so on Friday, I was firefighting... Fire #1: 9:30 am...student in my class is ticked off about some homework he didn't do...so I tell him to do it in class for me that day and he flips over chairs and starts banging on a cubicle. This lasts until about 10:15. Fire #2: Just after recess (10:40), I realize that one of my kids are not in class and so I run down to the office and find that he's meandering around the hallway because he got into a fight and is afraid of the impending consequences...(he threw a stick at someone's head because they were fighting about whose leaves they were using to build a fort) Fire #3: my EA yells at a kid for being rude at me and the kid in response runs out...screaming and crying...so of course, I have to be the one who goes after him because the EA won't run. I get to him after he tries to slam a door (that's too heavy for him to push) and we review what happened and what he's going to do to solve the problem. He gathers himself, and we're prepared to go into a neighbouring class and have him apologize for distracting them...then he starts crying and whimpering (a bona fide fear) of how he's afraid of werewolves. I tell him that we have no werewolves at school and that I wouldn't leave him to be hurt by any student or werewolf even if they did exist. We get into the classroom, start apologizing and the waterworks begin again so I take him out once again to redo the whole talk and get the apology right. Fire #4: another fight/argument about leaves at lunchtime Separate story...as the kids are introduced to selling magazines for fundraising, they're hearing all the cool prizes they can win and if their prize has a golden ticket/golden egg inside, then they can win a PS 3, a laptop or $100 Savings Bonds...etc. So after the assembly, I ask the kids if they have any questions... 1) How come I only have one magazine in my envelope to go home? 2) How do I give people magazines? 3) Are we selling laptops? I was so tired of answering their questions repeatedly because of their poor listening skills...it was seriously becoming aggravating!...the EA just laughed...I wanted to scream...I just shook my head and massaged my temples =) Last story...one of the ESL kids had the EA play a game with him to build his English skills and he was so impressed with how quickly she answered his questions that he asked her, "Why are you in that class with Mr. C and the other kids if you're so smart?" Now, I've had friends joke with me about being special ed just because I teach this class...but never have I had a kid, let alone, an ESL kid make that stereotype about me. It was funny...but disturbing...I wonder if other kids in the school have that perspective of me and the EA... PS It's annoying how the principal has "Yes ladies." Strong willed and opinionated ladies who get their way and support with the principal because they're the "squeakier wheels". The EA is one of them...the principal will come into my room, sit down with the EA, chit chat quietly and then walk out. It's unsettling... | 