I am a bit sad that I missed all of these great posts during the week, but I came home every day, cooked, ate, and collapsed in front of tv...mostly dosing off.
This group of pandemic students who spent too much time at home are very spoiled and overindulged. Each of them expects one-on-one attention at all times. Most are getting used to functioning as a group, but a few of them tantrum like it's their job over the smallest things. Furniture gets thrown; classmates are attacked; hysterical screaming; and running out of the classroom happens at the drop of a hat.
In normal times, teachers shouldn't have to be alone with 24 kindergartners, but as funding was cut, full-day paras were cut to half-day then let go entirely. Half-day paras were brought back via temp agencies for Covid, but these are not trained staff. My new half-day para has spent most of her time disappearing...one hour to make 5 copies; 30 minutes to the bathroom; coming in two hours late...and the time she was around, she was little help and actually caused more trouble than she was worth. She actually told a child who was tantruming that he was going to jail. OMG! So inappropriate and potentially damaging, and it only escalated the tantrum. I was alone much of the week desperately needing help. I reported her to my principal, and she promised to contact the temp agency.
My student who has leukemia and epilepsy and is wheelchair-bound started school. After Mommy left, he cried, which is normal, of course. However, this little guy is a lot stronger than you would imagine. While teaching the class of 24 alone, he became so inconsolable that I had to sit with him instead of teach while the four boys who act out went wild. I couldn't leave his side or let go of his wheelchair because he was pushing against his desk to flip his wheelchair over backwards...and at one point almost succeeded. I had to ask one of my good girls to get my cellphone off of my desk so I could call for help which didn't come until the fourth call I made. The social worker responded and took him for a walk so that I could resume order in my classroom.
Meanwhile, I had to do assessments, document data, enter grades for progress reports, and get iPads up and running with Lexia for every student. I was staying late to do paperwork except for the day I got my mammogram. I had to rearrange the room moving the most violent student as far away from my medically fragile student as possible.
By the grace of God, another new para arrived and started in my room Thursday morning. She's normal!!!!!! The one that was fired showed up anyway and wouldn't leave...Awkward! She worked in the other kindergarten, so I got to keep the good one all day! What a difference it made! I got work done. There was enough attention for each student so that we had zero tantrums, just some minor nonsense. I met my deadlines. Yesterday, I had a difficult parent prevent me from teaching all morning, but that is unfortunately not unusual and something that I am accustomed to handling even though it is utterly frustrating. The only good thing that came out of it was that the parent was left feeling so pleased with me that she told the principal what a "wonderful teacher" I am. Imagine if she had left me alone to teach her kid...It's not just the kids who are spoiled, it's the parents who think they are entitled.
I am so grateful for my newest para. I think this will be a game-changer. The principal also brought on another staff member to provide support for all 4 kindergartens when it hits the fan...which is more often than not. I am fortunate to be a veteran teacher able to handle most everything, but when these age-inappropriate violent meltdowns happen, it is great to finally have support.
Thank God this week is OVER.
