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Welcome to The Educator’s Room advice column for teachers! Today we’re helping a teacher whose student keeps taking naps. We’re also helping a teacher who’s deciding whether to tell their coworker they told on them for smelling of marijuana. See what our writers have to say, then share your own advice in the comments! You can read a couple of our previous editions of Ask The Educator’s Room here and here. Got your own question for The Educator’s Room? Submit it here.
Dear The Educator’s Room,
I teach 6th grade and I have a kid who finishes his work and goes straight to sleep every day. This is despite our class norms that when you finish, you can read, draw or write. A teacher on my team suggested taking a recess from him. I feel like that would double punish them. Ideas to keep him up?
Sincerely,
Sleeping Beauty’s Teacher
Dear Sleeping Beauty’s Teacher –
I have experienced this a few times. With my first student, I called home to see if there was something I needed to know: new medication, not feeling well, etc. Grandpa told me to spray him with my water bottle when I am cleaning the overhead because he stays up late. Granted, this was 20 years ago, and even then, I couldn’t spray him, but I did put him next to my projector.
A few years later, I had another student fall asleep no matter what I did. I make him walk around, splash water on his face, stand at my podium, eat a snack, etc. He fell asleep standing up like a horse! I called home but never got his mom, who I learned worked two jobs. An older brother was in charge. Turns out they stayed up playing video games, but he also had undiagnosed narcolepsy. We discovered this once we finally reached his mom.
Bottomline, you have to reach out to parents/guardians and see what is going on. I am with you in not withholding recess. Kids need this. Shoot, I love being outdoors on a beautiful, sunny day myself during our recess time. Talk with the student and see if this gives some insight. There are a million reasons why he is falling asleep. In our world today, depression could also play a factor in this. Perhaps he is using sleep as a means of escape. Whatever the reason, you won’t find out unless you ask. I do hope you find a good solution for this student.
- Suzy
Dear Sleeping Beauty’s Teacher,
The first step is meeting with your student. This meeting shouldn’t take away from his recess, as the meeting itself will feel punitive and something he’s just trying to get through. Point out what you see: “I’ve noticed that you fall asleep after you finish your work. Why do you think that is?” The response could be anything from “I’m tired,” “I’m bored,” or “I don’t know.” It most likely won’t be a long detailed answer, but his response can be helpful for you as you move forward.
Not getting enough sleep can impact him negatively, far beyond being seen as disrespectful to the class norms. If you believe this is the case, connecting with his parent(s) is necessary. I’ve had 6th-grade students who keep a cell phone in their bedroom because it’s their “alarm” but admit to scrolling until 1 or 2 am.
If teachers don’t share concerns about fatigue at school, some parents will assume their child is getting sleep. We can’t control what families do in their homes, but we can always advocate for students and support families in making healthy choices.
If you suspect it’s unrelated to real fatigue, consider ways to engage him in planning his after-classwork activities. My discussion would include, “I’ve noticed you don’t pick any of the approved activities after you complete your work. Why is that?” It’s essential, especially with pre-teens, to put the onus of problem-solving on them. He needs to take personal responsibility for identifying and implementing solutions to the problem.
Unfortunately, often, teachers come up with the “solution” to student behavior issues and administer that solution without student input. This is the least effective method to enact meaningful change that supports the student, his peers, and you as the educator. Consider allowing him to detail a few appropriate options for after completing his work.
Finally, ensuring the completed assignments meet your standards is important. If he has excessive “free time,” the student’s work or the assignments’ quality requires a closer look.
Watching a child snooze in your classroom is always a demoralizing feeling as a teacher. Try to avoid taking it personally and instead work the problem with your student.
- Theresa
Dear The Educator’s Room,
My coworker came to work today smelling like marijuana. Kids smelled it, I smelled it, and I’m sure my other colleagues smelled it. I alerted my principal. But news travels fast. I received a DM from him on social media asking if I told on him.
This is small-town America with one high school, middle school, and elementary school, so I will have to deal with this. Help!
Sincerely,
Weed Whistle-Blower
Dear Whistle-Blower,
I have to ask, did you ask the gym teacher about it first before you reported them to the principal? Are you just coworkers or work friends where some friendly relationship is possible? I ask because I would have asked them about it first. “Hey, what you do on your own time outside of school is your business, but did you know you smell like weed?” Give them a chance to explain. Maybe, just maybe, it’s for medical reasons, and maybe it’s just a way for them to unwind.
As far as we know, it could have been from being around others. I grew up with a mom who smoked like a chimney, and I never knew I smelled like cigarette smoke all the time just from being in her presence. I think at this point, I would tell him you did and apologize for not speaking to him first.
I currently work at a small school that serves K-8, and I know news travels fast in our world too. You have to keep those relationships on good footing. You are correct in that you have to deal with the aftermath, so I would try to make amends. If the situation had been you, wouldn’t you want that too?
- Suzy
Dear Whistle-Blower,
First, remind yourself that he’ll need to deal with this, not you. You’ve done nothing wrong, and your actions reflect care and concern for the students at the school. If you feel inclined to respond to the DM or him in person, I would point out that the smell of marijuana was overwhelming, and many people became aware of it over the course of the day. No one needed to tell on him. He told on himself.
Unfortunately, “small-town America” is at the heart of the country’s worst opioid addictions and underage drinking/drug use. High school students need teachers they can trust and emulate. Even at its most benign, your colleague’s behavior models irresponsibility and a lack of respect for those around him.
We can’t control what other people think or what fuels the gossip mill, yet you should feel proud of your commitment to the students at your school and make every effort to ignore the negative response of a few. Hopefully, this will be a wake-up call for your colleague to understand expectations at your school so he can follow them or move into a profession that holds him to a different standard.
- Theresa
About the advisors:
Suzy Winter is a middle school Language Arts teacher in the private school sector and loves every moment of it. After 17 years of public school life, it is a welcome change, but she will always advocate and lift up my fellow educators. She believes our profession, no matter where the classroom, is not for the faint of heart, but for those who teach with all their heart.
Theresa Pogach has been an educator for over fifteen years with experience in elementary and middle school classrooms. Beyond being an educator, she is a passionate student of history and an avid writer. Theresa has a BA in English from Loyola Marymount University and teaching credentials from Cal State University Los Angeles.
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