I suspect a lot of my students are neurodivergent, because it’s a non-traditional, private school that utilizes different teaching methods that adapt to the children versus the traditional French school system which does not adapt at all. ND kids seriously struggle. My friend has been working there longer than me and explained that they do get a higher number of ND kids, and that ND teachers seem to be the ones that stick around (the owner/director is also likely ND). Matthew is one that sticks out to me, and I picked up on it right away with how he plays and how he reacts to frustrations. He very likely would get labeled as a “bad” kid in normal school settings. His mom is so apologetic when I talk to her about how frustrated he gets and like it’s something she did to him, but I explain not at all and his reactions aren’t out of the ordinary for how big his feelings are. It just comes down to figuring out what’s causing those feelings and what can I do to help him through it. That’s difficult when we don’t speak the same language but one good thing I can say about myself is that I’m patient. Even the director said that about me on the first day, she told me she was impressed with how patient I was even when things got difficult.
I also suspect Eloise is as well. She’s my little friend and I’m going to miss having her in my class. I plan to tell the new teacher all about them, what works, etc. Eloise cries a lot but responds well to niceness and comforting words. She wants what she wants - usually it’s her doudou when she’s not supposed to have it, but I found workarounds for that too (though next year, they can’t have their doudous at all and I feel for her). Like when she’s outside, doudous can get lost or dirty and it’s a rule they can’t carry them around outside - but I could keep them in my lap and she could come cuddle for a bit and go back to playing, she learned to give it back to me without even asking. I had a few doudous sometimes but it beat the alternative of them needing comfort and being denied it imo.
I’m glad you enjoyed the entry. I really love talking about them, that’s how I know that I should go back. It’s just my fear of doing a bad job that had me considering not doing so, but if everyone is happy with me…. I need to stop getting in my own way. They offered to let me move up a grade but I really like this age group. The older ones would be easier, most of them speak some English already, no potty training accidents, less tantrums… but I just really love this age group. They’re so much fun.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2024-08-08 04:34 pm (UTC)I also suspect Eloise is as well. She’s my little friend and I’m going to miss having her in my class. I plan to tell the new teacher all about them, what works, etc. Eloise cries a lot but responds well to niceness and comforting words. She wants what she wants - usually it’s her doudou when she’s not supposed to have it, but I found workarounds for that too (though next year, they can’t have their doudous at all and I feel for her). Like when she’s outside, doudous can get lost or dirty and it’s a rule they can’t carry them around outside - but I could keep them in my lap and she could come cuddle for a bit and go back to playing, she learned to give it back to me without even asking. I had a few doudous sometimes but it beat the alternative of them needing comfort and being denied it imo.
I’m glad you enjoyed the entry. I really love talking about them, that’s how I know that I should go back. It’s just my fear of doing a bad job that had me considering not doing so, but if everyone is happy with me…. I need to stop getting in my own way. They offered to let me move up a grade but I really like this age group. The older ones would be easier, most of them speak some English already, no potty training accidents, less tantrums… but I just really love this age group. They’re so much fun.