As the school year winds down, the discussions in the staff room begin in earnest about who has what teaching assignment next year and what students are on which class list. And, unfortunately, you may sometimes hear talk about who is going to have 'that child' in their class. The child with the challenging behaviours; the child who hits, or kicks or misses so much school that their learning is fragmented at best.
Aviva Dunsiger wrote a blog in September 2017 that you may wish to share that asks us to reframe 'that child.'
Aviva says:
This student is doing the very best job that he/she can. This student — like all students — deserves a positive space in the classroom. At one time or another, any child can be “that child”, and every child needs to know that he or she has the additional love and support to make it through a challenging time.
A former principal said of Aviva's blog,
This is one of my favorites. I have shared this with former colleagues in the past. “That child” was the reason I took the Foundations course in the first place. I knew there was something I was missing; something he needed that I wasn’t giving him. This would make an awesome staff meeting discussion starter.
Years ago, I went to visit a very experienced kindergarten teacher and she had a student with some really challenging behaviours in her class. As I watched him, she said to me, "He's making me a better teacher." She was reframing his behaviour which made it a positive experience not only for the student but for her as well.
As you and your colleagues consider your class lists for next year, think about how you might reframe 'that child.'
