VIGNETTES
What Would You Do If…?

1) Ms. Mary’s 28 third graders are working in four reading groups when she calls a halt to begin a whole group Spanish lesson. Ms. Mary: “Okay, class! Class, listen up. Put your reading tings away and get ready- Sam, please listen to me! Maria, leave Adam alone; he doesn’t like that! Okay class, put your reading things away and set your desks up in one big group so we start Spanish.” Joey: “Miss Mary, I didn’t get a turn to read; you said we’d all have a turn!” Lola: “Get your desk out’a my way! We’re supposed to be starting Spanish.” Ms. Mary: “I’m waiting, class. –Let’s get these desks lined up.- You’re going to love what we’re – Fred, put your reading things away and …”

2) David loudly yells out during an independent work session: “Help! Ms. Nancy, I can’t do these!” Ms. Nancy: “you screech like a girl! If you yell like that again, you’re gone, stupid!”

3) During the transition between the time Ms. Betty’s fifth graders worked on a spelling exercise and the time she planned for them to report on findings of a science experiment that was assigned for homework, Steve stands up on top of a work table in the back of the room and begins to clown. Some of the students laugh at his antics. Steve remains on the table even after Ms. Betty directs the class to begin the science activity.
Ms. Betty:  “Please get down and take your seat, Steve. It’s time for us to share what we learned from the experiments.” Steve: “I’m not getting down”.
MS. Betty: “Yes you are! Steve: You can’t make me!”
MS. Betty: “Oh yes I can! Who do you think you’re talking to young man?”
Steve: “Who do you think I’m talking to?”
Ms. Betty: “Boy! You have just five seconds to get off that table o you’ll be mighty sorry! … One, … two, … three, … four, …”
Steve grins as he hops off the table and slowly walks to his seat.

4) Three times a week, Ms. Sindy makes an hour available to her fifth graders to silently read any selection they choose from a large collection of books available in her classroom. During these periods Ms. Sindy catches up on paperwork. Only half the students enthusiastically read during these periods.

5) Except for Billy, Ms. Dolly’s kindergarten students are following her directions to put away the materials with which they’ve been working and to gather around her in the reading corner. Billy throws himself on the floor and screams: “I’m hungry! I wanna eat my candy!” Ms. Dolly goes over to Billy who is now yelling and crying incoherently. He flails his arms and legs and seems out of control. Ms. Dolly grabs him and says: “Stop that Billy! Get hold of yourself. What’s the matter with you anyway?” Billy continues crying, unintelligibly screaming something about candy. Ms. Dolly is o her knees with Billy. Speaking loudly to be heard above the screams she says: “That’s enough! You know you can’t have any candy right now! You haven’t even had lunch yet! Please calm down; I know you will like this story.”