I responded to two prompts this evening, because I took a little break, and also because neither of these are central struggles for me. Having said that, especially when examined through the lens of this year, I can and should be doing better!
I do usually try and find out what the root of the problem is when a student is acting out. In some cases this year, a little bit of understanding and probing went a long way. On the other hand, I can distinctly remember some cases where I was quick to judge and react and discipline, rather than listen and understand.
The challenge is that every student, at some point, has a legitimate problem that is often filled with illegitimate drama, and that narrative often plays out in the classroom. Sometimes I lose patience with it, because this year it was a constant problem.
However, and this is huge: I need to remember to see the struggle of all my kids. Particularly the ones that are acting out. Particularly the ones that are challenging to everyone else and not so liked by the rest of the staff. Understanding is key. This is a good reminder.
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