Grey hair and laugh lines
Last year, our then-first-grader RAN AWAY FROM SCHOOL (thankfully I didn't find out about it until he was safely back). He'd not been enjoying school (though he liked his teacher just fine) and would have an occasional meltdown over some frustration at lack of understanding or sadness/disappointment. His teacher had a protocol that had always worked just fine: if he couldn't calm himself down (and if she wasn't able to help him, being in the middle of teaching 20 other students), he would go to either the school office where they had a spot for kids to cool off, or as an alternative, to his kindergarten teacher's room (he adored her and she was wonderful with him).
One day, toward the end of the year, he took another route.
He'd been told to go to Ms. B's class to get it together. But he was fed up, didn't want to be there anymore... and his classroom was at the end of the hall - right next to the big double doors which lead to the bus loop at the back of the school. Oh, his poor, sweet teacher. On her way with the rest of the class to go to the music room, she stopped by Ms. B's classroom to pick L up... who told him she hadn't seem him at all. Panic ensued.
EVERYONE was looking for him. Every classroom, the bathrooms, the library, the stage, the playground, the atrium. They were at a loss. Finally, a student aide said "Well, I know where I'd go if I didn't want anyone to find me - the woods out back." Clever, brilliant, I-could-kiss-you future-teacher-of-the-year. She was right on, he was in the woods behind the school. WAY in the woods. NEXT TO THE POND. I'm so glad I didn't find that bit out until much, much later.
From then on, no 1st grader was allowed to walk anywhere in school without a buddy.
***********
A few months later, it's a brand new school year. A fresh slate (or smartboard, as the case may be). L's new 2nd grade teacher asked the class to contribute suggestions for their list of classroom rules - they were to think about it overnight as homework, then bring ideas in the next day. We talked about it over dinner and after a pause he said, "I know! 'Don't run away from school!' "
Oh, yes, dear, that is an EXCELLENT rule to follow. GREAT suggestion.
At the open house a few nights later, I asked Ms. A, the new teacher, if he'd shared it.
"Oh, YES he did", she answered. "And then one of the other students raised her hand and said 'That's right - we should walk.'"
One day, toward the end of the year, he took another route.
He'd been told to go to Ms. B's class to get it together. But he was fed up, didn't want to be there anymore... and his classroom was at the end of the hall - right next to the big double doors which lead to the bus loop at the back of the school. Oh, his poor, sweet teacher. On her way with the rest of the class to go to the music room, she stopped by Ms. B's classroom to pick L up... who told him she hadn't seem him at all. Panic ensued.
EVERYONE was looking for him. Every classroom, the bathrooms, the library, the stage, the playground, the atrium. They were at a loss. Finally, a student aide said "Well, I know where I'd go if I didn't want anyone to find me - the woods out back." Clever, brilliant, I-could-kiss-you future-teacher-of-the-year. She was right on, he was in the woods behind the school. WAY in the woods. NEXT TO THE POND. I'm so glad I didn't find that bit out until much, much later.
From then on, no 1st grader was allowed to walk anywhere in school without a buddy.
***********
A few months later, it's a brand new school year. A fresh slate (or smartboard, as the case may be). L's new 2nd grade teacher asked the class to contribute suggestions for their list of classroom rules - they were to think about it overnight as homework, then bring ideas in the next day. We talked about it over dinner and after a pause he said, "I know! 'Don't run away from school!' "
Oh, yes, dear, that is an EXCELLENT rule to follow. GREAT suggestion.
At the open house a few nights later, I asked Ms. A, the new teacher, if he'd shared it.
"Oh, YES he did", she answered. "And then one of the other students raised her hand and said 'That's right - we should walk.'"