Passion for Teaching

It had never been an issue where I was at, I taught someone something new. It usually was adults. Most adults did not want to learn anyway, I still tried. It is in my nature, my whole being is about teaching. I just love teaching. 

I chased after the almighty dollar. I was young and stupid. I did not listen to what life was telling me. I knew I should be a teacher, I just ignored it. If you know your path in life, follow it. It took me so long to finally follow mine.

I am inspired by our youth. Our future is in our teacher’s grasps.  There is so much going on in this world that is traumatic to our children. This trauma, whether it be socioeconomics or familial pain, has caused our children to be negatively reactive to their environment. Teachers receive these reactive children broke down unable to cope with their world they do not understand.

I am appalled by the stories I hear about teacher misconduct. Those that work in education know that there is very little monetary compensation. It is the love and compassion we strive for. What has gone wrong with teachers to make them turn evil? How did these people pass into our schools like a wolf in sheep’s clothing without notice? 

I have been tested to the edge and over the cliff. I have risen again without harm to a child. By the grace of God, I have the patience and stability to love, nurture, and teach children. I am blessed to be a teacher.

I am not, however, your typical teacher. I have manic red hair. I have tattoos. I have multiple ear piercings. I am not to be judged by what I look like. I see children the same way I see myself. We all are a unique piece of art. It is not by the skin to which you wear, it is by the heart and mind that gives you your canvas.

ADHD and a Student

It has been a hard road. One of my students who I will name Shamus Potter, has really tested me to the brink of quitting.

First off, he has been diagnosed with ADHD which is attention deficit disorder. His behavior shows some of the hallmark symptoms. He is a virtual human ball bouncing off the classroom walls.

Secondly, his behavior has gone way beyond his diagnosis of ADHD. He is disrespectful and a bully. He is aware of what he is doing.

Before anyone goes rattling off any negativity, read the following first:

First, I am not being highly specific due to confidentiality. Someone may be reading this and may recognize the specific child. I have to watch my words a bit.  The descriptions are accurate and did happen.

Second, I have limited experience working with special needs children. I have a lot of frustration due to my inexperience.

As I was saying . . . .

This child refuses to listen. He will not walk in line with his classmates. He runs up and down the hall as we leave from and come to our class room. 9 out of 10 he will NOT sit in circle time. He will find something else to do just to aggravate his classmates and his teachers.

My classroom is the 4^th one he has been in since he started preschool. His behavior is THAT bad. It has gone from being an issue to a severe problem. All children have some type of issue(s) which is correctable. Problems surface when there is NO consistency, parenting, or otherwise correctable action taking place.

He has threatened to shoot his classmates and the police. He has threatened to stab a teacher in the stomach. He will hit, kick, and punch his classmates if he does not get his way. He has hit me on several occasions, pulled on my clothes, and bit me on one occasion.

He has ran outside to the playground on several occasions. We and others have had to go get him. The other students suffer when we have to get him inside.

He is smart. He tends to ramble from one thought to another, patterns are always different. He will talk about doing harm to his mom, one of us, or one of the students.

This is just a small part in what has happened in the four months I have worked in this classroom. I am very concerned about him going to Kindergarten. Will he hurt someone? How long will he stay before he gets kicked out of school?

The biggest kicker is his mom. Shamus Potter’s pediatrician diagnosed him and prescribed medication for him. His mom gave us (the school) his medication. He only got it when he was at school (Monday – Friday). Holidays and weekends he never got his medication. His mother needs to get her head out of the sand to the critical situation.

Now, I do have a few pieces of advice. First is consistency in his schedules, routines, and discipline. Second is disciplining him to the fullest and consistently never surrendering control. Third is to make sure he takes his medication. The pediatrician prescribed the medication for this child to help him, not to label. Lastly, his mother needs to stop worrying so much about “labeling’ and be proactive. His mother needs to schedule a meeting with the principle, guidance counselor, teachers, and the special needs coordinator at her child’s new school to discuss her child’s behavior. This is an act of being proactive. The school can assist her and her child to be successful in school. Without this, the school is gonna get bombed with this hellion child.

 

After all the crazy negative, I still care about Shamus Potter!