I’ll do it, Anxiety, and Cookies
I’ll do it, Anxiety, and Cookies
I’ll do it
Due to a variety of situations and exceptional circumstances, we occasionally have a student whose schedule we can figure out. Whether it’s a conflict with sports, a collection of honors classes, an IEP, 504, or other uniques situations arise. It could also be connected with behavior, or they are taking a blended schedule of online classes and traditional classes.
This situation happens four or five times a year. It’s a like figuring out a math problem, with randomly changing components. When you switch to one class or period, it affects the others classes and so on and so on.
Over the past couple of days I sat down with two counselors, and we tried to figure out a solution for a student who has one of these schedules. We aren’t able to do it. The schedule doesn’t match up when we add the seventh piece of the puzzle. Six pieces perfect. Seven nope.
I spoke with a few teachers about an aide position, and they are filled, or they had other aides during that period. After looking over almost all of the options, I spoke with a teacher.
Who I knew would say yes, even before I asked her. After some hesitancy and reluctance she replied, “Spencer, you know me. I’ll do what you need and will help wherever I can. I’ll do it.”
In all honesty, I knew she would reply in this way. We are still looking for a different solution, and I think I have it figured out. It’s good to know that we have people who will do anything for the team, and in particular for an individual student.
Anxiety
This is hard for me, and I know that I won’t give this topic the justice, respect, and explanation it needs. First off. I don’t currently or have I in the past dealt with anxiety. At least from what I can remember. My personal history and lizard brain may have blocked out these memories, but I can’t remember any particular moments.
I remember moments of nervousness and stress, but not to the point where I couldn’t function. As an educator and parent of two high anxiety kids, I feel like I am starting to grasp (in a small way) how powerful and debilitating anxiety and the connected disorders can be.
For some of our students and teachers, it can be crippling. Anxiety does not allow them to function on a day to day basis. I’m not talking about situational anxiety, like public speaking, or the day before the wedding type of stuff.
I am talking about the constant fear of panic attacks, or social situations and the continuously percieved judgment or possible embarrassment. Even to the phobia stage or fear of particular things or situations. Possibly the constant fear of the improbable happening in day to day life.
I am trying to move through the following process (below) when I interact with others. At times it is difficult. My prior biases or judgments get in the way. My goal this year is to assume that everyone including students, teachers, parents, the staff is doing the best they can, with the skills and resources that they have.
Already this mindset has helped me handle situations in a more empathetic and compassionate way.
Cookies
My wife and three of my kids have gluten allergies. Not celiac, but gluten allergies. For the record, it’s as horrible as it sounds. No cookies, brownies, donuts, pizza, or pasta. Well, at least that tastes very good. Anyway, the staff knows that I don’t get glutenous ( containing gluten and taste is my definition) foods very often and share when they have extra.
There also seems to be this competitive diet thing going on at the school. I don’t quite know who started it and why I’m not involved, but it could just be a healthy thing people are doing. Anyway, teachers are bringing it unhealthy foods to each other to tempt each other.
Being the team player that I am, I am more than willing to jump on the “dessert” grenade and take one for the team. It’s been pretty awesome.
Today one of the teachers offered me a gourmet cookie from a place that I can’t think of right now. The best part about this entire exchange is that I know this teacher is gluten free. She couldn’t even eat the cookies if she wanted to. Well, she could, but she would probably go into anaphylactic shock and that wouldn’t be good.
Side Note
On a side note, the 9th graders came back today. They entered 7th grade at the same time I became an administrator. It’s been fun to watch them (most of them) grow up over the past two years. I have created some fantastic bonds with a lot of them. I’m hoping they all have a safe and successful year. It was great to see all a lot of them back today.