Last week Tyronic returned to my class after having been in 'juvie' since the 2nd week of school. This young girl is one of the angriest people I have ever met, but is one of my most capable learners. Her first day back I was sitting in the back at my desk grading papers while my students had their silent reading time. I heard a little muttering and saw that Tyronica was staring down Brandon, and she was visibly getting tenser. Right as she started to explode I got to the two of them and brought them out into the hallway. Tyronica was furious at Brandon because he moves his lips while he reads! Apparently she told him to shut the f*^$ up and he then told her that she was an ugly a$$ skank. (So much love, right?) After I calmed Brandon down I sent him back in because I knew Tyronica was the issue - I had never heard Brandon talk like that. I told Tyronica that I was sincerely glad to have her back in my class, but that I would not put up with that kind of behavior. I told her that her explosive anger is exactly why she was out of school for nearly 3 months, and that we need to find a way for her to cope. After telling her that she is one of my best readers and I need her positive leadership in class, I sent her back in as well. I really didn't think she was listening because she stood there with her arms folded and rolled her eyes. However, for the rest of the class period each time I asked for a volunteer she was the first one to raise her hand! She did very well for the next couple days, but she hasn't been to school since last Tuesday. I called home but no one answered. Hopefully she'll return soon, because this girl needs some serious help.
