The new school year for Gemini
posted: Sep 8, 02:28 AM
The first week of a new school year is complete! What an amazing feeling. The sense of luxury knowing I have two days off, with no unrealistic expectations of myself.
I decided at 4 p.m. this afternoon the week had not gone too badly, all things considered. The first day of school was eventful, with a fight which resulted in two suspensions. Comparatively speaking the last two days were relatively quiet.
This afternoon, however, I was not feeling overly optimistic about the final hour of the school day. You probably have already sensed I am about to share the events of this hour.
All teachers in my junior high have multi-grade groups of students, called mentor groups. My mentor group is comprised of those students from last year who returned and some new grade 7s. I co-teach this mentor group with another teacher. She and I have complementary styles and by the end of last year our mentor group had really bonded. It was an eventful journey, however, achieving this bond. There were days when colleagues referred to our group as the “mental group” due to the behaviours we managed on a daily basis.
We had a one hour group activity scheduled for 2 p.m. this afternoon. Initially, we had planned a team building activity, but our administration requested a different goal. This change happened mid morning and left us somewhat under prepared. Add to this we have minimal supplies and resources for projects and activities, other than those we purchase ourselves, and creative problem solving becomes necessary.
This background information is helpful in understanding my initially stressful afternoon. We came in poorly prepared. We had two students who made me want to lock myself in the empty art supply cupboard and not come out ‘til the coast was clear! One student was new to the group and the other, a 15 year old girl, exhibits many inappropriate behaviours when working within a group setting.
The first student thinks I was put on this earth to torture him. If he only knew I agree, but think he was put here to torture me! He’s twelve and has mood and behaviour swings which even his peers can’t keep up with. He has been on the “behaviour concern” radar since he was seven and has finessed tuning out the adults. His mother believes he is cute and encourages his uncute behaviours.
This student was throwing paper airplanes out the window. I asked him to change his behaviour several times, in several ways, offering clear and concise reasons for my requests and the consequences to his choices. He ignored me. The group at his table had their heads flipping between him to me to see who had the stronger personality. This is not a good situation and it is rare for a teacher to fare well in such a scenario. I told him he had had all the warnings he would receive from me regarding his behaviour and I hoped he wouldn’t be too bored when I sent him downstairs to reflect on his behaviour.
The child wanted to know why I was picking on him. Before I could respond the female student who had been making the ariplanes stated, “It’s because we are black!” I am always taken aback and disappointed when an African Nova Scotian student responds to expectations around behaviour with this statement. Sadly, teachers hear this frequently in my school.
A third student, also of colour, (who has a reputation as being tough within the school) looked at her and said “No. That’s not true.” It was at this moment the afternoon turned itself around.
Paper airplane boy made the choice to pick up the paper airplanes and put them in the recycling. The young woman removed herself from the room as I had recommended and talked with me about her behaviour. She returned in a frame of mind more appropriate for school and team work. I suspect she needed some quiet time to calm herself and regroup.
I returned to the group at the active/expressive table who entered into teasing me on my dislike of fish (my colleague had taken the opportunity of “X” being absent to redirect the group toward more appropriate fun), offering to bring in aquariums, fish as gifts and laughing at my reactions to their teasing. Our afternoon ended with lots of art work for our group presentation accomplished and with lots of laughter in the room.
I am optimistic that the trials and tribulations of today’s extended mentor group have actually brought the “Yet to be Named” mentor group on the first stage of their journey to becoming a team. I believe we may each feel a little easier and more optimistic about our new school year.