(no subject)
In some ways, today was rough. And when I say rough I mean that I broke apart three large-scale fights. Three. At the very least. Steven and David's back and forth 'your mom' insults while I was giving a spelling and dictation test escalated into back and forth punches. When I managed to pull David away, Donovan began kicking Steven (for no reason, as far as I could tell, other than that he is full of rage towards everyone). Now Donovan is larger than David and Steven, probably put together, as they are each roughly the size of a circus peanut. However, they are both much quicker and much more agile. So David darted out of my grasp and Steven ducked around Donovan from behind. It took four of the other students help to eventually pull them all apart and calm them down.
After lunch, Donovan decided a good use of his head-down-on-the-desk-time would be to walk around the classroom kicking other students in the shins. Most students in the class just whined to me about it (while I was pleading with Donovan to "JUST SIT DOWN OR YOU WILL NOT BE SWIMMING THIS AFTERNOON!" Okay, so pleading probably isn't the right word.) or called him and his momma names, but Chyleah was not going to stand for his disrespect. She took it upon herself to teach him a lesson. Now Chyleah is very, very smart. Turns out, she's also very, very strong. She took a hold of that boy round the middle and whapped him hard across the back eight times before I was able to get between them. I was able to calm her down relatively quickly (as she was relatively satisfied she'd beat him good), but the other students in the class were inspired by her "victory" and began taunting Donovan viciously. Soon David, funny name caller extraordinaire, and Donovan were at it. Then Jeremy joined in. Jeremy is a sweet boy. I've never seen him fight before. I was stunned. I finally captured Donovan in my arms, but he kept squirming and yelling at me to "LET GO!"
I said, "Do you promise not to fight?"
"HELL NO!" He yelled back.
At that moment his grandmother, who works at the school, came in to see him. Apparently, one of the students had left the classroom (I probably gave him or her permission as they all "need to use it" all the time), found his grandmother, and told her about the fight. Ms. P was upset about the intervention (she thinks he's spoiled), but I felt saved.
I'd like to reiterate that these kids are eight. And half my size. But boy can they throw a mean punch. So says my bruised shoulder.
Finally, at the end of the day Bernard, who's my favorite (I know favorites are not allowed, but I really can't help it), and Jeremy started pushing each other. Luckily, I was able to intervene just before Bernard started to get really mad. I think he might be mentally disabled. He's socially awkward and far, far behind the other students academically. He's usually so eager to please! Today, however, he was just mad. At Jeremy. Who's usually equally eager to please (because he has slightest crush on me. "Miz Alex, I don't want to go swimmin' if you not commin'." "Miz Alex, lemme open the door for you." "Miz Alex, you be the X [in tic tac toe] because they always go first.") I still have no idea what set them off.
Goodness gracious. So that was really frustrating.
But, in other ways, today was amazing.
Once I broke up the first string of fights in morning, with the help of Ms. P and the premature end of the spelling test, I was able to play hangman with the class. For an entire hour. And they were quiet. And seated. And eager to engage in a partly scholastic activity! This is generally unheard of! Ms. P was mildly impressed and it takes a lot to impress her.
Later, Ms. P took 2/3 of the class swimming. Six students (including the ever energetic David and Steven and the ever sassy Chyleah and Tyrean) stayed back. I read them The Boxcar Children for forty minutes (though I convinced them it was only a half an hour cause I love it when they're not fighting and seated and quiet) and they enjoyed the story, retained information from it, and were interested in what would happen next, though they were more eager for playtime which was their reward for good behavior.
Playtime without Ms. P is usually disastrous. Today's potential for disaster was escalated when 5 students from Ms. F's class joined us. But everything went smoothly. No fights, no yelling matches, no play wrestling, and no "your momma" insults. One of Ms. F's children even taught me how to play jacks. (Fun game, by the way. I think I'm going to invest in a set.)
During playtime, I allowed each child one sheet of paper to draw on. (Classroom resources are scarce and Ms. P sends me to steal copy paper from the office when the secretary is occupied.) Two of the children drew or colored pictures for me! Coreinisha's said "I love you very much, Alex" and Tyrean's was a coloring book cut out of Barbie on a picnic. Many of the other VISTAS received gifts from their students early on, but I did not, probably because I act more like their teacher than their friend. But we are finally beginning to develop a relationship in which they respect my authority without me having to maintain an emotional distance. So that's amazing. I'm going to make a scrapbook of the things they've given me, for sure.