Now, P is the sort of kid that trouble follows; he gets called to the dean all the time, often gets into fights, and came to school high most of last semester (I have him 9th period, so I usually saw him sober). Yet, P was staying fairly calm. I mean, I saw the anger boiling in his brain, practically coming out his ears, but he wasn't saying anything back.
When the new kid asked to go the bathroom, I went to P - he immediately said, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" I said, "No, wait, listen. I really, really appreciate how mature and patient you are being. Keep it up for the rest of the period, and come talk to me then about if this seating arrangement is something you can handle or if it needs to change."
P kept it up, even at the end - I was talking to the girls about watching a documentary on pregnancy and birth. P said, "I couldn't watch that. I might throw up." Of course, the new kid started at him, "What? Man up! Are you telling me you never seen that before? Come on! Be a man!"
After the new kid left, I said, "It's not going to work is it, P?" P shook his head vehemently, "Naaaah, miss." I thanked P again and told him I would give him 4 merits for all his effort. Then I called his parents. His mom answered, and when I told her the story, you could hear her smiling through the phone: "P did that? Tell his father!" When his dad got on the phone, he was so excited: "Wait, he's not in trouble? He can come to school tomorrow?"
I didn't have P the next day for class (half-day), but when I saw him in the hallway, he didn't say anything, just engulfed me in a big hug and went on his way.
15. Make 1 positive phone call to a student's home each week (1/143)
-PS (10 March 2011), for maintaining a mature, patient, and calm demeanor in a stressful situation
What a wonderful story! 4 merits for you as well miss meg!
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