Teachable Moments
Monday, November 23, 2009
The "Worst" needs the "Most"
Throughout my career as an educator, I have found myself drawn to children who are considered "the worst", the "discards", or the "troublemakers".
True Story:
There is a female student at my current school who absolutely fits this category. Every time I see her, this young lady is yelling, cursing or engaging in combative behaviors with teachers and/or other students.
I noticed that she exited the school through the gate that I supervise at dismissal. Each day, without fail, I say hello to her, tell her how beautiful she is or just wish her a good afternoon. I also tell her that I am looking forward to seeing her the next day. She responds with a grimmace, a negative comment or a profane word.
There are several of her friends who absolutely love to see me at the end of the day! They literally line up at the gate to get a day's end hug. After about a week, I offered to give my little rebel a hug as well. At first she adamantly refused, but after much perverance on my part, she "allowed" me to give her a a brief hug.
Last week I was on vacation. I was gone for an entire week. Today was my first day back on the job. To my astonishment, this same young lady walked right up to me while I was on lunch supervision and placed her head on my shoulder. She hugged me and exclaimed, "Ms. Turner, you left me for an entire week and I missed you"!
I am constantly convicted of my deep belief that the "worst" students are the ones who need the "most"!
Share the love...it will go a very long way!
True Story:
There is a female student at my current school who absolutely fits this category. Every time I see her, this young lady is yelling, cursing or engaging in combative behaviors with teachers and/or other students.
I noticed that she exited the school through the gate that I supervise at dismissal. Each day, without fail, I say hello to her, tell her how beautiful she is or just wish her a good afternoon. I also tell her that I am looking forward to seeing her the next day. She responds with a grimmace, a negative comment or a profane word.
There are several of her friends who absolutely love to see me at the end of the day! They literally line up at the gate to get a day's end hug. After about a week, I offered to give my little rebel a hug as well. At first she adamantly refused, but after much perverance on my part, she "allowed" me to give her a a brief hug.
Last week I was on vacation. I was gone for an entire week. Today was my first day back on the job. To my astonishment, this same young lady walked right up to me while I was on lunch supervision and placed her head on my shoulder. She hugged me and exclaimed, "Ms. Turner, you left me for an entire week and I missed you"!
I am constantly convicted of my deep belief that the "worst" students are the ones who need the "most"!
Share the love...it will go a very long way!