I subbed for “Brandon” today, not my first rodeo with a Brandon kicking at his chute. Brandon wrote on his table in marker and crayon. He shredded assignments, cardboard and random papers. He tried to crumple a classmate’s math paper. He left the room without permission twice and skipped an assignment or two. Brandon’s teacher had forewarned me.
He’s a little, blond boy who takes all the caps off the markers right before gym and leaves them open inside his box. I don’t think his glue stick breaks by accident. I don’t think his snack crackers ended up in crumbs around his seat by accident, either.
Brandon is hell on wheels compared to the average kindergartener. At five years of age, he can still play the cuteness card, but he only has a few years before that card will no longer rescue him. As I say, I have known Brandons and I marvel at how early some problems manifest themselves in little kids. Right now, he is being called ADHD and his teachers are gathering documentation to support that case.
He may be ADHD. Obviously I can’t draw any major conclusions based on seven hours of protecting kids and tables in one classroom. I will note that his behavior always seemed destructive as well as distracted.
Still, I had an enjoyable day. I kept a sharp watch, breathed deeply, and smiled at my cute, little miscreant every chance I got, every time he followed the program or did what had been asked. He smiled back after awhile. He started trying to get me to smile, although he never fully sheathed the crayons or highlighters.
Eduhonesty: No quick fix will change Brandon. Smiles cannot change the fact that Brandon naturally throws wrenches into class routines. I’d like to recommend you smile anyway. Praise any behavior you can praise. You may not win, but you have nothing to lose.
As you teach, you will encounter students who do not respond well to positive reinforcement, and who respond to almost nothing else. Find a place in your heart for them anyway. Find a way to include them in group activities. Figure out what works best, even if that best leaves a few crayon streaks in its wake. You may have to sit Brandon beside you or you may want to find him an isolated corner. Where is he comfortable? The more relaxed Brandon becomes, the easier your life will be.
If it helps, remind yourself that no education class you will ever take will teach you half as much about classroom management as a month or two with Brandon.