Volunteering in Harry's Class - Day 1

Today was a wonderful 2hrs spent with Harry in his class environment. His teacher had mentioned that he was not very productive in the afternoons and was not focusing or producing work like his peers. I thought I would take the opportunity to go and take a look and to see if there was anything I could help with or learn about him. these were my findings.

The main thing I noticed today was the lack of attention he gave his teacher, not once did he look up and listen or look in her direction when she spoke. When she gave the directions to the class for the next activity they were to complete he was off in the clouds. He was fidgeting with a clip on his desk, the rest of the class was going on with what was asked (there were a few exceptions) it was like he had not even noticed that he was meant to be doing something. He needs some type of prompting or cuing to get him to sit up and pay attention.

He would slouch in his seat, usually with arms folded and head on the table. He would look around the room swinging his legs and would not be aware of what his table was doing, the class work he should be doing. The teacher asked his table to put there work away and come join her on the mat, he put the work under his desk and then just sat there looking around at the ceiling. While the rest of his table had been on the mat for a few mins already. He was not aware of what he should be doing. I intervened a few times with directing and showing him what the teacher has asked everyone to do. They had work on the over head projector which I sat with him and helped him complete. Without that one on one he would just sit there and look around the room with the work sheet in front of him, waiting to be worked on.

As a result of Harry's unawareness, he is missing out on getting tasks done, the sense of achieving at school, the reward of finishing a task and letting his table down for not showing he is ready by sitting there with work away and arms crossed. He misses the cues.

I also had the opportunity to meet with his reading tutor today Heather Cook, she is a wonderful resource teacher who will work with Harry one on one with his reading, letters, phonetics and writing skills. I believe 20mins every afternoon.

Tuesday afternoons will be his social group time for 1 hour. Yet to start, I think next week is the kick off for that. This will take place with Mrs Jones.

During Writing time, I sat with Harry and helped him through the process the teacher has put in place to get the kids journalling, thinking, drawing, writing. To this day all Harry had achieved was the drawing stage, but today, I sat with him and made it fun and achievable, helping him every step of the way, in the end he finished it and you should have seen the sense of accomplishment. In fact it is now 6pm and he is still talking about it. He could not wait to show his teacher, he put his hand up to get her attention, she came over. Harry could not contain himself, I finished it!!! He was so proud! She was beaming too, that is great Harry! what did you write about, can you tell me what it says? he shared it with her with a smile on his face.
He had a few hurdles along the way, one was the motivation to see it through to the end, he wanted to give up a number of times. Saying its too hard, I don't know how to do it. I eased him through one small step at a time, looked at a word rather than everything he had to write. I also made it exciting for him, by encouraging him to draw and write about something that he found fun over the weekend. Daddy cutting down a tree...cool!

This was a very rewarding time for both of us, we both learnt a lot about each other. I want to help him and see this as a great way of giving him something he needs.