My first few days as being a teacher for the month has been nothing short of a learning experience. If I don’t have to tell at least 3 kids everyday to stop hitting then it’s just not a normal day. If I don’t catch at least one kid trying to choke another kid then it’s not a normal day. If my heart doesn’t break for these kids then it’s not a normal day.
My first day at school I found out that the teachers are allowed to hit the students with a stick or hit them on the head with their hand. I was taken aback by this but even more taken aback when the teacher told me I could hit the kids if I needed them to listen. There was just something so casual about her telling me this that I didn’t like it. I began praying about this. I didn’t ask God to tell me if it was okay to discipline the kids this way but I asked Him to give me another way to discipline. He did.
My little buddy Joshua has some problems with anger. He is 6 years old. One day I caught him choking multiple students and biting and hitting. I finally had to do something about it. I pulled him aside and just talked with him. I asked him why he was being mean to the other students and if he knew it was wrong to choke, bite and hit. I didn’t get much out of my buddy Joshua but what I saw happen after he sat back down was remarkable.
Joshua went and sat back down like I told him to, but he didn’t try and be mean to the kids the rest of the day. It was then I realized that these kids all they need is love. You can’t get through to them by just telling them to stop doing something or by hitting them. However, if you take a few minutes to just love on them their attitude does a 180 turn.
For each kid I have learned there are different ways to get through to them. I learned about this concept in my social work classes. It’s called “meeting someone where they are at.” One kid I have to make him stand off by himself for 5 minutes and then talk to him and he’s okay. A few students if I just call them out in front of the entire class they behave the rest of the day. It’s hard seeing that the kids aren’t loved on all the time but I’m glad I can be at this particular school so that I can love on them and encourage them as much as possible.
financial update: I still need $4,566 to be fully funded.
