I would have thought that after almost 10yrs working as a
substitute teacher I would have heard every known excuse to spend a few extra minutes
away from the classroom outside of the scheduled lunch and recess breaks. The need
to use the bathroom or see the nurse is usually the most common. I am moderately
lenient to most requests but they need to give me a creditable
reason.
So what should I make of a fifth grader's request: "Can I take my break now?"
I'm
thinking, that's one I hadn't heard before. I check the lesson plan notes
and there isn't anything about "special needs" for anyone in class
but this was a late assignment in
that I didn't get the call until about 9:30am this morning.
He's not struggling with the class work. If anything, he's
already ahead of the class and bored that the rest of the class hasn't caught
up yet.
I need more information.
Me: Why do you
need a break? Didn't we just get back from lunch a short time ago?
Kid: I get a
break when I need it.
Me: Why do you get
a break? Are you on some kind of medication that requires rest? Are you
supposed to go see a school specialist during break? Are you stressed?
Kid: I get to
have a break every day whenever I need one.
I'm thinking this kid is yanking my chain. The class has
been pretty good, working the lessons, cooperative, friendly and mellow. I'm
having a good time and can't see why this kid could be "stressed". So,
I push a bit farther.
Me: Where do you
take these breaks and what do you do?
Kid: Sometimes I
just sit on the bench outside, sometimes I run around the track.
Me: The school
allows you to run on the track unsupervised during class time? I don't think
so.
Kid: Yea, they do, so can I go?
Now, I sure he's yanking my chain and I decide to call his
bluff.
Me: I can't let
you go outside the classroom unsupervised because I'll get fired. Why don't I
call down to the office and have someone come here to go out with you for your
"break"? What do you think?
(I'm pretty sure the last thing this kid wants is an
audience with the principal trying to explain why he's giving me this C***&Bull
story just because his teacher is out of the room. I'm pretty sure he will discover his need for a
"break" at this time has suddenly passed and decline my generous offer
for a supervised break.)
Kid: (shrugs his
shoulders) OK!
Me: You sure?
Kid: Yea, I need
a break.
I make the call, and to my amazement, they don't hesitate to
have me send him down!
Now who's looking incredibly perplexed?
4 comments:
thats... a new one... lol
We have a program at my school where some kids get a 'break' when they need it. They don't get to run around unsupervised, but they do get to go to a counselor or the library or the office. The kids usually have some type of anxiety issues. The teachers are supposed to let the students leave when they request it.
That makes sense anon - when i worked at a special needs camp, I had a child that would get wound up and overwhelmed with the sheer chaos that sometimes happened. Often it would lead her to running away physically from the group, to find a quiet spot. I got to read her signals, and encouraged her to ask me if she was feeling overwhelmed if she could take a "time out" from the group. More often than not, i'd ask her if she needed a time out.. and she would exclaim YES! and walk just outside, within sight of me, to the picnic table, sit down, and have some quiet time. after about 10-15 minutes she had regrouped and was ready to move on with the rest of the campers.
It's kind of funny the way this kid matter-of-factly stated his need for a break. But I suppose we are catering more to the needs of individuals as time goes on. For better or worse, some kids may really need these breaks whereas others will just get them to get them.
But your post was hilarious the way you put it. :)
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