My 4th Visit

I don't know why, but for some reason I thought that I was supposed to be at the school at 9 am instead of the actual 9:30, so I ended up getting there super early. I waited in the parking lot from about 8:50 until 9:20. But anyway, apart from that, the day went really well.



I went to the meeting room, gathered my materials, and reminded the advisor that I wouldn't be in the next week. I picked the poem "I Am Me" because it seemed like something the kids would enjoy, but naturally, being so forgetful, I forgot the poem, I always forgot the chart that I'm supposed to use to record which sight words I'd be using with the kids. When I got to the classroom I was greeted by Tom and Cindy (my third child was still m.i.a.) so I started without the third person. First we talked about our weekends, I asked them how they were doing and they were really excited over the fact that the principal said they were able to go outside today, since it was so nice out.

I told them that I forgot the poem, and they were somewhat upset, but I told them that I would give them two feathers if they behaved. We started with the sightword game, since I forgot the chart, I had to manually draw one out with my pen. I was surprised with how well they were behaving. About ten minutes after our session started, we were greeted by the third student, (Sophia). She was very shy at first, but I introduced myself and she seemed to know the other two already. I explained what we were doing and she fell into our "sight word game" pretty naturally. After we filled up the entire sheet with our sight words, I used the sight words in a different way. I placed the cards face down on the table and each student took turns picking different cards and making sentences with them. I think the kids like this method better than using the actual chart, because they are able to use all of the sight words and aren't restricted to the usual six. (I made note of that and will probably be using this method from now on).

After this, I picked up all the cards and mixed them up and then showed them to the students one by one, they had to read the cards aloud to me simotaneously. After we finished this (they were really tired of working on sight words) I gave them a break because there was only five minutes left of the session and I think they deserved one. I gave both Tom and Sophia a feather, but when I asked Cindy if she thought she deserved one she wouldn't answer me. I think Cindy knew that she couldn't answer honestly that she thought she deserved one, throughout the session she was getting out of her seat, at one point the teacher had to come over and tell her to behave. I kept asking her what was wrong because she kept her head down on the desk and was ignoring me whenever I tried to talk to her. She had tears in her eyes but didn't want to speak to anyone.

When it was time to go, I took them back outside. I brought her to one side and asked her what was bothering her again and she said that she wanted a feather. I told her that I didn't think what she did to me was very nice, if I asked her a question she should answer. She started crying at this point, and even though I tried to be stern with her I couldn't hold my reserve and ending up giving her a feather as well. Looking back on it now, I realize that I should have stuck to my gut feeling and not have given her a feather, but I'll try to work on that. (I'm kind of a softie.)

After I walked the kids back to their classrooms, I went back to the VIPs room to fill out documentation. I told my advisor about Cindy's behavior and she said she would most likely talk to her the next day, to repremaind her for her actions. Since spring break is next week, I also reminded her that I wouldn't be there as I would be going to CA. (Soooo excited!) and that she would make note of it. I guess that's it for now, looking forward to my next meeting with the kids.