Challenges & The Poor New Girl

Today, we had a new student join our class. First of all, I was never the "new kid." I was blessed enough to be raised with the same kids from before pre-school through high school graduation. I have no personal experience with being the new kid in a new class of a new school. But being a teacher, I see it often.

The entire fourth grade (over 70 kids plus several teachers) was stuffed into the computer lab for technology camp. That was challenge #1. Being a rainy morning, the kids were extra chatty today, so it was noisy. My poor new student probably wondered what she was walking into at first. She came in a bit hesitant and shy, and I instantly felt for her. Well, that's when the fun began.

Within a very short time, we had challenge #2 - a fire drill. Shuttling sardines out of a can full of computer equipment and chairs would be a good description of what happened. I'm surprised we made it out between all of the chairs, kids, one child with a walker, several teachers, and only one door . While that isn't miraculous, it was a challenge.

Enter challenge #3. Rain. Yep, it was raining outside. And we were standing in it waiting for the okay to return. Oh geez.

Due to our schedule, the class doesn't go back to our classroom until noon. The new girl had been in school for hours without even seeing her class. We returned for only 30 minutes before leaving the room again for recess. Time for challenge #4. A student with special needs was having a rough afternoon and went into melt down. There was screaming, pounding, and the eventual dragging of him out of recess. Poor new girl probably thought she had entered the death zone. Challenge #5 - Math test. Multiplication. New girl hadn't been studying multiplication so far this year. She took the test and (after me telling her it wouldn't be a grade for her) she did her best.

Gosh, I hope the poor thing returns tomorrow!