William is our family dog (see image below). We lovingly refer to him as Willie-Dog, and he’s a trip.
Several years ago I gave a talk to the eighth graders at my middle school, and William was the topic. I explained that many of us are like Willie. We are all capable of making good choices and being lovable, but, like Willie, we sometimes lose our way. To illustrate my point, I told a few head spinning Willie-Dog stories. Such as, the time he snuck out the door and into out neighborhood pond… which happened to be the day we brought out first son home from the hospital. Brand new parents, newborn baby, muck-covered dog. Cool. William, as his picture shows, is a handsome and happy dog. But for all of his charm, Willie is also totally bonkers. Sweet and snuggly one moment, mischievous and ballistic the next. Last spring he got into the trash and ate some things that were absolutely not to be consumed by any living thing ever. This bad, bad choice cost us a week of fretting and a hefty sum of cash. I shared that story with a friend, and she replied, “that dog!” Yep, he’s that dog.
Oh, William.
The school year is still young, but your students are warming up. And, I am willing to bet that you have at least one, or two, or ten students that make you say, “Oh, (fill in kid’s name here).”
A few thoughts on the “Williams” in your classroom.
1) They need you. They need your love, structure, expectations. Don’t ignore these kids. Give them extra everything; most of all, give them extra love.
2) Anticipate their growth. Believe in their ability to progress. This happens slowly for some and quickly for others; one kid will grow eons, another just a bit. My teaching experience is with middle schoolers, and an eighth-grade teaching colleague of mine once reminded me that in our grade level, the magic happens January through April. It’s then that maturity, focus, and self-reflection — allusive attributes for many students at the start of the year — finally set in. These early days of boundary-building and getting acclimated bring out the worst in some kids. They will grow; give it time.
3) Think happy thoughts. I have a bad habit of letting my mind settle on one frustrating event for way longer than I should. I have let a run-in with a tough kid sabotage my evening at home and a good night’s rest more than once. Learning to release a difficult moment/event/day as we exit our classrooms is a constant challenge. I recommend blaring “Shake It Out” by Florence and the Machine on the car ride home. When you’re done shaking it out, focus your mind on one of the many a joyful moments from the day.
Friends, you’re doing the good work of loving humans. These humans need you and they will grow. I’m cheering for you, and I wish you happy thoughts and happy hearts in the days and weeks to come.
Joy & cheer,
Lindsay