Handling Negative Comments

I am kindof a local favorite at my elementary school, so all the kids want to be in my resource room. They say things like, “I’m dumb, why can’t I be in your class?” I just tell them that I don’t have any dumb students in my class and that if they are in fact dumb, they may not fit in very well. I know this doesn’t answer your question really, but its just a thought

Whew… only one reply…
but it’s a toughie.
Problem is, at middle school age, some interventions *can* make things even worse soon as your back is turned. So try not to look like anything you do is because of a certain student.

I have a rule of thumb not to try to enforce by power things that I can’t actually enforce — but on the other hand, this is different from a kiddo getting away with a dress code rule or something. Reckon it would depend on my energy level — I’d at least want to communicate that there really are some people who object to name-calling, period, and I’d waste a minute or so of the kids’ time letting him/her/them know. Maybe to the tune of “That kind of comment just doesn’t sit right… maybe *you* think it’s just kidding but at least within my earshot please cease and desist” (and if they don’t, make ‘em look up and copy the definition for caese & desist).
I would be trying to get a reading on what wavelength they were on… I remember hearing some students refer to a misbehaving VCR as an “LD VCR” — I’m afraid I was too taken aback to figure out a response, and it would have been tough because I could just anticipate the “oh, crap on this political correctness stuff” feeling it would generate… but the casual connection of LD with useless and non-functional was a real zinge.r

Sue,

I had posted this on another discussion board and only got one response there as well. When I originally posted it I didn’t realize how difficult a question it must be to answer. But I have come to the realization that veteran special ed. teachers must struggle with this as much as new teachers. I guess I had hoped that someone had some really good responses or comebacks. But as you pointed out sometimes you could only make things worse by saying anything especially taking into consideration this age group.

Thanks for your help though!

I am the mom of an LD child. I don’t know much about dealing with “normal” students calling an LD kid names, but I have dealt with other staff doing it. To be honest, as this is a school and therefore that type of behavior is completely inappropriate, I went straight to the administration about it. Any teacher/staff member of a school that stoops to belittling LD children should be reprimanded, if not fired.