we walk downstairs to collect the class the usual loud and rowdy attitudes afterwards as they get in the line. We before we start to return to the classroom one of the students steps out of the line, one of my favorite kids to talk to, I tell him to settle down and get back in line as the line goes up the steps and near the balcony he threatens to throw a student, one of my other favorites, over the railing. The mentor teacher stops the line and tells him he will not be throwing anyone over the railing. The line continues until finally he steps out of line turns around and gets face to face with the other student the two students noses are touching
The mentor teacher steps in to pull him away they start to shove each other and eventually he raises his hand and connects with the other child's face. I step in to separate the other child as the mentor teacher walks him down the stairs to the office. The other student slips past me and starts jawing off to the first much larger other kid as he is following behind eventually I stick my arm up in front of him and yell his name. He halts dead in his tracks against my arm and the wall. I knew he wouldn't try anything with me, he likes me, and I like him...he is really good hearted, the other child is too...
"Just breath kid" I tell him exactly as I do to the preschoolers at the center. His huffing and I remember what it felt like to get worked up like that as a child to feel the rage. I remember getting in fights under the bleachers during the basketball games. I stand there with him silently. I can't believe my eyes two eight year olds acting like they are 18. No more than an hour ago had I witnessed both of them laughing about some immature kid joke now they are threatening to shoot each other or throw one over a second story railing.
My first fight I had to break up and they are only little third graders, well one of them was on his second year of third grade...But still. I stood there for a while as he looked towards the floor and took deep breaths. He had completely shut down. I asked if he wanted to talk, I asked what the other student did to make him so upset but none of it worked, He was frozen, so I stood there with him, it's all I could do. Finally my mentor teacher came up the stairs told me to head back to the classroom. I didn't want to. I wanted to stay and see if he would talk to me or if I could help him calm down. I listened and turned back.
I want my own classroom. I want to create a learning environment where anger and aggression is opening addressed and expressed in healthy and productive ways. I want to let these kinds of children know they are valued and welcomed. I want them to know there are other ways. My heart feels heavy when I think about these kids. I want to build a relationship of trust and consistency I want to offer strict rules with room for student expression.
This kind of thing makes me so sad, I feel helpless and small.
Times like this I have to remind myself all I can do is be present, reliable, and receptive
I must always remember my locus of control.
Do everything I can within it and the rest, there is always hope.
Oh Wonder - Without You
The mentor teacher steps in to pull him away they start to shove each other and eventually he raises his hand and connects with the other child's face. I step in to separate the other child as the mentor teacher walks him down the stairs to the office. The other student slips past me and starts jawing off to the first much larger other kid as he is following behind eventually I stick my arm up in front of him and yell his name. He halts dead in his tracks against my arm and the wall. I knew he wouldn't try anything with me, he likes me, and I like him...he is really good hearted, the other child is too...
"Just breath kid" I tell him exactly as I do to the preschoolers at the center. His huffing and I remember what it felt like to get worked up like that as a child to feel the rage. I remember getting in fights under the bleachers during the basketball games. I stand there with him silently. I can't believe my eyes two eight year olds acting like they are 18. No more than an hour ago had I witnessed both of them laughing about some immature kid joke now they are threatening to shoot each other or throw one over a second story railing.
My first fight I had to break up and they are only little third graders, well one of them was on his second year of third grade...But still. I stood there for a while as he looked towards the floor and took deep breaths. He had completely shut down. I asked if he wanted to talk, I asked what the other student did to make him so upset but none of it worked, He was frozen, so I stood there with him, it's all I could do. Finally my mentor teacher came up the stairs told me to head back to the classroom. I didn't want to. I wanted to stay and see if he would talk to me or if I could help him calm down. I listened and turned back.
I want my own classroom. I want to create a learning environment where anger and aggression is opening addressed and expressed in healthy and productive ways. I want to let these kinds of children know they are valued and welcomed. I want them to know there are other ways. My heart feels heavy when I think about these kids. I want to build a relationship of trust and consistency I want to offer strict rules with room for student expression.
This kind of thing makes me so sad, I feel helpless and small.
Times like this I have to remind myself all I can do is be present, reliable, and receptive
I must always remember my locus of control.
Do everything I can within it and the rest, there is always hope.
Oh Wonder - Without You