I have started to think that I can still support students who transfer to other schools in our district. I'm not so full of myself to think that my visit to a student who moved will make a positive difference, but for some with whom I have shared a positive relationship, it might help the student adapt to the change in setting.
Earlier in the year, I visited one of the students from last year's class. He had a traumatic experience during Christmas Break, last year, and then moved to a new school for fifth grade. I knew he was having some difficulty with the transition, so I took a short trip to his school during my planning time. The principal was able to pull him out of his classroom, and we talked in the hallway for a brief time.
Earlier in the year, I visited one of the students from last year's class. He had a traumatic experience during Christmas Break, last year, and then moved to a new school for fifth grade. I knew he was having some difficulty with the transition, so I took a short trip to his school during my planning time. The principal was able to pull him out of his classroom, and we talked in the hallway for a brief time.
Yesterday, I drove across town to see one of our students who moved into a new house a few weeks ago. Sometimes making new friends is hard to do, and I estimated that to be a possibility in this case, but what I saw while she played at recess was a girl much happier than predicted. Hopefully, by waiting for her to have time to adjust, she was able to do so without an earlier visit. Our experience was a positive one. When she spotted me on the playground, I don't know what was going through her head, but she looked at me like she didn't recognize me for a while. I maintained eye contact with her for a while, and when she was 15 feet in front of me, she finally, astonished, quietly said my name as a question.
Mr. Hoggatt?
Here she was, after weeks of being away from me, and seeing me in a different setting than ever before, and she was amazed. She immediately approached me and embraced me. "I miss you so much," she declared, and I I hugged her back, I could hear the playground teachers behind me set out a big "Ahhh." The two of us walked into the building to chat. Shortly afterward, she showed me to her classroom where I returned her to her teacher.
Sometimes the little gestures make big differences in the lives of our children. I pray that the short time I had with each of these Hoggatteers will stick with them as they move forward. After all, once you become a Hoggatteer, you will always be a Hoggatteer.
Mr. Hoggatt?
Here she was, after weeks of being away from me, and seeing me in a different setting than ever before, and she was amazed. She immediately approached me and embraced me. "I miss you so much," she declared, and I I hugged her back, I could hear the playground teachers behind me set out a big "Ahhh." The two of us walked into the building to chat. Shortly afterward, she showed me to her classroom where I returned her to her teacher.
Sometimes the little gestures make big differences in the lives of our children. I pray that the short time I had with each of these Hoggatteers will stick with them as they move forward. After all, once you become a Hoggatteer, you will always be a Hoggatteer.
