Vanessa is a student of average intelligence who is moving into a regular grade 5 class as she was previously placed in the junior resource class, due to her issues with behaviour and social interaction. This will be Vanessa's second attempt of reintegration, as her first attempt in grade 3 failed. Vanessa also comes from an unstable home environment.
by lyndsay wakeling
1. As the stepfathers of Vanessa, we feel very overwhelmed by her behaviours and health issues. It is difficult taking care of a child that displays such extreme behaviours with her mother being in jail. Although we feel for Vanessa and her situation, her needs are beyond our capabilities and responsibilities. Vanessa needs a structured home environment that can help her manage her behaviours.
2. Parent Perspective
2.1. In the care of Children's Aid
2.1.1. Father seeking custody
2.2. Mother is in jail
2.3. Had six known stepfathers
3. Teacher Perspective
3.1. As the teacher for Vanessa, I have seen her improvement over the last two years where she has better self-control over her behaviors despite her past experiences with her home life. She is able to socialize with her peers and prove herself to behave during a classroom setting. She no longer has outbursts, which previously prevented my teaching, and I’m excited to integrate her back into a regular classroom to improve her stability. Although, as a faculty we will have to ensure Vanessa has the tools to succeed in a regular classroom setting. We need to be aware of the setback we had when trying to integrate her in a grade three class and need to take her into consideration by providing her with the necessary help to flourish. I may be a little wary; that things might go wrong as soon as we integrate her, but I believe it is a chance that needs to be taken. Every student should be given the opportunity to be a part of a regular classroom setting and Vanessa is no different. She has average intelligence and there is no indication of a learning disability. As Vanessa’s teacher I will need to develop strategies to handle her outburst if they occur. I will need to approach her in a calm nurturing manner and provide a safe and secure environment where she feels comfortable in her surroundings. By providing Vanessa with the nurturing care she did not receive as a child, it will provide her with the motivation to learn and feel confident in her abilities, limiting her behavioural issues. As she continues to develop her social skills and behavioural issues, her transition into my classroom should succeed.
4. As the mother of Vanessa I feel I am not suited to be a parent, I have made poor life choices which have greatly affected my child. I did not provide her with the support and nurture she needed which resulted in her poor health and behavioural issues. As a result of my actions I am not involved in Vanessa’s life at all as I am serving a jail sentence. I often worry that Vanessa will follow in my footsteps when she grows up if she does not receive the help, support and guidance she needs.
5. Nature and nurture are crucial influences in a child’s development. It is evident that Vanessa’s lack of “nurture” in her childhood had a negative impact on her social development and behaviours, as social learning begins in the infancy stage. Being in the care of Children’s Aid and being moved around so often it is probable that Vanessa did not receive the love and care in a stable home environment during her early developmental periods ,which is currently having a negative impact on her social behaviours (Santrock et al. 2010).
6. As the birth father of Vanessa I want to be there for her during this troubling time in her life. I want to provide her with the stable home environment and family shes never had, even if it means relocating schools. She will be with her half siblings at this new school and I think that is whats best, since she is able to be in a regular grade 5 class.
7. It is beneficial for Vanessa to learn to socialize with her teachers and peers as according to Vygoysky cognitive skills arise from social interaction and thinking is situaed in social contexts (Santrock et al 2010).
8. Principal Perspective
9. Student Perspective
9.1. Currently in grade 4
9.2. Problems with my behaviour
9.3. Average intelligence
9.4. Unstable home environment
10. I grew up in the most horrible of circumstances, feeling isolated from my mother and several step-fathers, as a result, I am now suffering from attachment anxiety. I have grown up with a lot of frustration, mentally regressing and bottling up my emotions whenever possible. I have resorted to behavioural dependency to communicate my anger, physically and verbally acting out whenever needed. Having moved around so much in my life being placed in many new homes and schools. I now lack the ability to make personal connections or relationships to others leaving me feeling like no one understands what I am going through. I mentally and emotionally withdraw from social situations and want to shut the world out. Now, i am a changed little girl, I have adapted the ability to communicate my needs and wants in several social settings, and have the ability to demonstrate my capacity to act appropriately in educational and social environments. With the help of my EA, I feel happy and more comfortable with my daily routine and have learned to self-sooth and cope with my emotions. I have overcome adversity, and have stabilized myself, and my ways of communication. I am feeling eager to regain my place within the classroom and return to a normal student structure participating and engaging with other students, and teachers. I know that I am a smart young lady, and that I have the capacity to make good decisions and act accordingly. I am beautiful, courageous, and ready to take on the academic world showing to myself and others that I can do this!
11. As a principal, the safety of my staff and students is very important. Vanessa’s first attempt at reintegration in grade three did not go well. When she began at the school her behaviour was so extreme that one on one support was provided to better assist Vanessa. A safety plan will be created so if Vanessa acts out, staff can go to the safety plan which will address all procedures to provide a supportive, safe, healthy, orderly, and equitable learning environment for both students and staff.
12. Vanessa will start with an EA throughout the day. Over the first week, an evaluation will be done to see how well she is doing and if everything is going well, Vanessa will then have an EA with her in the classes she really struggles with. If she begins to act out, she is permitted to go see an EA to help process what happened. This will help keep the other students safe. Vanessa will start with an EA throughout the day.
13. Over the first week, an evaluation will be done to see how well she is doing and if everything is going well, Vanessa will then have an EA with her in the classes she really struggles with. If she begins to act out, she is permitted to go see an EA to help process what happened. This will help keep the other students safe.
