I was scheduled to be gone to receive training and pick up my new counseling partner at KSDS, Inc. the second week of school. The kids were excited and I was even more anxious to meet her.  The first week of school consisted of me talking with the kids in their classrooms about her arrival and generating support and enthusiasm about her arrival. Although, that was only a fraction of my day the first week. The other fraction was spent planning and assisting with a new Kindergardener who was struggling (at the least) to be in class due to aggressive behaviors toward his peers and teacher.  He spent most of his day in the recovery room and we were frantically planning so that his transition to our school would take a turn for the better.  left that next week for training, and held my breath that everything was going to be okay for my young Kindergarten friend. 

 

While in Washington, KS I didn’t have contact (email or cell phone) with school, so I expected to return to a long list of stories that included my friend as the starring role. Indeed I did. Unfortunately, his behaviors had escalated and he had only been able to be “safe” in the regular classroom for a fraction of the time I had been gone. Chalupa’s first day at the school was my first day back. I was concerned that I shouldn’t be throwing her in to work so quickly, but I felt that my friend couldn’t miss another day if possible. I took Chalupa in to the recovery room to meet him.  He quickly ran right up to her. I reminded him about safe touch. As he laid on the floor with her, petting and smiling, I began talking about her behavior and everything I had to learn about her.  The conversation quickly turned to what would happen if she wasn’t obedient to commands and to me. What if she hadn’t learned good behavior in our school? He had many answers, all of which were right. I was able to make a connection about rules for kids in school, and safety for all students based on those rules. He understood. The true test would be to see how he could apply it.

 

I decided to make a deal. I asked him if he could let the teacher be in charge? He agreed. I was skeptical based on past behavior. I told him that if Chalupa let me be in charge for the rest of the day AND he let his teacher be in charge then Chaulpa would go to class with him the next day.  Again, I am anxious, because I have yet to see what she will do in the regular classroom, and I haven’t fully boned with her yet. He kept his end of the deal and it was our turn to do the same.  The next morning, he was waiting for me (really Chalupa) at my office door, before the day even started. He said, “Are you ready to go?”. I asked Chalupa and she was more than willing. I let him walk her to class….I followed right behind. When he arrived in the classroom, the kids all stared, due to his prolonged absence and the only interaction they had with him previous to today was when he was throwing objects at them. They all looked down, saw Chaulpa and rushed to his side.  Now, as you know, they were rushing to see Chalupa, but to him, it was the first time that any child had rushed to be near him. He was instantly happy to be in the room. I asked the students to return to their desks and to treat Chalupa like one of the class. He went to his desk and I put Chalupa on a “down/under” underneath his desk.  I frequently reminded him that if he allowed the teacher to be in charge, and Chalupa allowed me to be in charge then they could stay together in the classroom.  He sat at his desk without discourse. A First. Yeah. 

 

Soon the teacher called for the students to come to “circle time”. If you aren’t familiar with kindergarten, that is the time where the kids come to the floor and sit in, yes, you guessed it, a circle, for instruction. He came, with Chalupa to the circle. The kids in the class were fighting for the spot next to my friend. Also, a first! He sat for 5 minutes before he started to wiggle. I knew that wiggling would lead to something more. I slid his hand over Chalupa’s back. She leaned into him. He settled down. 15 more minutes passed. He started to wiggle again, Chalupa switched position and put her front legs over his legs (which were outstretched). I almost started to cry. He settled down. He sat for 15 more minutes. I looked at Chalupa…knowing that her puppy raisers, then Michelle had everything to do with this, and I had little to nothing to with it, but I was so proud…of both her and my friend. I whispered that I wanted them both to follow me out for a celebration. I knew that no matter how perfect that first hour was, it would be pushing it for much longer.