Week 7

           This was a great week for me at Starke! I have finally figured out how to work with and manage our behaviorally difficult student. I have written about this student in previous posts, but he has many behavioral problems due to his rough past. He only wants to do what he wants to do and when he is asked to do something else or is corrected (behaviorally and academically) he overreacts by verbally and physically acting out. He also will get physical with other children if they do something that provokes him or something that he just does not like.

The teachers have struggled with managing his behavior and for many weeks I did not know how to even approach the situation. As I have gotten more comfortable in the classroom I have begun to step in more to help discipline students. I have noticed that this student tends to act out when there are big transitions in the day. These usually are when we get back to the classroom from breakfast, outside play, lunch, and during rest time. He has a hard time refocusing to do work or sit still and pay attention to the teachers during these times. He often will go off into another part of the classroom and wander or explore areas that the students are not supposed to go into (the teacher’s desk and around the computers). The teachers have gotten to the point in the program where they don’t know what to do anymore and are tired of having to deal with him not listening. I have tried to step in before and failed. He would not listen to me or would become more aggressive. However, I finally have figured out how to get through to him. I have to first give him a small consequence (losing 5 minutes of recess) and then if he still is not doing what he was asked to do he needs a big consequence (losing all of recess). Usually he still does not respond well so I tell him he has 1 minute to make his choice (losing recess or doing his work). He usually takes the full minute but then he will go do his work and stop disturbing the class. When he listened to me the first time it was a mini-victory that made my day. I felt like I was one step closer to being a real teacher.

This summer has taught me so much about myself, being a leader, and about teaching. I am so excited about student teaching in the fall now. I feel like I am able to manage a classroom and am ready for the challenges that teaching will bring. I can’t wait for school to start in just a few weeks!