Stubborn students

What about the boys?

Hahahahaha!

The boys are easy. 7&8th graders are babies.

And after 8th grade we never see them again unless they are concussed...

There is a lot of anger inside my daughter. It tears me up inside. I hate that the divorce, which was one of the best things to ever happen to me, is so awful for my kids.

My oldest is to the point where she does not want to go see her dad anymore. But I have to work while they go there, so I can't let her stay home on his weekends. It must be awful to be 11 and know that you are SUPPOSED to want to be with your dad and know that you don't want to and not have the emotional maturity to express that.

And... now I can't wait to hug her after school. :)

{{{kidzcare}}} sounds like you need a hug too!

This has happened before, but never with a student quite as insistent as the one I had this morning...

Girl comes in 8 minutes after the day has started and goes on and on about how she feels sick. No fever, no vomiting. She asks to call home. I tell her she can call and let mom/dad know how she is feeling but that she CANNOT ask to be picked up and that once mom/dad make a decision- the decision is final.

She calls and proceeds to argue with her dad on the phone for 12 minutes when he says she needs to get back to class. She is crying in my office and refusing to go to class. I was stern with her and told her she had to return. Took a while, but she left. she asked if she could use the bathroom and I told her that if she puked, I needed to see it and she decided not to. She never went to her class, but went to the bathroom instead. Came back to my office, begged to call dad again, I gave her a 3 minute limit. She continued to argue with dad. I was thinking I was going to need an administrator to intervene.

How do you handle these students?

Previously worked middle school. When the girl returned to your office, I would have explained by hiding out in the bathroom she was truant. I would have given her the opportunity to return to class, escorted by me. If she still refused, I would have called an admin. It has been my experience this type of behavior has been rewarded in the past, so it continues.

Usually kid went to class. I would talk with them walking back and tell them they could come talk to me if something was bothering them, but that I respected honesty, not being manipulated. 7th grade girls generally know what they are doing and that is a learned behavior that needs to be nipped.

Previously worked middle school. When the girl returned to your office, I would have explained by hiding out in the bathroom she was truant. I would have given her the opportunity to return to class, escorted by me. If she still refused, I would have called an admin. It has been my experience this type of behavior has been rewarded in the past, so it continues.

Usually kid went to class. I would talk with them walking back and tell them they could come talk to me if something was bothering them, but that I respected honesty, not being manipulated. 7th grade girls generally know what they are doing and that is a learned behavior that needs to be nipped.

I let her know that I was not happy that she had never reported to class and told her that I'd be calling the teacher to let them know that she was on her way. Didn't see her again yesterday... Don't think she likes me very much. I shall cry into my coffee.

I think the last nurse was more lenient than I am. The two secretaries that are right outside my office commented that they like that I don't let the students linger in my office so I think the old nurse probably did.

Previously worked middle school. When the girl returned to your office, I would have explained by hiding out in the bathroom she was truant. I would have given her the opportunity to return to class, escorted by me. If she still refused, I would have called an admin. It has been my experience this type of behavior has been rewarded in the past, so it continues.

Usually kid went to class. I would talk with them walking back and tell them they could come talk to me if something was bothering them, but that I respected honesty, not being manipulated. 7th grade girls generally know what they are doing and that is a learned behavior that needs to be nipped.

Yes! We certainly do not do them any favors by reinforcing a really negative behavior. I have seen this scenario play out horribly (academically) for some.

Then the parents (who grab their lil snowflake the minute the think they are in distress) are SCREAMING when the kid is not on the honor roll, not passing or not graduating!

{{{kidzcare}}} sounds like you need a hug too!

Absolutely- Here's a hug from me too ((((((((((kidz))))))))) Hang in there mama.

Then the parents (who grab their lil snowflake the minute the think they are in distress) are SCREAMING when the kid is not on the honor roll, not passing or not graduating!

I LOVE that my new school takes attendance so seriously. If a student calls home and a parent chooses to pick up, it is coded differently than if I send them home for illness/injury and if a pattern emerges they are warned and monitored for truancy.

At my old school, any pick up was excused and parents were VERY catered to. It was frustrating to say the least.

I let her know that I was not happy that she had never reported to class and told her that I'd be calling the teacher to let them know that she was on her way. Didn't see her again yesterday... Don't think she likes me very much. I shall cry into my coffee.

kidz- don't waste good coffee!! come on now.

kidz- don't waste good coffee!! come on now.

Oh, the coffee is long gone That's really why I'm crying.

Oh, the coffee is long gone That's really why I'm crying.

That makes me cry for you. Is there are Starbucks near? I think someone was delivering yesterday.

I LOVE that my new school takes attendance so seriously. If a student calls home and a parent chooses to pick up, it is coded differently than if I send them home for illness/injury and if a pattern emerges they are warned and monitored for truancy.

At my old school, any pick up was excused and parents were VERY catered to. It was frustrating to say the least.

Yes. This is me.