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Mysterious Teaching

Insights behind the perils of being a teacher

Temper, Temper

I have a new special needs student in my class.  He is a 4th grader who is in extended resource for half of the day.  The rest of the time, he is in my custody.  However, he doesn't think he should follow my instructions.  He thinks he doesn't have to do the work the others do.  He just gets to sit there and talk and disturb others.

To start with, he had his sweat shirt on and the hoodie over his head.  NOT allowed.  I told him to take the hood off.  He refused.  So, I told him to take the whole thing off and he threw a 3 year old type temper tantrum.  He stomped, cried, told me he was "mad" at me and flat out refused to do what I told him to do.  In fact, he did the opposite.  If I told him to sit, he stood.  If I told him to stand, he sat on the floor.

I lost my temper for the first time this year.  It was awful.  I finally called the Vice Principal and told her to remove him from the classroom.  She actually had to take him by the shoulders and push him out of the room.  She kept him quite a while.  He finally came back and apologized.  I told him, that that kind of behavior would not be allowed in my class EVER.  If he was going to be in the regular class, he was going to follow the same rules and procedures that everyone was expected to follow.

It turns out that the other elementaries in our district are unloading their special needs students with problems on our school.  I don't know how they are getting away with this.  But, they are.  All of my special needs students are transfers from other elementaries in the district.  I want to know who is doing this.  I am going to go to the top if I have to to find the answers.  This is so unfair.  We are not a dumping ground for all the elementaries in the area.  To start with, it will lower our scores on the AIMS tests if they are all at our school.  Arizona doesn't give a darn if you are special ed or not.  They can modify the way you take the test, but you have to take the grade level test for the grade you are in.

This could end up a very long year.

Published Tuesday, November 27, 2007 5:52 PM by MysteryTeacher

Comments

 

mz.w said:

my deepest sympathies. how do districts let things like that happen?

November 28, 2007 1:25 AM
 

anzarogue said:

We got a special needs student this year because the school district basically gave up on her. So, they sent her to our private school. With smaller class sizes, we can give her more 1 and 1, which seems to be working. Something minor things, we just let go in order to keep the peace. You have to accept a little give an take. Pick your battles. Let him keep the sweatshirt as long as it doesn't take away from the learning environment.

November 28, 2007 1:55 PM
 

lucille said:

I'm going to take the other side of the fence on this one.  I teach in a special needs school; actually, a residential facility for those with severe behavior problems.  I don't know what the student's diagnosis or learning disability is but...I do know this:  my students wear hoodies or jackets when they are feeling especially vulnerable.  It is a security blanket for them.  They feel safe and protected...they're not necessarily trying to be "cool" or defiant.

Maybe you could look at his file..sthat might tell you where to go from there.  It would tell you what he responds to, etc. (rewards, pat on the back, praise, the like).

Maybe you could talk with him and reach a compromise.  Something like, you can wear your hoodie as long as you do your assignments and follow classroom rules.

Best of luck.

December 1, 2007 10:18 AM
 

MysteryTeacher said:

Good thought Lucille.  However, he came from a school in our own district and we all have the same dress codes.  I did have a talk with him after I sent him to the Asst. Principal.  He is doing better now.  It was a control thing for him.  He wanted control over me and I wouldn't let him.  He ran away from the Principal when she was trying to talk to him.  We are working on it.  

It does not excuse the other elementary schools from dumping their special needs kids on our school.  They did not pass the AIMS test and we did.  I think they are trying to even out the scores.

December 3, 2007 8:25 AM
 

Carol said:

I am a Resource Room teacher in my school. I have had the same type thing happen to me. We have an elementary school in my district that sends many of their new "behavior problem" students to my school. I also feel it's not fair, but they end up being my student and I have to do my best to educate them.  First, ask to see his IEP and meet with the Special Ed teacher. My best advice to you is to NOT have a power struggle with him. Tell him what you expect, then walk away. If he makes a comment (which he will), just restate what you said in a calm voice. Give him a choice: you can do the assignment now or at recess, it's your choice. Then if he just sits there he has chosen to do the assignment at recess. Give him an incentive to do some work. For example; I had a student this year that did NO work last year. This year I put him on a reward system. When he completed an assignment "on time" he earned a sticker on a chart. The reward for that sticker was that I sent a postcard (in the mail) home to his mom saying that he completed an assignment! Then he was to continue to work to complete 4 more assignments. When he earned 5 stickers he got a reward that we had agreed on (lunch with me, play with our therapy dogs, help the custodian, etc.). It took a long time for him to earn the 5 stickers. Then we started over for another reward. After the second time around things got better.  Now, he rarely sits there and does nothing. He is not on a reward system now. I got him on my side by giving him praise when he accomplished his goal (completing the assignment). Find what your students "hot" spot is. A snicker bar was a "hot" spot of a former student of mine. When he came to me he refused to do any writing! It helped when he could work for a snack size candy bar.  (At first I taped it on a behavior chart for him to see).

As someone else said "pick your battles" and don't let him pull into a power struggle. No one wins! Look for anything you can praise him for.

January 15, 2008 9:34 PM
 

MysteryTeacher said:

I like the reward idea.  I use it for other students, I don't know why I didn't think about it for him.  Tired I guess.  I will set one up right away.  I hope it works.  Thanks Carol.

January 16, 2008 9:36 AM
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About MysteryTeacher

I am a wild, whacky, weird, wonderful woman and teacher. I am venturing into a previous life by teaching ELL this fall. I use to teach ESL years ago. I am excited, empowered, and employed. I love life.

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