Every day this past week I drove to work with knots in my stomach. I am proud to say that my group finally walked quietly down the hall and out to the playground. That was one of the challenges I faced. I never saw this class going outside so I was shocked the first time I was the one taking them to the playground. They were shouting, pushing each other, trying to be the first one on the playground. They ran out the door without waiting for me. I was getting the walkie talkie that the teachers always take outside. I know they are excited about going outside but we have rules. Now I see light at the end of the tunnel. It is going to take a while I know and I accept that.

One thing I am practicing with them now is plain ol' sitting quietly between projects. Really they can not do anything without talking. I send my group to the bathroom one at a time. They run all the way and then I hear talking or singing in the bathroom. At first I would think someone else was with them. I have since learnt that they can not do anything quietly. When I let them talk it turns into chaos. They start bickering and then I have a full blown screaming match. Even the ones that are not involved end up out of their chairs, screaming and running around the room.

I have discovered that even music causes screaming and running with this group. We are suppose to have thirty minutes of music every day. I am working on making this an enjoyable time for all of us. I have started using musical dvds so they are sitting and watching and are mesmerized for part of the allotted time. My other two groups of children were talkative, too, but not with the constancy and volume of this group.

The co-worker that had the class before me gets upset when I talk about how unruly the class is. I have went to her for info to help me with the children. She feels I am expecting too much from them. I know all children are different but I feel they can learn to control their behavior just like my other three's and four's did.

I am ashamed to say that I am hollering all the time. I tried the whispering technique that the director has always told us to use. This group never even looks in my direction. The only way I get them to look at me is to holler "eyes on me" in a voice louder than they're using at the time and I usually have to do this several times, getting louder each time. It amazes me that some of the kids still don't stop talking and playing. I am having to rethink the methods I used with my other children.

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My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
James 1:2-6