Herding cats

Yesterday was my first volunteer stint in A's classroom, which confirmed my belief that there is no amount of money that anyone could pay me to be a kindergarten teacher. Holy cow, it is difficult to find just the right words to describe the activity, the noise, the energy. And through it all, Mrs. G was in charge, calm and in the know about what was taking place in every inch of the classroom. For once, my role as the Queen was deposed and I was glad of it!

My task yesterday was to give a computer-based book quiz to all 20 students in the class. Mrs. G had read the book several times to the class so the quiz tested their comprehension and memory. One student was absent and one was in speech therapy, but that still meant that I read the same five questions 18 times. Just ask me about school bus drivers - I know it all now! The students were very polite and sweet but it will take me to the end of the year to tell one little blonde-haired girl from another!

A, of course, was not having a great day behavior-wise; the parapro had warned me when she saw me checking in at the office. Most of the time, he gets reprimanded for not listening and not following directions, which are the same behaviors that most often get him in trouble at home. Yesterday, however, he also had been doing forward rolls when he was supposed to be doing work at his seat. The teacher and parapro tell him to stop doing things before he gets formally reprimanded; I tell him over and over that when he is told to do something (or not do) by a teacher, then he is to do it immediately and that will keep him from getting into trouble.

But my discussion with Mrs. C (the parapro) yielded that he is not unusual, that it is normal for a child his age to have this difficulty in school and that with work, he will get better. And my time giving the book quiz showed me that in comparison with his classmates, A's speech and comprehension are excellent. Working in his classroom will provide me with those comparisons, help me see how he acts in class and what is expected of him in class.

I was exhausted after only 90 minutes. Mrs. G and Mrs. C - my crown is off to you!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
THREE! THREE! THREE! The Cleveland Indians beat the Detroit Tigers yesterday afternoon, so the magic number is now 3. Bring on the Oakland Athletics and let's get this done.