things students say

He can't play game with me he gotta learn he words. Spoken by first grader, David.  

things students say

As frustrated as I get with behavior issues I have to stop and reflect on great things that they do and say.  

These are some things that students have said over the last couple of years that I don't want to forget:

"Chris, draw some snow so your snowman can live" (Jaciir-first grade)

"I wish my tongue was really long so I could hit people" (Elvin-first grade)

"My grandma used to work in a bank.  She's a good monier" (Mia-first grade)

"Being president is a big responsibility.  You have to fill out application." (Isaiah-first grade)

One student was writing about their drawing and wrote, "This is about being a doktr (doctor) to help pepoos (people) and telling doktr and getting shots and taycking out baby from your mom." (Jonathan-first grade)

"Nobody's going to win me." (Alana-first grade)

There have been countless others that I've forgotten over the years and I try now to write them down when I hear them....

Today kindergarteners were drawing self portraits, looking into mirrors and noticing the shape of their faces, eyes, nose mouth, etc and also using a color pencil that reflected their skin tone.  I showed them the book Shades of People that has a different children on the cover, each with a different shade of skin.  I spent forever yesterday sharpening bunches of color pencils in 7 different cans for each table.  Most did a pretty great job of finding their skin tone and adding it to their self-portrait while a few scribbled over their face after carefully drawing their features. One student who likes to tattle on others but always follows instructions and does great work said to me, "Ms. Ator your pony tail is golden!"

Behavior chart

Attempted today to use behavior chart with Kindergarten student who's been so difficult in the art room.  As he's been removed from every classroom for his behavior, his parents have had to either take him home or stay with him in school.  His mother was here with him today and before they came to art I showed both of them the behavior chart that I created for him.  If he comes into the art room without running he gets a sticker on the chart, stays in his seat for the whole period gets a sticker, shares art materials at his table and works well with others, etc. he'll get a sticker at the end of the class.  He started off well-came into the room without running and sat in his seat. But then he started calling out, snatching materials from other students at his table and wanting to get up and sit in other people's seats. His mother was in the hallway with his classroom teacher so he was sent to be with her.

I'll have to give him a sticker for at least coming into the room and sitting in his seat. His mother is with him now but seems so unattached like she didn't give birth to this child.  How do kids become like this?  His behavior wasn't bad to this extreme until recently.  Something going on.  Wish I was a camera looking into their household activities.  Or maybe not.

May 3, 2010

To keep my sanity and survive through the end of the school year I decided I would start writing down the sometimes crazy, infuriating behavior of my students in the art room. This is the first blog entry....

Ralph (all names changed for this), a kindergarten student walks into art room with a grin on his face.  Not a good sign for him. A grin on his face means extreme mischief and nonsense to follow. He doesn't want to sit in his seat and instead wanders around the room sitting here and then there.  He refuses to go to the designated time-out seat that's by the window of the art room. He goes to other students and grabs at their work, tearing their paper loom (they're learning to weave paper strips).  He took his shoes off.  I took him by the hand, not letting him go while attempting to help other students with the over and under of weaving at the same time.  With his spare hand that I was not holding he swung at students.  Smile still on his face. Ridiculous. In all he hit 4 students while in my room. I called security who told me to call our AP who came and took him.  Shoes and all.  Grin still on his face.

I see a variety of age classes throughout the day-I may have pre-K, Kindergarten, First grade and second grade in one day.  My next class was a second grade inclusion class.  I'm supposed to have another teacher with me but for whatever reason she's not with me today.  For scheduling reasons I only see this class once a week where as I see the other second grade classes twice in one week.  Two students are particularly difficult today-we'll call them Walter and Tyquan.  Both are kids with a street attitude and smart mouths.  Tyquan has a mouth that is moving non stop and Walter an attitude.  They mimicked, talked back to me, wouldn't stop talking and joking around until I'd had enough and sent them back to their classroom for being disrespectful. Their classroom teacher seemed surprised and when I asked how they were behaving in her classroom her only reply or offer of support was "They're chill".  Whatever the hell that means for a teacher to say of her students.