4/12/09
Second Grader
I figured I would share this with you all, I have been volunteering as a tutor at a elem school in Richmond this semester. In the second grade classroom that I have been in, I have watched this one little boy struggle throughout the whole year. He is almost all the time in gen ed classrooms, when he probably should not be. He is quickly falling way behind the rest of the class with no one to help keep him motivated to work. While the other kids are reading stories, he is playing with blocks. I don't know what all the do in intervention when he is in there, but watching him in the gen ed classroom saddens me like no other. Two weeks ago the kids took testing, and I watched as the little boy sat and cried over the fact that he couldn't even read the questions. What kills me is that no one was allowed to help him on the test, and he was told to try. He just looked and filled in circles. I don't know why it got to me so much that day, but I left the elem school calling my mom right away crying cause I felt like this little boy is just not getting the attention and help he deserves. I know I cant change the world, but I just wish that each child with any disability no matter the level of trouble they have, would get all the help and more than is necessary in seeing them succeed.
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It may not be as bad as it seems. I'm giving the school and teachers the benefit of the doubt here but they probably are trying to work with him to figure out where his difficulties are and why he is having them. It is also possible that he has some emotional problems that might contribute to his feeling helpless and wanting to cry when he gets an assignment that is hard. So, maybe he knows more than it might seem from what you observed.
ReplyDeleteTHat is weird that you brought this up. I am also turtoring at a school in Richmond. I also am working in a 2nd grade classroom. There is a boy in there that I get sad seeing because he just sits there while the other kids are learning. Everyday I think how much better he could be doing if someone would work with him more.
ReplyDeleteThis situation sounds very sad. Hopefully the teacher is working on getting him the accommodations that he needs, because obviously the little boy does not get it on his own. He should be reading when the others are or learning how. This situation will hopefully get much better.
ReplyDeleteI think that this situation is why I decided to become a teacher.
ReplyDeleteI just was thinking if you are tutoring, can you work with him? Could you come up with some activities to help him? Have you talked with the teacher about this child? Sorry about all the questions. I just was trying to get you thinking. Maybe the teacher just doesn't know what to do. I wish that more teachers would get involved to help students in all devlopmental levels.
I've always wanted the power to change the world as well. I feel very bad for every kid who has to got through school and not enjoy it because he/she simply struggles with learning the material. Hopefully every one of these kids gets the right accommodations.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds awful. I too would have left calling my mom and crying! Hopefully he is getting the help he needs in his other classes. I will be praying for this boy!!
ReplyDeleteThat story was horribly sad! I would have been upset having to see that also. Situations such as this one, is why I chose to become a teacher. I want to help students like him succeed.
ReplyDeleteAthough this is one of the tough parts of teaching, it is also one of the parts that inspires me to become a teacher. Being able to reach out to children that need it will be amazing to be a part of in life. I want to have the power to influence, teach, inspire, everything to each child that I possibly can. Samantha, I think that the fact that you realized these types of things will really make you a good teacher. It shows that you can to look at everyone and will not just move on when most of the class gets it. Although it is seriously so sad to see these things in the classroom, it will be there and will make us sad. I remember my mom struggling so hard sometimes with children having problems in class, but she always found a way to help. I can't wait to become a teacher!!
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