A new week
Posted By jspear
Date: September 8th, 2008
Category: Uncategorized
My evaluations are coming up and more bureaucratic type events. I am nervous about doing them but I am holding to the party line that they are to help me be better at my new profession. I don’t think I am doing anything to be drummed out about but my lessons are not what they should be either but for week three kindergarten they are getting better and the class is getting into the routine.
Three kiddos out today and my class down to 17 so only 14 to manage and then one went home early. You’d think it was an easy day… at times it was. I still had my two special kinderkids remaining so they made sure to fill the day. One just has a hard handle on being chastised and I am not around at lunch or lunch recess (well for portions of both and I have been popping my head in more) and when sat out of recess he just melts down in classic 5 year old fashion – well prolly what most would imagine is three year old fashion. I have talked to the aides about not “pulling his pin” (which is removing his clothespin thus denying him recess) but not all of them and I have told them he is the only exception. I feel for them but they only have to deal with him for like 15 minutes I can be facing a whole afternoon if they go hard core on him, and they tend to. If we can just get him over this one period I think he will be better. He is smart and ‘hyper’ but I am getting a handle on working those two aspects. It’s just he has this negative self image that goes into warp drive once he is chastised. I’ve learned how to maneuver but others haven’t, and while the world doesn’t need to cater to him I feel he will grow out of a majority of this just by getting older.
My other special is doing better in little steps. She threw a tantrum because she didn’t get the right food at lunch and then didn’t want to leave recess either. So melt down when witnessing kinder A’s meltdown. He, I got calmed down. She just spiraled ever more defiant. She eventually ran from the room when she found her other antics of kicking, hitting, tossing furniture, wandering the room etc were not playing out as she had hoped. Fortunately another grade level teacher was in the hall coming back from impromptu recess and I just moved my kiddos into her room while I gave a measured pursuit – not in the kid handbook but in the dog handbook, don’t run after them – they will think it is a game.
She ended up to the office. While I apologized to my AP for the imposition she offered nothing but understanding and support. I had the inner chuckle today in our staff meeting when they talked about during observations that we provide a seating chart so they can discuss students by name afterward. I am pretty sure- no I am definitely sure they know two of mine.
More books to fold and staple – my 8 year old prodigy daughter is helping – bless her. I love my kids. I certainly have a spot in my heart for my kinders too.