not even remotely awfulest...

... in another pre-K classroom today, in a different school, with a different teacher who had a far and away better handle on the rowdies entrusted to her care. It is not likely that she had any more or any less as far as kids who could not relate actions to consequences, or little people who were less adept at social skills or anger management. Apparently the difference can be attributed to years of experience. They were remarkably well controlled, and for the most part, cooperative and willing to follow instructions.

There were actually more students in the class room today, and yes, there were a few who had  problems with following instructions: could not sit still, or keep their hands to themselves, mouths constantly chattering. Not unusual for four and five year olds. But most were able to get their work done. Even though some totally failed to follow instructions, obviously not listening to what they were told to do, just blithely going along, coloring, cutting, gluing in the haphazard manner they chose, rather than how the assignment was meant to be completed.  As table-mates diligently did  as told...  these few were randomly scissoring away blissfully unaware of the proper way to do their work.  As if they had earplugs in when the teacher explained, and demonstrated what she wanted: completely in a fog, doing their own little thing.

She had to leave the classroom for a ninety minute meeting, and left me on my own. Scarey. Not at all what I expected when I signed on to be the teacher's assistant, never intending to be the person in charge. How out of control can they get in an hour's time? Not tooooo bad, I suppose. Thirty minutes of the ninety was lunch, so it was not tooooo terribly awful. But honestly: not what I wanted.

Some one came in the classroom in the early afternoon, passing out new pencils. With '100 Days' stamped on each wooden pencil. But unsharpened, so the teacher had to sharpen two dozen pencils before they went home. Took one away from one little boy, who had a complete loss of control, total meltdown for the remainder of the day. Even though she assured him he could get it tomorrow, he spent the rest of the day  crying and flinging himself on the floor, desperate for the return of his pencil. Defiant, belligerent, unmanageable. But the teacher never lost her equanimity, remaining calm and hopefully held onto her sanity till the end of the school day.