Another week

It ended in flames, sort of, and the next one looks to be a challenge to find some hands-on stuff for the kids to do that relate to the lessons, although I might have that locked down.

I have quite a few students I taught last year. More than the 30% you would expect from just random classroom placement. One of the kids was just terribly spoiled, immature, disrespectful and disruptive. His mother ignored all four teachers' comments on his behavior, focusing only on his grades. When those started to slip, she took some notice, only because she plans for him to go to private high school, again ignoring the fact that if her son can't even control himself enough to be allowed to practice a sport, he isn't going to get past admissions.

I have him again. And in the first two weeks, he has made an impression on every one of his new teachers - the same impression he made last year. On Friday we got called into a meeting with his mental health caseworker. Seems that mid-June, right around the time his mother called me in the middle of a class at University (to, coincidentally ask me for more indications he might be ADHD), she submitted him for mental health services. She ignored teachers for 10 months, but 2 weeks of having him full time and she throws in the towel. Anyhow, on Friday the mom had sent the caseworker in to find out what was going on, as the boy tends to fabricate stories of what happens in school (with himself as the victim) and his mother believes him no matter how farfetched. We spent an hour talking with her, and him, as he got progressively more defiant and angry. Good that she got to see how he acts, regardless of who is around.

I don't think we are going to see any progress, because the mother isn't behind what we are trying to do, she just wants to delegate it, but not help, either with emotional support, or withholding the spoiling she is doing.

Keep having all sorts of anxiety dreams lately, too. Most are school related, but others have involved planning a dinner party and other strange things. Maybe having had three weather related days that kept me from riding my bike. Curse you Fay.