The lesson plan contained subtle clues that led me to believe that the class might not be all that cooperative. Things like: "Make sure they remain in their assigned seats". Okay then.
So, I made sure to check the seating chart carefully. As things were getting started, one girl stood up and made her way across the room...
"Back to your assigned seat, please."
She turned. Headed back to her seat. Muttered something... Something about a bitch...
*Ahem*
Moments later, I received a slip asking me to send that girl to the office. Happily, I sent her out.
But she returned. *Deep sigh* I let her know I heard her comment from before she left.
"I wasn't talking to you..."
She explained she was referring to her friend. The friend called her over, and somehow my telling her to go back to her seat became a reason to call her friend a name.
Okay. Fine. We'll go with that story, and I let it drop.
Okay. Fine. We'll go with that story, and I let it drop.
But now she needed to make sure I fixed the note. Names in note get serious consequences.
I was busy. But she followed up several times. She hadn't been talking to me, so the incident needed to be expunged.
Thing is, I don't believe her.
But, I made a "correction" note anyway. I wrote her explanation next to my note.
I'll meet her again eventually in some class or other. Better to try to make nice in hopes of her future cooperation. Besides, I didn't delete the note. I just let her have her say as well.
I'll meet her again eventually in some class or other. Better to try to make nice in hopes of her future cooperation. Besides, I didn't delete the note. I just let her have her say as well.
That was the best way to handle it. Because yeah, I don't buy her story either.
ReplyDeletegreat way of dealing with it
ReplyDeleteThanks
DeleteNext time you might tell her that word is not allowed in your class no matter who it is spoken to. The students called me "Dirty Harry" to one another when I substituted. :-) But times have only gotten more chaotic as a teacher, right?
ReplyDeleteDirty Harry? Brilliant. I've tried to do the whole no profanity thing. Some just will not comply with that.
DeleteI would have done the same; record her explanation; but I'm with you, I wouldn't have believed it anyway.
ReplyDeletebetty
It was so under her breath that if it was directed at her friend, it wasn't meant to be heard.
DeleteI wouldn't have changed the note! But them it's possible that I am really a bitch!! I understand that changing it might make your future dealings with her better!!
ReplyDeleteI put in her side of the story. Sometimes that's enough.
DeleteYep! Of course her side of the story should have been shared!
DeleteAt least you didn't delete the note. The teacher can get to the bottom of it, and decide if she believes the girl's story or not.
ReplyDeleteAnd she knows the student pretty well, so she'll know what story is believable.
DeleteThat's probably the best way you could have handled it *nods* Hope that type of thing doesn't happen too often!!
ReplyDeleteIt didn't used to. But it just happened again today. This time the boy didn't deny it.
DeleteSounds like you handled it well. I was called unflattering things many a time, but it was a behavioral program filled with angry teens, so it was just kind of expected.
ReplyDeleteThat was way over the line. She may have instantly regretted it when it slipped out, but she needs to get punished for it. Maybe next time she'll be able to hold her tongue better.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your note stands - in my book, calling anyone a bitch is not cool. In fact, probably worse to call your "friend" a bitch.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. I don't know why she thought that made things better.
DeleteShe shouldn't be calling anyone a bitch. Swearing in school got you sent to the office back when I was in high school, and probably suspended.
ReplyDeleteVery fair, and I admire your patience, but do you ever get home at night and scream in frustration?
ReplyDeleteVR Barkowski
You handled it well and you let her know that you heard her
ReplyDeleteSeems to have a quelling effect. Same thing happened today. The boy, however, didn't deny saying it.
DeleteHitch rhymes with Witch. Sound like she doesn't respect authority and I would guess she also don't respect her self.
ReplyDeleteCoffee is on
Yes. That. Exactly. She's got other obvious issues.
DeleteAs others have already said, I think you did the right thing. At least the girl must have some respect for her teacher (or fear of consequences), since she kept trying to get you to fix the note.
ReplyDeleteFear of the consequences. She's already on the school's radar for various other misdeeds.
DeleteUgh... I'm sorry you dealt with such disrespect. It sounds like this student has some growing up to do.
ReplyDeleteYup. And I doubt I'll see that while she's at school.
DeleteThat was very decent of you. Gosh they can be infuriating. Sometimes I think they think teachers are idiots.
ReplyDeleteOh, they do. They don't get that we've all been their age once.
DeleteI could not handle your job. It seems you have a really good sense of how to handle the kids. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if that's true. I just battle on through.
DeleteGood job writing her story next to your own. She got her say, you got your say. Sometimes it's just not worth the fight. Hopefully next time you run into her she will be more cooperative and kind. Maybe she will even be grateful? You never know with kids though. Sometimes they are sweet … and sometimes they aren't. :-/
ReplyDeleteNah. Grateful? If anything, I'll hear from outside the door, "Oh no, not her." And probably some version of, "She hates me." Which isn't true.
DeleteYou handled that quite well. I would have done the same.
ReplyDeleteMary
#AtoZChallenge Reflections and #IWSG
Thanks.
DeleteName calling is name calling, no matter who it is for. You can explain that, very matter of factly, and it makes her argument a moot point. The real key is, did she get to you? If she got to you emotionally, she won, regardless.
ReplyDeleteNah. When things like this happen, I think, blog fodder!
Delete