Update on Shauna—Mr. Burns said that the conference ended better after I left. Ms. Lamb, who has been teaching here for over thirty years, said that she taught Shauna’s mother but that she didn’t remember her being that bad. I went by the principal’s office to talk to them about the conference. The principal said that he had the referral. He agreed with me that the conference had been a complete waste of time. He said that both Shauna and her mother had yelled and cussed at him in his office. By the way, I was wrong. Shauna’s mother does not work for the after-school program. She works in our school for Head Start. That’s right. She works with preschoolers.
I next talked to the school police officer. I told her about the baiting that was going on between Malcolm, Shauna, and DaSean. She said that although Shauna is not part of the gang, she believed what I was saying about trying to incite Malcolm. We talked about “Crime Mob”. Even if it is the legitimate organization that Shauna’s mother claims it is (and it isn’t) then there were other things that Shauna wrote on the paper that tie her to gang activity. It’s pretty clear what Shauna was trying to say.
The professional specialist caught up to me today. She’s going to observe my class next week. I can’t wait.
Tuesday, November 30
Monday, November 29
'Crime Mob' is a Community Organization
Welcome back. I spent half of my planning time today trying to avoid the Professional Specialist. She wants to set up a time to observe my class. I want her to leave me alone. The other half of my planning time I spent with the reading specialist and Rodney. We tested him on his reading to see if we can help him with something. We’re not done yet but some things are already becoming apparent.
I caught Shauna writing gang names down today. She was doing it right in front of Malcolm who just got back from his gang-related suspension. I think she was trying to incite him to do something because she was writing the name of the rival gang. DaSean has been trying to set Malcolm off, too. I asked Shauna for the papers and she refused. I asked several more times and she crumpled them up and refused to let me see them. I finally got the papers from her and put her in the hallway, asking her to write an explanation of her behavior. When I got the explanation from her she had written, “Malcolm and Mr. Moore need to mind their own business.” I gave her a referral to the office.
After school, coincidentally, we’d scheduled a conference with Shauna's mother to talk about grades. I started telling her mother what had happened and she cut me off,
“You don’t know the street! You can’t change the street! ‘Crime Mob’ is a community organization! Your school PO’lice officer is supposed to be a resource officer! How come she don’t know that?”
We switched to the subject of grades. There was a bad feeling for the rest of the conference. Mom did not engage me much more verbally or visually. She glanced at me both suspiciously and aloof. Clearly, she believes that the teachers are the problem. I excused myself early to get to class but the whole thing is still bothering me.
The office secretary asked me for a referral form for Shauna. I guess the one I filled out never made it to the office. Shauna got ten days. She got five days for the gang writing and five more for being disrespectful to the principal. I wonder where she learned that from? I’m not sure but I think Shauna’s mother works at the school for an after-school program. I’ve long suspected that adult employees of the school are a connection to the gangs. I think some of the hall monitors and paraprofessionals are also involved.
Speaking of criminal activity, LJ dropped by briefly after school. He wanted to let me know that he won’t be in class tomorrow because he stole a bicycle. LJ always misses class and never mentions anything to me about it. I think he was trying to show off a little. It elevates the status of the kids when they get arrested or locked up. I took the time to tell him to talk to the judge respectfully.
I caught Shauna writing gang names down today. She was doing it right in front of Malcolm who just got back from his gang-related suspension. I think she was trying to incite him to do something because she was writing the name of the rival gang. DaSean has been trying to set Malcolm off, too. I asked Shauna for the papers and she refused. I asked several more times and she crumpled them up and refused to let me see them. I finally got the papers from her and put her in the hallway, asking her to write an explanation of her behavior. When I got the explanation from her she had written, “Malcolm and Mr. Moore need to mind their own business.” I gave her a referral to the office.
After school, coincidentally, we’d scheduled a conference with Shauna's mother to talk about grades. I started telling her mother what had happened and she cut me off,
“You don’t know the street! You can’t change the street! ‘Crime Mob’ is a community organization! Your school PO’lice officer is supposed to be a resource officer! How come she don’t know that?”
We switched to the subject of grades. There was a bad feeling for the rest of the conference. Mom did not engage me much more verbally or visually. She glanced at me both suspiciously and aloof. Clearly, she believes that the teachers are the problem. I excused myself early to get to class but the whole thing is still bothering me.
The office secretary asked me for a referral form for Shauna. I guess the one I filled out never made it to the office. Shauna got ten days. She got five days for the gang writing and five more for being disrespectful to the principal. I wonder where she learned that from? I’m not sure but I think Shauna’s mother works at the school for an after-school program. I’ve long suspected that adult employees of the school are a connection to the gangs. I think some of the hall monitors and paraprofessionals are also involved.
Speaking of criminal activity, LJ dropped by briefly after school. He wanted to let me know that he won’t be in class tomorrow because he stole a bicycle. LJ always misses class and never mentions anything to me about it. I think he was trying to show off a little. It elevates the status of the kids when they get arrested or locked up. I took the time to tell him to talk to the judge respectfully.
Tuesday, November 23
A Bad Driver is OK Until He Meets Another Bad Driver
A bad driver is OK until he meets another bad driver. Isn’t that from Great Gatsby?
Today, one of my bad drivers, LJ, ran into another bad driver, Alice (the one who isn’t in my class but comes anyway). I’m not sure what happened. After lunch I was helping a student open her jammed locker. Suddenly, there were screams and pushing. I ran over and saw that two guys had LJ sandwiched against the wall. They were yelling at him and threatening him. I pulled him free. Everyone was crowding around and shouting. Guys were telling LJ not to hit a girl. Girls were encouraging him. It was absolute chaos. I got him out of the hallway and asked him what happened. Apparently, Alice hit LJ so he punched her back. I took him to the office. Half an hour later he was back in class.
I watched him after class in the hallway because I thought he might get jumped. Alice was back too. As LJ walked down the hall, Malcolm grabbed him. Malcolm put an arm around LJ's shoulder and had an intense conversation with him. From what I could overhear, Malcolm was telling LJ to never punch girls. Whatever he said, it probably had much more of an impact than whatever the principal said.
I’m disappointed that LJ and Alice weren’t immediately sent home from school. These things have a way of escalating. The kids were crazy afterward. Everyone was talking about what had happened. When LJ came back to class everyone wanted to talk about it again with him. We really need to have a zero tolerance for violence policy in our school because in a lot of ways the kids reward each other for fighting. LJ left school today with each arm around a different girl.
Today, one of my bad drivers, LJ, ran into another bad driver, Alice (the one who isn’t in my class but comes anyway). I’m not sure what happened. After lunch I was helping a student open her jammed locker. Suddenly, there were screams and pushing. I ran over and saw that two guys had LJ sandwiched against the wall. They were yelling at him and threatening him. I pulled him free. Everyone was crowding around and shouting. Guys were telling LJ not to hit a girl. Girls were encouraging him. It was absolute chaos. I got him out of the hallway and asked him what happened. Apparently, Alice hit LJ so he punched her back. I took him to the office. Half an hour later he was back in class.
I watched him after class in the hallway because I thought he might get jumped. Alice was back too. As LJ walked down the hall, Malcolm grabbed him. Malcolm put an arm around LJ's shoulder and had an intense conversation with him. From what I could overhear, Malcolm was telling LJ to never punch girls. Whatever he said, it probably had much more of an impact than whatever the principal said.
I’m disappointed that LJ and Alice weren’t immediately sent home from school. These things have a way of escalating. The kids were crazy afterward. Everyone was talking about what had happened. When LJ came back to class everyone wanted to talk about it again with him. We really need to have a zero tolerance for violence policy in our school because in a lot of ways the kids reward each other for fighting. LJ left school today with each arm around a different girl.
Monday, November 22
What a Difference One Student Can Make
This is the Thanksgiving holiday week. There are only two days of school this week. Only two days. Take a deep breath. Exhale slowly. I can do this. It’s only one more day.
The kids were insane today. I battled all morning and through most of the afternoon. By the time my last class started I had zero patience left. One girl, Shauna, asked if she could get a drink of water before class started. I let her go and she disappeared. She showed up just as I had finally calmed everyone down. She came into the room yelling at her friends. I had to get everyone quieted down again. In the middle of my explanation of the warm-up activity, she suddenly walked to the front of the class and started writing on the board. I told her to sit down. When my back was turned she flinched at me. I don’t think she thought I would see her but she pulled back and pretended to hit me. I put her out, sending her to the time-out room. The whole class calmed down. It’s amazing what a difference one person can make. Two minutes later she was back, claiming that the time-out lady sent her back to get some work. I refused to let her in. Class was pleasant from then on.
The kids were insane today. I battled all morning and through most of the afternoon. By the time my last class started I had zero patience left. One girl, Shauna, asked if she could get a drink of water before class started. I let her go and she disappeared. She showed up just as I had finally calmed everyone down. She came into the room yelling at her friends. I had to get everyone quieted down again. In the middle of my explanation of the warm-up activity, she suddenly walked to the front of the class and started writing on the board. I told her to sit down. When my back was turned she flinched at me. I don’t think she thought I would see her but she pulled back and pretended to hit me. I put her out, sending her to the time-out room. The whole class calmed down. It’s amazing what a difference one person can make. Two minutes later she was back, claiming that the time-out lady sent her back to get some work. I refused to let her in. Class was pleasant from then on.
Friday, November 19
Really, Really Tired of School
It’s been a long week. Today was a long day. We got out two hours early but it sure didn’t feel like it. I am really, really tired of school right now. When the final bell rang the teachers were racing the kids out of the building.
Malcolm, back from his ten-day suspension, settled into his usual role of class disruptor. I held him after class and we had a little talk. For once, he settled down and was serious and sober. I hope he can get things together. Karen came back today, too. She’s been gone for over a month. Her family went back to El Salvador for a visit. She’s a pretty conscientious student but I have to wonder, how can you take a month off from school?
I now end with a different class on Fridays than I used too. That's because of the holidays we had last week. It’s a nice change. The group that I used to finish the week with was my worst group. On Friday afternoons they would be CRAZY! Ms. Helm had them last today. I could hear the screaming coming from next door. She told me that she sent three of them to the time-out room. One of them walked out of time-out. Another one never made it down there. After next week I’ll start getting that group last on Fridays again. God help us all.
Malcolm, back from his ten-day suspension, settled into his usual role of class disruptor. I held him after class and we had a little talk. For once, he settled down and was serious and sober. I hope he can get things together. Karen came back today, too. She’s been gone for over a month. Her family went back to El Salvador for a visit. She’s a pretty conscientious student but I have to wonder, how can you take a month off from school?
I now end with a different class on Fridays than I used too. That's because of the holidays we had last week. It’s a nice change. The group that I used to finish the week with was my worst group. On Friday afternoons they would be CRAZY! Ms. Helm had them last today. I could hear the screaming coming from next door. She told me that she sent three of them to the time-out room. One of them walked out of time-out. Another one never made it down there. After next week I’ll start getting that group last on Fridays again. God help us all.
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