It was a brand new term at school, the first of the session. The kids were all going to new classes and there was grrat excitement in the air for both adults and students. Every staff came in bright and early to receive the students as they came in after a long holiday of about two months. We were all looking radiant and in bright colours as that was the expected way to dress especially on the first day of school.
On getting to work, I had kept my bags and went to the wait area where the students who come in early enough stayed till 8am after which we all go to the assembly area for welcome songs, ryhmes and daily affirmations. There was a lot of "hellos" "hi' "good morning" "we missed you" and hugs in the air as we welcomed each and everyone of the children to school and ushered them to their new classes. After walking each of them to the classes, we would have them back to the wait area where they would sit and interact with their peers till 8am.
While at the wait area I heard a one of the children crying while coming upstairs to where I was. We were all wondering why someone was crying amidst rhe whole excitement of going to a new class.It was a one of my old students. She was moving from my class Reception to Year One, the first class in Primary school. The child Nora was brought to me. I was confused and wondered why she was brought up to me rather than taken to her new wait area or class to meet her new teacher. She ran to me and quickly hugged me. I asked her why she was crying on the first day of school and she couldn't utter a word as she was all shaken and in a bit of shock. I hugged her tightly to calm her and make her feel safe and told her everything would be okay even though I was still not aware of the reason for her tears. The lady who came in with her had to explain that she had come in excited like the other kids but on getting to the area where she was to sit with other kids who were not very familiar, she became sad and started to cry. After asking why she was sad, Nora had told her she wanted to come to me upstairs. My heart melted on hearing that. I comforted her and waited till she was feeling better. When I noticed she was no longer upset I told her she will be staying with me for now and I saw her eyes lit up.
Nora sat with the other kids in preschool which included her kid brother and interacted with them for a while. Some minutes had passed and it was almost assembly time. I called her to me and asked how she was feeling. She responded with "I'm good now Mrs Scott". I smiled and asked her to sit with me. I explained to her that I understood her fear or being in an unfamiliar class while her own classmates were not in school yet. I also explained to her that she needs to make friends with the kids from other classes in her own wait area even though she is not very familiar with them at the moment. I also let her know that she needs to get to know her new teacher better even though she had met her during the transition period while in the previous class. Then I asked her "Nora, would you like to come back to Reception class or go to the Year One big girl class"? She responded with "Oh no Mrs Scott, I want to be in my new Year One class". Great! I responded, "then let's get you back to your new friends"
She was happy now as we walked back to her wait area. She met her friends from the old class who were now in school and ran to give them a hug. They started chatting excitedly about the holidays and new class. I asked her to come meet other friends from other classes whom she will be spending some morning wait time with before going to assembly and class. They all mentioned their names and some even said they know her name and she smiled happily while getting to know them. I went ahead to reassure her again and told her to go sit with her friends. She gave me a last hug and waved goodbye. She never cried after that day even when her own class friends were not around as she would always arrive earlier than most. I'm glad I was able to make her feel safe and comfortable.
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Thanks a bunch. I will definitely engage more and aim for 100.
Nora understood that she had to move to a bigger girls class and overcame her fears because you made her feel warm, safe and comfortable. Educators should have such connections with their pupils.
All thanks to you. You made Nora feel comfortable. I’m like that too and it’s a beautiful thing
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