One of my five classes this month has been an adventure.
This class is full of children aged 8 to 13. Boy is there a difference between the maturity and energy level of an 8 year old and a 13 year old. Besides the language barrier, I’ve got some major behavior gems.
One student, whom we’ll call Jimmy, was a peach from the start. He wouldn’t do his work and if he’s not paying attention, he’s wandering around the class looking for trouble. A few of the older girl students have noticed this and decided to use Jimmy as their errand boy. He’s always running to serve at their beck and call, playing messenger and throwing away their garbage.
Jimmy is a little prince compared to a boy we’ll call Bobby. Bobby crawls on the floor, follows me around like a shadow and is always asking “what time is it” in Spanish.
Needless to say, what started out as a good class quickly zoomed out of control. It got so bad I had to call in back-ups, my bosses. Once I explained the situation, they attended my next class. They could see that I was prepared, and doing everything by the book. They also witnessed the major behavioral issues contaminating the learning environment.
It’s sad. Out of 25 kids in class there are my problem children Jimmy and Bobby, four who are really good students, ten who show real potential and would thrive in a better situation. The rest obviously don’t want to be there and will likely fail.
My bosses were impressed I was able to conduct some kind of class in that room without totally losing it. It may have been a while since I was their age, but I do remember the teachers that blow up usually don’t help matters. Plus, I would be yelling at them in another language. Their English level is so low I’d be just entertaining myself.
Needless to say the month is almost over. My supervisors have promised me I won’t get a class at that age level again.
A boy can only dream.
I’m glad to see that you were the mature one in the group, and well you should be!! It would have been the “easy out” to lose it. The people running the institute should have known better than to build a class from such a diverse group. I think Z would have aplauded the why you handeled the situation.
I’d lose it. And also be immensely frustrated I couldn’t do more to help the kids who really show potential to learn.