I’ve been ridin’ this school bus every day this year.
I noticed you been helpin’ out some with the fighters. But why ride every day? I thought you was sweet on me!
Ha, ha! You’re cute, but it’s really because trouble smacks down a kid’s ability to get interested in school. I’m checkin’ out who’s got trouble.
‘I’m hip to the whole scene,’ as Kramer used to say. That’s why I’m drivin’ a bus for a living. I was neglected at home and bullied, and I could never concentrate.
Sorry, Ned. But you’re still young. You need to not give up. All of us depend on you.
I know, maybe I’m just makin’ excuses. I get it, though. If a kid is having a hard time first thing in the morning, where do you think that behavior is going to go? Right?
Yeah. Right to school, where the kid creates trouble for himself and others.
I seen the kids gettin’ into fights on my bus. Glad somebody is helping ‘em. What exactly do you do?
I go into classrooms to steer kids into socializing activities, like cooperative team projects in whatever areas of study the teacher has prepared.
You work with that First-Grade teacher Miss Suzie, don’t you? She’s nice.
Suzie and me are part of a team. She says when teachers notice a student is struggling, they no longer have to ask, ‘Where am I going to find the time to counsel this kid?’
They just make the time, right?
Yeah, how did you know that? We do offer backup for every teacher, though.
Glad teachers have options to ‘seek professional help.’ Because some of the parents I deal with in this job need professional help!
I hear you, Ned!
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We’re really busy with our math right now and I need to work with everyone. But I can tell you need me to talk to you, Howie, so do you want to make an appointment with me in 10 minutes and I’ll check in? Or do you want to send an email to ask Shasta to stop by?
You’re a real screwball, Miss Suzie. No wonder I like you. How about if I check back with you in ten!
Cool!
That was handled well, Suzie!
You taught me to try to lend students an ear, or a little support, before the kid chooses to ‘create.’
Kids with resiliency bounce back from problems faster, and most feel strong enough to concentrate, and engage better in class.
It always helps to know other people understand and have your back.
Thanks to The Resiliency Team, it seems like the staff at our school, all ‘get it,’ according to Superintendent Green. He sees everyone working to reverse bad effects.
He says everybody has learned to think differently about classrooms.
Well, I don’t know about that. But Ned told me this morning, after I told him I’d go out with him, that just last year Howie had been talking about shooting himself.
The kid is now saying that was just because he thought nobody cared.
Now Howie has the most friends of anybody on the bus, and even helps Ned.
Cool!