Students take the smallest things personal. They aren't.
“Do you like me? I don’t think you like me.”
“Like has nothing to do with me expecting you to complete your work like everyone else.”
I have a student that I feel the majority of the school treats like a special case. Single mother, moves a lot, not wealthy, some attention deficit issues, etc. I’ve heard (and written about) a number of conversations I’ve heard where teachers have decided to make exceptions for this student or use his circumstances for excuses for missing homework, behavior, and other common student issues. I don’t and now this student is, verbally at least, equating high expectations with punishment.
This scenario in particular came from this student taking an extra long water break, coming back, and asking if he could do the classwork for homework. I told him no and that it was due at the end of the class like everyone else. He made the decision to go get water. He made the decision to take his time. He made the decision to play on his phone instead of working while we as a class went over and discussed the material. He knows there is a quiz over the material this week. So, no. I expect the same from him that I do from everyone else because I don’t believe there is anything wrong with his ability to think, work, or succeed.
There isn’t anything special about his circumstances. In fact, it is quite normal for kids to live in a single parent household, not have internet, move often, struggle paying attention, care for younger children, etc. The question of whether it SHOULD be normal or not isn’t what we’re talking about here. I’ve taught many students with similar home lives and I refuse to coddle him because he has it rough. I refuse to believe that because of his circumstance he “can’t.” Most importantly, I refuse to allow him to believe that he is less than his peers.
He completed the assignment by the end of class and it was all correct. I told him I was proud him and I meant it. He earned it.
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“Like has nothing to do with me expecting you to complete your work like everyone else.”
I have a student that I feel the majority of the school treats like a special case. Single mother, moves a lot, not wealthy, some attention deficit issues, etc. I’ve heard (and written about) a number of conversations I’ve heard where teachers have decided to make exceptions for this student or use his circumstances for excuses for missing homework, behavior, and other common student issues. I don’t and now this student is, verbally at least, equating high expectations with punishment.
This scenario in particular came from this student taking an extra long water break, coming back, and asking if he could do the classwork for homework. I told him no and that it was due at the end of the class like everyone else. He made the decision to go get water. He made the decision to take his time. He made the decision to play on his phone instead of working while we as a class went over and discussed the material. He knows there is a quiz over the material this week. So, no. I expect the same from him that I do from everyone else because I don’t believe there is anything wrong with his ability to think, work, or succeed.
There isn’t anything special about his circumstances. In fact, it is quite normal for kids to live in a single parent household, not have internet, move often, struggle paying attention, care for younger children, etc. The question of whether it SHOULD be normal or not isn’t what we’re talking about here. I’ve taught many students with similar home lives and I refuse to coddle him because he has it rough. I refuse to believe that because of his circumstance he “can’t.” Most importantly, I refuse to allow him to believe that he is less than his peers.
He completed the assignment by the end of class and it was all correct. I told him I was proud him and I meant it. He earned it.
Follow us on Facebook; Twitter; iTunes; Soundcloud; Stitcher
Related Articles:
Dallas ISD Student Goes Missing
Social and Emotional Health in Dallas ISD
"Playing Favorites" in Dallas Schools
Dallas ISD News and Politics Rundown - April Week 3
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