Collaboration

My supervisor asked me to join him as a "learning partner" in the Teaching and Learning Initiative of our school corporation.  We meet with about two dozen educators, administrators and teachers, every two weeks.  There are six such groups.  We are working on a framework for evaluation and developing skills in collegial collaboration.

As a result, I have sent out two emails to my colleagues presenting  problems I am dealing with and asking for advice.  I have gotten great feedback and I think it is a way we can collaborate even if we are not in the same building.

Yesterday I asked for advice about a new student BD, a young man who came in last week smelling like alcohol and mouthwash.  His language was pretty bad with repeated use of a variation on the "f" word.  I warned him and he struggled with compliance.  He came two more times without the odor, but still needed warning about the language.  When he came out with a "GD it" yesterday, I had to write him up.  At that point I asked him if he had been drinking.  He said he had to do so before coming to class because he was so anxious.  I said he could not come in that condition and we could not tolerate his language.

Three colleagues responded and I hope to take their advice.  However, to my relief and to the relief of the other students, he wasn't in class today.  I think I will call him and help him find a medical clinic where he can get treated for his anxiety.  

It was tense yesterday with two lovely new students, both thirty some year old mothers who must have been appalled at the behavior of BD and a few other young'uns.  I also wrote up K for continued cell phone use.  There is plenty of flirting going on in the class and exchange of phone numbers, and it can get to be distracting!