"I don't want to go to art!"

Funny kid quote:

Adorable child with impeccable style: "You know what they call me?"
Me: "What do they call you?"
Adorable child with impeccable style: "They call me P-Gittles 'cause I'm legit."  Haha!

So, my Tuesday was full of adventures.  Most notably, while I was walking my class to art, one of my students was lagging behind.  I said, "C!  Hurry up and join the line!  You don't want to miss art!"  Wrong choice of words.  "I do want to miss art.  I'm not going there."  After leading the rest of the class, I went back to find him in the hallway.  He told me he needed to "use it" so I let him go.  Wrong decision again.  Once he came out of the bathroom, he started walking down the hallway away from the art room.  He darted into the gym and out again.  I kept trying to ask him questions about how he was feeling and why he didn't want to go to art, but he just kept repeating that he didn't want to go.  I wasn't too surprised because many of our students have shared that same sentiment with me.  Regardless, he needed to be in art class and I needed to get back and meet with my team.  C decided to get a drink of water, and soon after another one of the "wanderers" from within our house came out.  They were chatting it up, both talking about how they hated the specials they were in right now and that they weren't going to go.  At this point, I had no idea how to coerce them into their specials without physically bringing them, which was not an option.

I went back to my classroom and told my CT what was up.  She started to walk out the door to take care of it and I stopped her.  I was worried that if she went to take care of it, that C wouldn't see me as an equal teacher.  He would see me as subordinate and not take me as seriously as he needs to for us to have a good relationship this year.  She agreed with me and said, "You're going to go to him, take his hand, and walk him to art.  You'll sit with him for three minutes and then say, "You're doing a great job.  I'll see you when art is done."  I went to him and did exactly that, and it worked out.  I spoke to him after art and he didn't seem excited about what they had done, but the fact that he stayed in the room was a success.  It makes me wonder, though, what do you do with kids who obstinately refuse to do things?  I know you can give them choices, but sometimes there aren't many choices to be had.  Deep down, it may seem like the real issue is that he doesn't enjoy art class.  In reality, this behavior happens a lot.  He'll walk out of the room at will, or wander/pace the classroom while we're in morning meeting.  He is the kid that you think about hours and hours after the school day ends.  I hope we can get through to him soon- I'm just not sure how.

Later that day, we went to Owen Woods, a nature preserve within walking distance of our school.  How awesome is that?!  We had a great two hours walking, observing, and documenting the things that we saw and heard.  I can't wait to do more nature-related science things!  So much better than a Foss kit.

Today, Wednesday, is kind of crazy because I'm only with the kids for 3.75 hours before I leave for seminar on campus.  It feels weird every time.  I feel like I miss so much in the half day that I'm gone!  Seminar does have a purpose, I understand that, but this early into the semester it just seems like the same old rhetoric we've been hearing since the start of the program.  Hopefully I can find a silver lining and a positive attitude about the whole thing!

I have to finish up reading the training manual for my job at KinderCare.  I think I'll be starting tomorrow.  Exciting!

-Ms. Brittany :)