Life is all about choices. As a teacher I drill that into my kids everyday. Not only I do I tell them about choices, the teachers at my school have to drill this information into our homerooms everyday. We have software and workbooks for the students that basically reviews simple life skills and gives them scenarios where they have to make decisions. We can only hope that they make the correct choice. I thought it was kind of funny at first, because MTC taught us to use choices as a classroom management tool. In actually, life is always about choices. I think a teacher's worst nightmare is having a student who is highly capable of achieving but she just simply chooses not to do her work.
I have a student who is not trying to pass at all. (Yeah, your probably thinking, you and every other teacher, right?) Well not only is Lena Homes not trying, I am beginning to wonder if she even cares. First, let me tell you a little about Lena. Lena is a very unique child. Lena is a short, brown-skinned girl with a very tough exterior. She has a mischievous smile that makes you question, " what is this girl up to now?"
My first encounter with Lena occurred about a month after I started last year. I wondered if Lena was even enrolled in my class, because she was only present on the roll and not in anywhere else. I didn't know if Lena was still located on my roll or if she moved to a different class. During the first beginnings of school, many students' classes are still being changed. I requested an updated roster which I received about December as we were leaving for the holidays...but that's another story. Back to Lena. It wasn't until the end of September when the principal showed up with Lena at the door and said, "Do you have this student in your class? I looked at the student's face and said "No, I don't think so. She's never been here before!" He looked puzzled then looked at Lena and questioned, "I thought you were supposed to be in Biology 7th period?" Lena replied, "Yeah, this is my class." I quickly asked, "What's her name," then Mr. Day looked at me and replied, "Lena Homes." I said, "Yeah, she is supposed to be in here, but I haven't seen her since I've been here!" He ushered her into the door and said that she is a chronic skipper and to not let her out of class for any reason. I looked at Lena and welcomed her to my class. I could not help wondering how this child was missing for one whole month of school. Immediately, in the class she began acting out. Everyone could tell that she did not want to be there. During that five minutes before the bell rang to go home, Lena began to crack jokes and play. I knew then that I would have to have a plan for Lena Homes.
Last year, the problem with Lena was just to keep her in class. Now the problem has diverged to keep her in school and to help her pass. Lena is a constant behavior problem. Not just in my class, she terrorizes other teachers. Lena does not skip anymore, now it's a constant battle to keep her at school. Since she is a behavior problem, she is never in school. She's always suspended (out of school) or in in school isolation, ISI, or better known as ISS, in school suspension. When she comes back to class from a disciplinary vacation, she does not make up her missing assignments. At first I didn't know if Lena was capable of highly excelling in my classroom and I even asked the counselor to check her records and see if she should be in Biology I. She was supposed to be in there, although I couldn't tell. Lena is an attention-craver. When she was in class, she believed it was her job to entertain the entire class. As much as I hate to admit it, the girl was pretty funny at times. However, it she was not that funny when you're trying to prepare your students for the state test.
One particular day last week I saw Lena's name on the In School Isolation list again this time for four days, almost one full school week. I went to ISI to explain the assignments to Lena and to give her work for today. During my explanation of the assignment, Lena was rolling her eyes and looking everywhere but at the information I was trying to show her. That was my last straw for Lena! I asked the ISI teacher could I speak to Lena alone. She looked at me relieved and said sure. I took Lena outside into the hallway, and I told her that I was trying to help her and that I cared if she passed. Then I further explained that it didn't matter if I cared she passed, if she didn't care she passed. I tried to help her to see the bad choices she was making in class. I admitted to her that I knew she was trying to be a class clown, but I explained to her while her classmates may laugh with her, they were passing in the mean time. I told her, "Next year they will be laughing without you while she's in remediation Biology I. They'll say, remember Lena, she sure was funny. I wonder where she's at now." I studied her face while I was talking to her. Her mischievous smile disappeared. I told her she had a choice to make: whether she wanted to pass Biology I or whether she wanted to fail Biology I.
Later that week I spoke to her counselor who basically explained that Lena has a lot of trouble at home. Lena told me a little about her home situation one day when I told her I was going to call her mom. She replied, "Go ahead and call her she don't care about me." Since Lena looks up to her counselor I told her that I would give her daily updates about Lena's progress in my class. I explained to the counselor the work and effort Lena would have to put forth in order to pass Biology I at this point. She said she understood and personally volunteered to escort her home after tutoring sessions. After the talk with both her counselor and myself Lena came into class Friday and paid attention to the lesson. She was very inquisitive and even took notes. I am anxious to see if this was a successful intervention for Lena, but for Lena, only time will tell.
