My blog is called the Daley Laugh: Tales of an Elementary School Teacher. Most of my posts are meant to make you laugh. They are also a way to get some stuff off my chest. Today's post is on a more serious note. However, I hope that everyone who reads this heeds my advice and really takes the time to think about the message I am trying to get across.
In all my years of teaching, I have come across so many children from different backgrounds, cultures, etc. Each year I think I have met children from all walks of life and then it is quickly brought to my attention that I haven't seen it all. Some of what I have been exposed to makes me laugh, sometimes I cry. I must say that I thank God on a daily basis for blessing me with my parents. They took a vested interest in my education and gave me all of the attention I needed. Education is important to me because of the values they have instilled in me. They always made sure I knew that what was in my head could never be taken away from me. I try to pass that on to my own son. Although he is only six years old and doesn't completely understand the value of education and the interest I take in the most minute detail of his life, I pray he grows to understand and appreciate it. And of course I pray that he passes it on to his own family when the time comes.
Today's post is inspired by one of the little girls in my class. The children in my class are taking a 3-part benchmark assessment this week. While they are testing, I do have a little time to think. That's very rare in the hustle and bustle of my day. I barely have time to eat lunch and use the bathroom (think 1 prep a day and a 30 minute lunch period...it is he** sometimes, but we make it work)! My thoughts traveled to her and stayed on her for a good part of my day.
This little girl craves attention, like a pregnant woman craves food. This little girl got up about 5 or 6 times during the assessment to tell me that she had completed the sections. Then she made it a point to raise her hand and tell me that the boy next to her had passed gas (or farted, as she stated). A child bumped into her today. The child apologized (I even heard them apologize) and she still came to inform me that she was pushed. After she completed her assessment, she took a book out to read. She felt that it was very important to let me know that the book was about mice. I didn't ask what the book was about. I just asked that she take something out to read independently while she waited for the timer to go off. Now I must remind you that this only happened today. She does this on a daily basis! Today I almost lost it! However, I had to take a deep breath and think happy thoughts. After she went back to her seat, I thought long and hard about her situation and realized that she only does this because she craves the attention at home. She doesn't get any at home, so she has to do her best to get it from somewhere. It's a sad situation and I have to continue to remind myself that she can't help it. She's only 7.
When I think about this child's future, I'm a tad bit afraid for what may be in store for her if she doesn't get the attention she needs and the means she will go through to get it. I just hope and pray that everything works out fine.
I hope that you all understand that the slightest gesture means so much to a child. You may think something as small as acknowledging them when they say "Good Morning" is not a big deal. Remember it means a lot to that child. I hope that I reached a couple of you out there today and that my post had a positive effect on you.
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