Some kidlets just aren't designed for sitting in desks all day.
Take this little guy, for example.
It became pretty obvious early on in the school year that I was going to have to make a choice: spend the year trying to teach him to sit in a desk the way desks were designed to be sat in OR spend the year trying to teach him how to be a better reader and writer.
Can you tell which curriculum option I went with?
He is a really good, fun, smart kid. He doesn't try to be bouncy or wiggly. He has never walked into class with the express goal of recreating a Cirque Du Soleil routine in the back of the room.
It is just that he can only really focus on one difficult thing at a time, learning or sitting.
He can sit in his desk correctly OR he can participate in the class discussion.
He can keep his feet on the floor OR he can get his work done.
He can be engaged in the lesson, or he can keep his backside in his seat.
And that is ok because he is THIRTEEN.
Someday soon, the parts of his brain that can think critically, plan, and control impulses will kick in and then siting still and listening won't be mutually exclusive activities.
I hope.
But if not, he can always get a job working at the junior high with the rest of us adults who never quite mastered those sitting-still-skills.
2 comments:
Seriously, Mindy, this is awesome!! I found your blog through Karlenn and i love all your adventures. It is so refreshing to see a quality teacher choose her battles wisely and do what is best for her student! Way to Go!!!
Bentley just avoided sitting at all during his 6th grade year, and his teacher was okay with that. She just kept his desk in the back so he wasn't standing in front of someone. Good choice. :)
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