Iris seemed fine as she entered class. She wore a t-shirt with "Baby Girl" emblazoned on the front. And she was talking and joking with her classmates.
The class: seventh grade science. I did my intro and got the class started. Then someone asked to use the restroom.
When that girl came back, she didn't go right back to her desk. She hovered at Iris'. (Iris' desk was next to the door.) When I went to shoo her back, she informed me that Iris was crying.
Whenever I'm crying, the last thing I want is "sympathy"...
(I'm not heartless. I offered to let Iris go see her counselor or even just to sit outside. She said no and left her head on her desk.)
Another girl from across the room when to "help" Iris. I overheard something about a boy and "finding out on [her] own". I shooed girl two away.
Not five minutes later, Iris and the girl seated next her her are happily sharing a set of earbuds and discussing the music on one of their phones...
Okay, fine. If she's no longer sad, she can get to work, right? I made sure she had what she needed, and she did indeed get started.
But, she hadn't made much progress by the end of the period, when the assignment was due.
Seventh graders... Typical.
Teenage drama. lol
ReplyDeleteOh my...
DeleteOh, I hated that age. ~nods~ Be well!
ReplyDeleteAnd I had them all week. Well, not that class. 7th grade. All week. It was a long week.
DeleteBoy drama at that age. Ooof!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah.
DeleteYou didn't have the heart to tell her it will happen many times throughout her teen years? Drama!
ReplyDeleteYep. That's seventh grade all right. The technology changes, but the drama...not as much. I would never want to be that age again.
ReplyDeleteIn my day desks and chairs were arranged in a big square, boys sat one side and girls the other. Logical it seemed until teachers got wise to strange staring and sitting between some of us. Teach sure got us to tow the line back then...
ReplyDeleteI suppose some part of me is thankful I never had that kind of drama. Boys had noooo interest in me... the art club, honor society, drama geek who had braces and glasses. Heck, I even had one boy turn me down when I asked him to a girl's choice dance. Ah well. It worked out for me, and I'm sure it'll work out for Iris too.
ReplyDeleteWe'll see. She had some interesting ideas about life that she told me about the next day.
DeleteOh yeah, seventh graders are big on the drama. Good thing it clears up quickly.
ReplyDeleteI believe I made the right choice not to teach anyone under the age of 20. Patience with adolescent drama is not one of my strengths. I never had girls, but even the boys could pull some pretty dramatic stunts at about 12. My hat is off to you for doing the job.
ReplyDeleteBut typical of the age, it all passes in a heartbeat.
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Maybe the whole meaning of life is love. Or maybe it's not? Who the hell knows I guess. Maybe my meaning is to comment on this post. So I guess I'll do that.
ReplyDeleteOh yes....it’s Dynasty all over again
ReplyDeleteLOL
DeleteIs she an attention seeker? Or bipolar?
ReplyDeletebetty
It's tough being that age. You couldn't pay me to go back to the 7th grade--not as a teacher or a student. ;)
ReplyDeleteIt is a tough age. Always the adventure for a sub ;)
DeleteIt's good that the tears didn't last long. :-)
ReplyDelete