Why is the students that need the most help and encouragement are the ones that always miss school?Aaarrgghhh!
A bright young man named Joe (a pseudonym) got moved from the 5th hour block into 1st hour. My CT's 3rd and 5th hour blocks were honors level classes. Joe is very quiet and keeps to himself but has not come to more than a handful of classes since he was moved out of honors Language Arts and Math. We heard that he was moving to another school but now, now that may not be the case. Whatever the situation something has changed since he was moved. He rarely participates and mainly just draws during class. I have noticed that he has not moved his journal from the 5th hour crate to the 1st hour one. I told my CT that and she had not noticed that. She was going to refer him to the school's counselor.
I can only imagine how this young man must feel. No one even talked with him about it that I know of, they just moved him. I am wondering what else I can do to help him. Today I tried to help him get caught up with the writing of his narrative to where the other students are but he is very resistant. He will engage only as long as you are right there with him. Once you leave he starts drawing. I really don't know what to do.
And I have noticed that it seems that the ones who need the most attention are the ones who have issues with being tardy or chronic absenteeism. When you ask them why they are late the answers they give you are sometimes heartbreaking, "My mom didn't wake up" or "I was up till 2am watching a movie and didn't wake up."
Back to Joe. I did get him to smile today. He was telling me about his story entitle "The Good Guy." I asked him if he was the good guy and he and said, "No, that is Eugene." I told him I bet he was a good guy just maybe not for his story and he smiled. All I can hope is that somehow he will start coming to class and that we can make him see that it is okay to be in the class he is in. Such a sweet and sensitive young man!
