We know that not all students have ideal home situations. On occasion the hell they live with shows itself though their behavior. I will never forget one little girl I had in my second grade class who hissed instead of responding when someone talked to her. She wouldn’t sit with the rest of the class, but took her desk and put it in the back of the room. During read aloud when we would gather on the carpet, she remained at her desk, or I should say under it. I asked the principal about her and the response was, “She’s in counseling. It’s a troubled family situation, just show her you’re there for her.” That didn’t help much. A counselor would pull her out of class, spend half an hour with her, and bring her back.
I stayed in my classroom during many lunches to keep her from staying too long on the playground equipment after the bell rang. She refused to line up with the other students and I was the only person who could get her to get down. I had the crazy idea to get out some yard and teach her to knit. She grabbed the yarn and wrapped it around the metal legs of her desk, then crawled under and stayed there. I was told to let her stay there. It took me awhile to realize that it was a safe spot for her.
I asked her father if he would come into class and sit with his daughter for awhile. As I was teaching a lesson at the front of the room, I saw him hit her in the head when she would not pay attention. The bell rang for recess and he walked his daughter out of the class. I called the office to report what I witnessed. The principal was not on campus , but as a mandated reporter, I then called the police who came out to take a report. I was told that while it was inappropriate to hit the student in class, the father has the right to act as he did. I was appalled. I knew that I was the safe person in her life.
She slowly began to trust me and during our lunchtimes I encouraged her to read and draw, praising her for her artistic skills. It is amazing how much a little praise can make a student smile and want to do more.
During the fall we studied owls. I incorporated art into our Reader’s Theater, thinking that since my student enjoyed art, I would ask her to show the class how we would make our owls. She nodded and led her classmates step-by-step. I used her assets as a way of reaching her and building trust.
Our Reader’s Theater was a success. Same student before and after:
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