"Gotta Keep My Cool"

Okay, so this week I was not sure if I was going to share this with all of you. I could not believe that I had this encounter with one of my students. Now, I already know that they do not wait to be there, but I try my best to provide engaging activities related to reading so they will focus. I created “do nows”, morning class assignments, that allow them to self-reflect and critically think. I was not prepared for the wind that would blow in my class that morning.

As my students walked into my class and it was business as usual, attendance, do nows, and an update on what was going on in our lives. I had some new students in my class, so as usual I walked around while they completed their do nows to read their assignments and in an effort to learn their names. What I did not know is that a student would curse me out. I was every name in the book instead of Ms.Knox. I was in shock. I never had this happen to me. I wasn’t sure how I should respond. All I could think of is that if I allowed him to get away with this type of behavior my other students would like that it was okay and be sure to try it. I had to write that young man up on a referral.
As an educator, I want to provide a peaceful and learning conducive environment. That type of behavior was just unacceptable. I really had to keep my cool. Some of my students know that I grew up in the same impoverished neighborhoods they live in now. In their words, “I m hood” or “ghetto”. Despite their terminology, it is a connecting piece and a point of reference for us. They know I could have gone there with that student. However, I decided that it was not the place to do. I had handle the situation in a professional manner and be an example for my students in the area of conflict resolution.  It was important for me to show my students that sometimes you have to “eat humble pie”, but be assertive at the same time. After all was said and done, my other students were just as confused as I was. They could not believe that their classmate was completely disrespectful. I took it as another lesson learned. In every moment, I advantage of the lesson.