
I work with two fourth grade classrooms- math and reading groups, helping with writing, art class, library . . . generally bouncing back and forth as needed. We teachers are often telling kids how to behave. I'm thinking that we grown-ups could do with some reminders, too.
Yesterday, I saw one of the students sitting in the office. (This is a boy that has made us kind of nuts the last week- refusing to sit at his desk, talking non-stop, unfocused, and often frustrated and/or frustrating others.) I sat down next to him.
"What's going on?"
"I needed a time-out, cause I was MAD!"
"About what?"
"I don't know."
"It's Monday morning, the day just started."
"But it's always school! All week I go to school! On the weekend I go to Islamic school! I never get a break! I'm tired! I just want to say how I feel, and nobody wants to hear it!"
"I'm listening. What do you want to say?"
He thought for a moment, then smiled, "Nothing, I just said it."
We talked about how the morning might go, and he headed back to class. Later, I went in to check on him. He was peacefully working.
Just an ear, that's all he needed, such an easy thing to do, but I forget it all the time. Sigh, so much to learn, and relearn.