No Wonder!

Wonder usually comes in quietly and begins coloring. Coloring is all she does when she's good. Just coloring a blank sheet of paper, front and back. On a good day, she'll do about 5. On a bad day, she'll start crying around 8:30 or 9:00. Her tummy hurts or her socks are killing her. She wants to go home. It's loud crying. I have to raise my voice for the other 16 students to hear me. It grates on my nerves. It grates on the other students' nerves. There is no consoling her. No bribes of stickers, treats or prizes will cheer her up. Finally I send her to the nurse or guidance counselor. She is usually fine as soon as she gets there.

The guidance counselor and the school psychologist observe her. Both times it is a bad day for Wonder. Bad days for Wonder cause the other students to be more boisterous than usual. Wonder's crying, boisterous students and the school psychologist watching it all makes me nervous and edgy.

On Tuesday, the secretary tells me via the intercom that Wonder has an early dismissal at 11:00. I refrain from responding with, "Praise the Lord." Her mom (biological grandmother) picks her up at 12:00. On Wednesday she is absent. Perhaps I should feel guilty for being glad that she isn't there but I have 16 other students that need my attention. They are trying to learn in a difficult environment. Thursday and Friday are teacher planning days - a holiday from for the students.