Wilkins 1

Molley Wilkins

ED 206

10/20/23

BHG

Vignette

In the first-grade class at Lab 60, on Wednesday, October 4th, it was made known that the

students were having a hard day because there was another class added on for the day. You could

tell the students were overwhelmed and stressed because of the amount of space in a classroom,

for double the amount of students normally. During circle time, students were very handsy and

did t listen very well. Then when the activity came around, the teacher had us get papers, that

needed to be folded and cut to make a DIY book for the students. The teacher accidentally made

it wrong and with that accident, it made the progress even more chaos. I had the same two girls I

had since the first day we went to the school, one of the girls has been struggling with reading

and sounding out words but this past Wednesday, you could see her progress had met her goals

with reading and sounding out words. After she read her book, I thought it was going to be a

good start, but the other girl had a bad day and was refusing every direction made by me or the

teacher. She was turning on us, not answering us, crying, and stomping. She was set aside and

the teacher let her reflect on her decisions and what she thought was the best choice. The student

chose to go to the reset area and came back to me and the other student 5 minutes later. After her

own time, both students were happy after they got to take the books home and got a brain break

after their activities. They were both happy in the end.

Reflection

In the dynamic world of education, teachers are confronted with diverse classroom

scenarios, especially in IPS 60. Among these, instances where students act out present both

challenges and opportunities for growth, and my student showed how she was acting out.

Reflecting on my little amount of experience I firmly believe that it is crucial to meet students'

needs when they act out in a classroom. Both the teacher and me, helped one of my partners in

the classroom, while she struggled to listen. There is such a big importance in addressing

behavioral challenges and how they can positively impact both individual students and the

classroom community as a whole.

When students act out, it often signifies an underlying emotional or psychological

distress. Ignoring or punishing such behavior without addressing the underlying cause can

exacerbate emotional distress. You could tell that the class overall was struggling to focus

because there was double the amount of students in the classroom. These students were not used

to having that many classmates in such a small environment. Many of the course readings,

tassslked about meeting students' needs, teachers can provide emotional support, help students

navigate their feelings, and develop healthy coping mechanisms. The student was given many

options by me the teacher to have time to calm down or bring herself together.

Addressing students' needs when they act out can help build stronger teacher-student

relationships. When students perceive that their teachers care about their well-being and are

invested in their success, they are more likely to trust and engage with their educators. When the

student acted out, she had a hard time listening to me, who had only seen her a couple of times. I

gave her the choice to go to the teacher. Giving her the choice to go to the teacher showed that
 Wilkins 3

she had a connection to the teacher. The teacher did a wonderful job at calming her down

because she knew exactly how she could get her to calm down. These positive relationships lay

the foundation for a healthy and supportive classroom environment, which was talked about in

the course readings.

A disruptive student can disrupt the learning process for the entire class. By addressing

the needs of the student acting out, teachers can minimize disruptions and maximize learning

opportunities for all students. This ensures that the classroom remains a productive and

conducive learning environment. When teachers engage with students who act out, they provide

an opportunity for self-reflection and self-regulation. Students can learn to recognize their

emotions and develop strategies for managing them constructively. The teacher was able to ask

the student what was wrong and what happened. She also allowed the student to make her own

decisions on what she should do. I think this is so important because most people wouldn’t give

the students a choice, and teachers would decide for them, This allows the student to get that skill

of making their own decisions, and make the right decision. At the end of the day, the student

knows themselves more than the teacher knows them and what's best for them. These skills are

not only valuable in the classroom but also in life beyond school.

In conclusion, meeting students' needs when they act out in a classroom is not only a

moral imperative but also a pedagogical necessity. This reflection showed how the student's

actions can affect the teacher and myself. I also learned how important it is to adapt to the

student's needs and what's best for them. The student made it known that she would listen better

to the teacher because she knew her better. She also made it known that she likes to make her

own decisions. It lays the foundation for emotional well-being, positive relationships, and
 Wilkins 4

effective learning. That student receiving the reset area was so important to her and the class. I

have witnessed that the reset area is important for all the students. It gives them the choice to put

a weighted bag on them, put themselves in the corner, put themselves in the dark, or sit there. \ It

also upholds the principles of inclusivity and equity, fostering a classroom culture that values

every student's unique needs and potential. I know from my past experiences, my brother

struggled with ADHD and had a hard time with anger. I grew up in an environment that would be

sometimes intense with hard times. My parents showed me their patience when it came to him

acting out but also acknowledging his actions and why he did it. My parents also taught me and

showed me how you have to manage to take care of me and my other brother at the same time.

This relates because as teachers, you have to learn how to adapt to all students while also helping

certain students and their needs. As educators, we must embrace the opportunity to support and

guide students through their challenges while still adapting to other students’ needs.