So get this, the other day, the "team" for Ulysses got an email from FW regarding his excessive time out of class (especially mine) and his rant via email to me last week. It was decided between FW and U that when he was "bored" during videos in class that he didn't have an interest in, rather than leaving class (on average he was out of my class 25-30 minutes per day), he would have a memo pad to doodle or draw with. Okay, that's fine with me. Fast forward to yesterday. Science starts and I'm having a class discussion about the previous days lesson. U is sitting in his desk, not engaging and he's got a crossword puzzle book in front of him. So I say, "U, you need to put that away, class has started." His response? "Uh, NO!" He then stated that he was allowed to have it out and I was supposed to have been told this. I tried to explain that he was allowed to have a notebook or memo pad out so that he could doodle or draw on but he was to the point where he wasn't going to listen or hear me. I asked him to go to the VP since he was refusing to do work and this wasn't for a break but he refused. I emailed the team regarding what happened. And then I got this email this morning from the VP:
Thank you for the update. I recall crossword puzzles being a suggested strategy in a couple of meetings we have had. If I am recalling correctly, his last school recommended these along with visual apps as some of the best tools for him to move on from issues that he may be dwelling on. I don't recall the exact reasoning but I am certain that this is a strategy that they used with him and suggested to us.
While I understand that he didn't follow the suggestions made by FW (memo pad) he seems to be applying a strategy that will meet the goal (staying in class for longer periods of time) and has worked for him in the past I am wondering if we can adjust the plan to include crosswords as it has been recommended to us a couple of times.
While our ultimate goal is to get U to be in class and engaged 100% of the time, keeping him in class for longer periods of time without disruption is probably the most urgent need. Once we get there, we can start chipping away at the length of full engagement. While I know the crossword puzzles are distracting him from both the issue he is dwelling on and the instruction, we have to weigh which is more important, full engagement in the periods that he is present with extended time out of the classroom, or full engagement with periods of not being engaged while still present.
Here's my issue: He's missing instruction. The crossword strategy was a recommendation by mom in regard to making a connection with him or as a tool in lessons. Not an escape mechanism. I'd love to hear what the mother thinks about this. My other issue is this kid makes up new rules for himself every time a new accommodation is made. He's running the show. He thinks he's on the same level with teachers and he's not. This isn't a power trip on my part but he basically gets to do whatever the fuck he wants. He's a jerk, he has no respect for anyone who says the most minor thing that he doesn't like and by giving in to every single fucking thing this kid throws a fit about it just teaches him that if he throws a fit, he gets his way. We should be weening him away from his crutches not adding more and more.
I've thought about my response to the email from new VP a lot. I'm either going to NOT respond at all or I'm just going to reply: "So, just to understand - during instruction time, U is going to be allowed to do a crossword puzzle?" These people are creating a monster and I'm telling you this is going to bite them in the ass. But hey, tell me what to do, and I'll do it.
Oh, and when all of this happened yesterday in my class and U went off on me and left the room, one of my other kids said, "Mrs. Hanke, I don't want to sound mean but I feel really bad for you that you have to deal with that kid." Truer words.
K - well I need to go up and finish packing. Happy Wednesday. I won't post tomorrow since I'll be out of town but will update again Friday.
Jim's doing fine right now, by the way. Now that he isn't taking his meds he's back to normal.
Later!
No comments:
Post a Comment