Princess

Another chaotic episode involved a fifth grade student whom I called “Princess.” She was really put off by all the noise that began when I showed up. Many times students will tell me how disturbed they are about the conduct of their peers whenever a substitute is present. It is true; students think it is free-for-all time. I have seen kids who were well behaved at the beginning of class give up and join the squall within a couple of hours. The group rapidly turns into a mob. There are a few students who continue to work independently and never mix into the fray. They must have nerves of steel.

Anyway, Princess was a budding ten-year old who experienced anxiety at the disruption of her class and wanted to call her mother! I said no and she sobbed, head on her arm, at her desk. I told her to come up to my desk where I tried to explain to her that her crying was just as upsetting as the other activities that were taking place in the classroom at that moment. I tried to get her to relax and not expect everything to go as usual today. As I talked with her I notice her T-shirt said “Princess.”

Later that same day, someone spilled Princess’ science project, which consisted of a cup filled with vinegar, syrup and a raw egg, all over the inside of her cubby hole where she had lined her books up in a neat row. I moaned internally at the thought of how this would set her off on another crying jag. And indeed, when she discovered this mess, she began to wail. But other students came to her aid and by the end of the day she was quite happy and content.