Reflection Journal #6

      Breakthrough! Canyon acknowledged me, finally! I was the only adult in the room when the students came in this morning, and so I was able to tape Canyon’s schedule to his folder, get him started on the assignment listed on the board, and start the kids in the Pledge of Allegiance before Mrs. C came in. She was running late, but the students are so great at getting started on their work. The best part was that Canyon said hi to me when he came in and goodbye when I left after two hours.

       His teacher asked me to stay in the class with his to work on an assignment that he had not been able to complete. We worked on that while his classmates went on to their next class during centers. I was instructed to allow him to have a few minutes of play time on his iPad after he did three problems, but I found that he could stay focused long enough to do much more than three as long as I nudged him along.

       After he finished we walked to his next class together and I talked to him about only having two more weeks there. I asked him if we could plan something fun for my last day. We agreed on glazed donuts. I love that idea! I know that I will be saying goodbye to the entire class, not only him. I will miss him, of course, and the students that give me tips on how I can help him. For instance, today the girl sitting next to him helped me try to locate his school work. Neither of us could find it, but I definitely appreciated her assistance.

        I realize that having Canyon in this class affects everyone, not just him. The teacher has probably had to adjust in the past to students that require different learning strategies. Canyon's desk sits closest to the teacher's because he requires the most attention, as far as direction and keeping j=him on task. If he were placed in the back, his inattentiveness would continue all day. Mrs. C, as well as the other teachers that I have seen interact with him, are very direct when telling him what he needs to do. I suppose that is from experience. The students are the same way with him. They don’t usually ask him where his assignment is. They tell him to get his assignment out. I am finding that being direct gets better results ultimately.