The Kids I Taught

By Dr. Lynn Green

This summary includes a compilation of true stories about the students the author taught or guided over 30 years as a teacher and administrator. Each chapter tells an individual student’s story. Their stories are inspirational, humorous and sometimes heart-breaking.

The content of their stories would be of high interest to teachers, administrators, students training at the university level to pursue a career in education, and anyone who presently works with students. Parents and the general reading audience would enjoy this fascinating book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 10, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796065299

Book preview

The Kids I Taught

Dr. Lynn Green

Copyright © 2019 by Dr. Lynn Green.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2019916081

ISBN:      Hardcover      978-1-7960-6532-9

                Softcover        978-1-7960-6530-5

                eBook              978-1-7960-6529-9

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 10/09/2019

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CONTENTS

Dedication

PART I

ELEMENTARY SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS

Chapter 1   Aaron The Genius

Chapter 2   Karrie The Artist

Chapter 3   Annie Black History Month

Chapter 4   James School Phobic

Chapter 5   Donny Protective Services

Chapter 6   Billy ADHD

Chapter 7   The Reading Group

Chapter 8   Timmy Closed-Head Injury

PART II

MIDDLE/ HIGH SCHOOL SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS

Chapter 9   Terrence Gangs

Chapter 10   Johnny Annual Review

Chapter 11   Jill The Run Away

Chapter 12   Mark The House Fire

Chapter 13   Henry The NAACP

Chapter 14   Lilly Sickle Cell Anemia

Chapter 15   Violett The Good Mother

Chapter 16   Jerry and James Juvenile Court

Chapter 17   Bonnie Listen to Your Students

Chapter 18   Clinton Sherlock Holmes

Chapter 19   Jeff Encopresis

Chapter 20   Derrick Bizarre

Chapter 21   Leah Resilience

PART III

ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL AND MY STUDENTS

Chapter 22   Sherry My Office Aide

Chapter 23   Carl He Knows Nothing

Chapter 24   Lauren Bullying

Chapter 25   Chase Community Readers

Chapter 26   Brian Sixth Grade Trip

Chapter 27   The Halloween Murder

Chapter 28   9-11

Chapter 29   I Leave my Principalship

Epilogue

Dedication

This book is dedicated to all the students whose true stories I have shared in this book.

I would also like to dedicate this book to all teachers who have the toughest jobs they ever loved, student teachers, and teachers in training. I hope that they gain insight into the myriad of student situations and are inspired by their stories.

Disclaimer

All names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

PART I

ELEMENTARY SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENTS

CHAPTER ONE

Aaron The Genius

Aaron entered my resource room program when he was in first grade. He was certified Learning Disabled in the area of reading. His scores in reading were at preschool level. Amazingly, his math was at grade level and his listening comprehension and general information were at upper elementary level. This is often referred to as a Jagged Profile, since scores are extremely discrepant from each other.

Aaron was a joy. He was bright, alert and very verbal on many topics. He remembered anything he heard and used critical analysis regarding conversations and oral information. I told him If there was no such thing as reading, you would be a genius! He beamed.

Aaron resisted any activities surrounding reading. When the other students in my program struggled to decode words by sounding them out, he refused. He was a proud child who did not want to do anything, like reading, that he did not do well. His ego could not handle it.

I ordered audio books for Aaron from Readings for the Blind, hoping he could follow along in the book and pick up some words. He really did not want to follow along, he just wanted to listen to the recording. I made a deal with him that he could listen to one tape and then read along with the others. This worked as Aaron wanted to be somewhat in control of his reading.

Aaron’s home life was rough. Alcohol and drugs were rumored to be rampant with his father and father’s friends that hung out at the house. This was exacerbated by a family tragedy. Aaron’s father was going on a beer run with a friend when they backed out of the long drive way. He ran over and killed Aaron’s three-year old sister. He did not see her playing in the drive. I could not imagine the effect on Aaron’s father (who drank and drugged more out of grief and guilt) and the whole family. Sad.

At times I arranged for my students to participate in grade level activities in a general education classroom. When Aaron was in fourth grade I