teachers should i feel this way. please read.

Ok I teach the 6th grade and this one girl has really been off lately.In the beginning she was great.Then she got really off so I try to talk to my kids before I run and call home. Well she tell sme that her parents have been fighting I believe her so I=on parent teacher night I tell the mom a sugar coat version of what's been going on I mean she is not bad just really talking a lot and finds everything funny so she often is disrupting my class. Anyway so this past week she has been the worst so I said i'm m calling I call this after noon and no one answers so I call just now and I get an answer I ask for Ms so and so and the girl says she is not home so I identify myself and realize I am talking to o my student. I ask when she'll be home and she says around 8 and I hear her baby brother crying in the background. so I say OK ill try her tomorrow at work. I feel so badly like maybe she is acting out b/c she has so much responsibility. I know I have to still talk to her mom but I feel like I understand not that I justify how she has been acting but at 12 or 13 I had no worries in the world and here she is home with the little brother til 830 pm. What do you think

Re: teachers should i feel this way. please read.

I work in the inner city and therefore have many students in with similar situations...I am still a new teacher, but i think i have some advice...

yes, she is probably acting out because she is going through a lot at home... maybe you can talk to her further about it and possibly have a teacher/student/parent meeting
you have to talk to her mother because no matter what she is a student and she needs to stay on task regarding school..there should be outlets for her to talk...maybe a school psych or guidance counselor...her mother needs to be aware that her responsibilities at home are interfering with school and you know that things may not be easy at home and the daughter may have to help out here and there but when she is in school she needs to be ready to learn and not be disruptive...if she needs someone to talk to you can help..your school probably has some parent help too..that could be an option

either way you should let the mom know what is going on... and i would talk to student again maybe she will tell you more'

hope i helped...

Re: teachers should i feel this way. please read.

yes you did thanks

Re: teachers should i feel this way. please read.

These problems are not exclusive to any socio-ecomic background. I work in a school that services children from every background. You need to be very careful. I would speak with your direct supervisor or principal. If you feel someone is in danger or neglected, then it is your professional obligation to make sure she and any other child is safe.

Re: teachers should i feel this way. please read.

I agree with both responses, maybe refer it to the school guidance counselor or psychologist.... if necessary and she is home with a baby by herself CPS needs to be called. That is dangerous.

Re: teachers should i feel this way. please read.

---

Posted by dandj

I agree with both responses, maybe refer it to the school guidance counselor or psychologist.... if necessary and she is home with a baby by herself CPS needs to be called. That is dangerous.

---

I think it is ok to leave a 13 yr old home to babysit- I don't think that is cps reportable.

I would refer her to a school counselor too.

Re: teachers should i feel this way. please read.

I used to work as a school counselor and I often found that we had the best results with a meeting with student, parent, teacher and counselor present, with the counseolr usually talking to each of them individually before the meeting. This way, everyone heard the others involved and the teacher, parent and sometimes even the student felt like there was an objective person there to advocate or witness what was being said in the meeting.

In my experience, I found that if I had doubts about whether to report, I could call CPS and ask them if a certain stiuation was reportable or not.

Re: teachers should i feel this way. please read.

---

Posted by Sunny

---

Posted by dandj

I agree with both responses, maybe refer it to the school guidance counselor or psychologist.... if necessary and she is home with a baby by herself CPS needs to be called. That is dangerous.

---

I think it is ok to leave a 13 yr old home to babysit- I don't think that is cps reportable.

I would refer her to a school counselor too.

---

I don't think its okay when she is supposed to be in school. I agree she needs to talk to the school psychologist/counsler.