ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on two narratives: one from the author's first student teaching placement in a fourth-grade classroom; the second from his next placement in a first-grade classroom. By taking interest in all of the students, regardless of their abilities, or behavioral patterns, or anything, the author was able to learn more about their precise needs and how to help them manage themselves. The chapter focuses on a story which illustrates the author's struggles in trying to maintain order and control over one particular student in Wilma and Mary's class long before he had that "confident feeling". He found Ned's initial response to be surprising, because Ned and the author seemed to have developed a friendly relationship in the short time that he spent with him and his class. Ned presented behavioral challenges to the staff at the school. He was out of control and was running all over the room, knocking things over and stepping on other students.