Yesterday, one of my students discovered that her "bugs" were missing (bugs are a part of a token system in my classroom). She began her freak out phase ... a phase that I unfortunately deal with on a day to day basis. "MY BUGS ARE GONE!!! Now I have to start all over! Why are my bugs gone??!!" Crying ... Arms Flailing ... A little over dramatic - perhaps. I tried calming her down and explained - in a loud enough voice for all the other students to hear - that if someone stole it hopefully they will make a good choice and return the bugs and apologize.
Moments after my amazing child whisperer skills and the beginning of my super sleuthing "who-stole-the-bugs" skills a nearby student walked over and set one of his hard-earned bugs on the drama queen's desk. Awww right? As I am witnessing such a tender moment and thinking wow - what a kid! I hear ... "One?! That's it? UNO!!! UNO!!!" and she proceeds to throw it on the floor exclaiming how her life is over. Again ... maybe just slightly over dramatic.
Still thinking wow - what a kid! but in a completely different way I praise the giving child for making such a great choice to share his bug but he can keep it. Next thing I know, multiple students came up and set 2 or 3 of their bugs on DQ's desk.
In the same moment that I was overwhelmed by their selflessness I was also shocked at the lack of gratitude. I had to coerce DQ into thanking all her fellow classmates for giving up their bugs.
Children ... unpredictable in the seemingly most predictable ways.
Now if only I can get them to share some following direction abilities and listening skills to help me out in class.
No comments:
Post a Comment