I approached Chapters 3 and 4 with dread because I had such a hard time with the first two. Surprisingly, they were relatively easy to read and understand. I enjoyed the narrative form and felt like I knew Laurie by the end. I had many thoughts and connections running through my head as I read, but no big “ah ha” moment. My thoughs seem scattered and unsettled.
First, I had serious issue with Laurie’s diagnosis of ADD and the decision to put her on medication. I am amazed at how quickly folks put children on medication. I think Laurie was trying to find her place in the world, in her class, and at home and figuring out how the world works around her. She had a lot of issues to deal with for a little girl, and I was saddened to read how her behavior changed after her diagnosis. I would be interested to read the study on Laurie without ADD. I wonder how she would have been different, if at all. My gut tells me she would have progressed quicker and she wouldn’t have had such a hard time with peers.
I was also saddened by Laurie’s dream of a prince…for her and her mother. I teach middle school and have a hard time identifying directly with a lot of these primary scenarios, but I do know the importance of a male role model. When I am searching for classroom volunteers I always try to find men to come into my class. I know many of my students do not have strong male role models at home and how important it is for them to make connections with them. This year I was fortunate to have two male volunteers visit once or twice a week to help out. The students – male and female – took to these men instantly. The classroom climate changed when they were there. Each of them showed up as a surprise at the end of the school year and stayed the entire day. The students soaked up every second of their attention they could get and I might as well have taken the day off. My hope is that these two men have made a positive impact on some of my students that really needed it.
I think Laurie is wise beyond her years. She has a lot of insight into how relationships work, perhaps because she has to deal with a difficult homelife. Her knowledge shows in her dreams and her writings. However, Laurie is also quite immature at times which are also displayed in her dreams and writings. She seems stuck in a lonely place and doesn’t seem to know how to remedy her loneliness. Her writings and fantasies appear to be an escape.
Jennifer Wagoner
Comments (4)
Jennifer- I talked about the absences of male role model also in my post. It is so true and sad that many of our students are starving for someone to notice them and make them feel accepted and important. I find just as many males long for this attention as the females do.
I think as teachers we should encourage our students to use reading and writing as whatever it needs to be for them. Good or bad! I believe it can have positive benefits either way.
I find many of my students wise beyond their age and I fear this will lead to many problems for them far before they are ready. (Teen pregnancy, drugs, and abuse) Much of this will be due to not finding a healthy escape and having the support needed from home and school. Teachers cannot do or be all but we can be part of a team working toward the good of our students.
Posted by Tracy Icenhour | June 24, 2010 8:01 PM
Posted on June 24, 2010 20:01
Jennifer-
I am glad that you touched on the subject of Laurie's ADD medication. I have had a couple of students in my class that I felt really needed medication to function, while I believe that others simply were medicated so that parents would not have to "parent".
I started this year off with two boys on medication for ADD or ADHD. I observed another with some social issues among his peers. The two who were already prescribed were 100% better academically, and socially when they were on the right dosage. The third child, whom I late found out was prescribed it, but mother would not buy it, changed his ways halfway into the school year when she decided to put him back on his dosage.
I was taken aback when I saw these three students without their medications. I think it is a scary thing to think that little pill can control a child so easily. Once again, when they were on their meds, then they were on in the classroom. I hope that parents who choose to medicate their children chose to in order to help their kids, not just to "babysit" them.
Renee Hennings June 24 2010
Posted by Renee Hennings | June 24, 2010 8:31 PM
Posted on June 24, 2010 20:31
So many people have talked in their posts about ADD and medication and whether that was appropriate choice for Laurie. I can't say definitely whether it was or not, but I came across a story this morning to which I thought I would include the link - http://www.aolhealth.com/condition-center/adhd/pesticides-allergens. This describes how many more kids are being diagnosed with ADD/ADHD and how environmental factors such as pesticides and allergens may be to blame.
You commented in your post about having males in your classroom. You would not believe how many times I have heard from parents that they are glad their child has a male teacher because they don't have a male role model at home. I understand the thinking behind that comment, but, to be honest, I got so sick of hearing that comment in my early years of teaching. I didn't want to be known as "the male teacher." I wanted it to be known that I was a GREAT teacher with no regard to my gender. As a matter of fact, such comments are partially responsible for me getting my National Board Certification. I wanted to prove that I was someone who knew my stuff, not just the one people would turn to when they needed a male.
In my particular situation as a male pre-kindergarten teacher, I think my kids sometimes respond better to females as the year progresses because they are so used to seeing me, a male, as the teacher. When the other pre-K teacher at my school (a female) does something with my class or when my assistant (a female) is in charge of an activity, I think the kids often listen better to them because of the novelty of having a female in charge.
Posted by Clyde Rice | June 25, 2010 11:53 AM
Posted on June 25, 2010 11:53
Jennifer,
I also cringed when I read that Laurie was diagnosed with ADD and put on medication. It seems that she was given a quick diagnosis, and her medication was adjusted with little cause. The behaviors and attitudes reported by her family and teachers and the observations made by Hicks were appropriate given her difficult home life. For example, Laurie ran around her grandmother’s laundromat because she was bored and unengaged. I think Laurie was trying her best to cope with the little attention paid to her. Not that her family didn’t want to pay attention to her; they were just too consumed with making ends meet.
Sometimes I wonder if the students diagnosed with ADD in my class really have it or if they act like they do because they are merely coping with the their life situations. What do you think?
Laura Corbello
Posted by Laura Corbello | June 25, 2010 7:51 PM
Posted on June 25, 2010 19:51