When a few simple words mean so much

I have this 4th grader that comes to me for both reading group and math group. He is my lowest reader and has just learned his 3 times tables. He is completely immature and he acts as if his sole purpose in the classroom is to make the other students laugh. Everything he does is disruptive and inappropriate. He is in trouble with his teacher every week if not every day. His teacher is constantly yelling at him. I can hear her in the hallway, outside of class, and I know exactly who she is talking to.

I love the kid.

In my room, he sits right next to me.

He helps me clean up after his group leaves.

He says thank you and have a nice weekend.

I ask him how his day is and what he did over the weekend.

We talk, we share stories with each other.

When he starts to act up I can just look at him and he refocuses and gets back to work.

We have a connection built on mutual respect and genuine like.

He works hard when he is in my room.

I just found out, through one of our conversations, that he won’t be coming back after spring break. He is moving to another city. He is excited because he will be living with his older brother.

I have spent the past week thinking about him and his upcoming move. I am happy for him because he is so excited, but I am worried. He is so low and he doesn’t know how to be in a class without getting into trouble, I worry what will happen to  him at a new school with a new teacher.

Will they take the time to get to know him?

Will they just read his file and see that he is a trouble maker?

I am worried.

On Friday he came in my room looking for his pencil that he left, as he was leaving I called his name.

He stopped and looked at me.

I told him that I was sad he was leaving and that I was going to miss him.

He looked shocked, as if nobody had ever said something like that to him before.

He stared at me and said, “Thank you Mrs. Devoe” and then turned and left the room.

I wish him well and will think of him often. I hope someone takes the time to get to know him, I think they will really like him if they do. 

 It always amazes me how a few simple words can mean so much.